Symphony for a Child where the artistes performed free for a cause

The different upcountry and low-country drumbeats rose to a crescendo as the RaviBandu Drum Ensemble began the show wowing the audience with innovative drumming techniques. The internationally-acclaimed drummers performed free of charge, along with all the other artistes of the evening.

“Symphony for a Child” is a series of concerts that has been held in London since 1999 to raise funds for health and educational needs of children in Sri Lanka.  Founder Sirima Jayasekera first helped to enhance the facilities of the Children’s Unit of the Maharagama Cancer Hospital through raising funds.  The concert was held in Sri Lanka for the first time in Sri Lanka on Sunday, 29th June 2014 at the Lionel Wendt and the proceeds will be donated exclusively to the AIDS Foundation of Sri Lanka for the medical needs and care of HIV Positive Children and children of families afflicted and affected by HIV/AIDS.

After an introduction by Dr.B.J.C.Perera, the programme began with the drums. Next came Soundarie David Rodrigo who has performed both locally and internationally.  She is a virtuoso on the piano and she played moving her fingers and hands to suit the tune.  She later accompanied violinist Sulara Nanayakkara.

Tilanka Jayamanne then played the flute while Ashan Perera played the classical guitar.  TIlanka has won several awards during a successful career and has appeared as a soloist in several concerts both in Sri Lanka and in the UK. Asanka Perera sings with “The Revelations” and this evening he sang a spiritual “Deep River” and the nostalgic “Some Enchanted Evening” from the film “South Pacific”. The “Mary Ann Singers” also came on stage but first came Rochelle Todd who sang solos accompanied on the piano by Mary Ann David.  She first sang a New Zealand love song in Maori and then the popular “Someone to Watch Over Me” followed by the Andrew Lloyd-Webber hit “Wishing you were somehow here again”.

Sureka Amerasinghe specializes in playing the flute but is also a pianist, violinist and recorder player.  She did research in New York in “Using Music in Conflict Resolution”. This evening she played the flute and then joined her ensemble in playing “Flutopia”.

The evening ended with the De Lanerolle Brothers singing “I did it My Way” while the audience clapped and sang along. TO an Encore, they sang “Let Me Be There in your morning, let me be there in your night”.

Comments from the audience

Rochelle Kannangara: “It was a very nice show.  It is nice to support a cause like this.  The effort of the organizers is well appreciated.”

Sri Piyasena: “Good performance and they started on time.  The show was well organized and adequate publicity was given.”

Janaki  Fernando: “I liked the singing by the chorister Asanka Perera. The flute playing was also good.  I am an Early Childhood Educator.”

Shoba Atureliya: “The concert was wonderful.”

Jacintha Fernando: “The show was good and it is worthwhile to help children in need.”

Manel Jayatunge: “The concert was of great quality. Sureka’s Flute Ensemble was superb and I also love to see male pianists.  All in all, it was a good show.”

Bradman Weerakoon: “The show was very good. Quite a selection.  Mix from drumming to De Lanerolle Brothers.”

Eulani Samarajeeva: “Very good concert.  There was variety.”

Eunice Juriansz: “My husband Winant and I enjoyed the show as we know the songs.  My daughter Melanie also sang in the choir.”

Sudari Gunasekera: “It was a superb show. It’s nice to come with the children for a show like this.”

By Sirohmi Gunesekera
Photos by Kithsiri de Mel