A unique concert by the Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka (SOSL),- ‘Women of Note’ - where ladies will play a major part or be at the forefront, will premiere on October 14th at 7 pm at the Lionel Wendt Theatre. The concert is being performed in memory of Swarna Gunasekera, one of the founder members of the SOSL. We spoke to three of the ladies who will be playing an important role in it – Dushyanthi Perera, Shanthi Dias (nee Thambar) and Shannon Jacob.

Dushyanthi Perera

Dushyanthi Perera took up the baton fairly recently in a distinguished career as a cellist. She made her debut as a conductor in 2012, directing the SOSL in Mendelssohn’s “Scottish“ Symphony. Prior to stepping onto the podium, she was the principal cellist of the SOSL for many years and performed most of the major concertos written for cello and orchestra with the SOSL, including the double and triple concertos of Brahms and Beethoven. She was also the cellist of the Colombo Trio, and together with Ramya De Livera Perera and Ananda Dabare performed a large repertoire of Piano Trios and chamber works. She discovered a knack for conducting when directing the concerts of the Cantando Cello Ensemble—a group of which she is the founder and director.

Her role as conductor and director of the Dr. Earle de Fonseka Chamber Music Concert Series also helped to develop her aptitude for and understanding of conducting. Dushyanthi acknowledges the inspirational guidance she received from Dr. Earle de Fonseka in her development as a musician, and the profound insights he provided on the technical and expressive aspects of orchestral performance. Dushyanthi is now the resident conductor of the SOSL, conducting four or five concerts a year.

She recognises the life-long influence and guidance of her mother, the late Mala Seneviratne, her first music teacher. She was a cello pupil of the late Averil Bartholomeusz, and in London, where she received her secondary education, she studied cello under Alexander Bailey. She later studied with Rohan de Saram as well.

Shanthi Dias (nee Thambar)

Q TELL US ABOUT THE ROLE YOU WILL BE PLAYING IN THE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA’S UPCOMING CONCERT WHICH IS A CONCERT WHERE LADIES ARE AT THE FRONT. I will be the soloist with the Orchestra performing Clara Schumann’s one and only piano concerto in A minor.

Q BRIEFLY DESCRIBE YOUR ASSOCIATION WITH THE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA. I have been performing regularly with the Symphony Orchestra since the age of 18 and I am very grateful to them for giving me the opportunity.

Q IS MUSIC YOUR PASSION AND HOW HAVE YOU MANAGED TO PURSUE IT WITH YOUR CAREER? Teaching literature is also something I love, but it was not possible to do both because of the time commitment involved. When I handled school administration, I had to more or less give up playing, which is why I took early retirement and came back to making music.

Q TELL US ABOUT SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF YOUR PREVIOUS ASSOCIATIONS WITH THE SOSL AS A SOLOIST. However happy I am with a performance, there is always something that can be improved or a different way of playing it the next time. One highlight was certainly the honour of performing the Emperor piano concerto some years back, as it is a technically challenging work with hauntingly beautiful themes, which my father always wanted me to perform someday. Apart from highlights, I certainly remember some significant memory lapses in two of my previous performances! Fortunately, unlike a cricketer who gets out with no chance of continuing his innings when he is bowled, caught or stumped, in performance, you are able to continue to play and give your best till the last note, without being obsessed with the memory lapse. It takes special courage and discipline to continue, as it does in life too, after a setback.

Q HOW DO YOU HOPE TO CONTINUE YOUR INVOLVEMENT IN MUSIC? Since retiring from teaching, I have been involved in chamber music which is something new for me and opens a vast array of music. It has been a huge learning curve for me to play together with others, especially under the guidance of Dushy Perera, who trains us. That is something I would love to continue doing.

Shannon Jacob

Q WHAT IS THE ROLE YOU WILL BE PLAYING AT THE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA’S UPCOMING CONCERT AND BRIEFLY DESCRIBE YOUR ASSOCIATION WITH SOSL My role is to be featured as a 21st-century composer alongside prolific composers from the past like Emilie Mayer and Clara Schumann, and amazing women in Sri Lanka who carry on the traditions of classical music; soloist Shanthi Dias (nee Thambar) and conductor Dushyanthi Perera. I was featured as a composer in the SOSL Young Soloist Concert in July 2016.

Q TELL US ABOUT THE SONG YOU HAVE COMPOSED FOR THIS CONCERT. My piece Motherland: Belonging is a grateful reflection of the people and communities who have helped me live between two worlds. Belonging is a complex feeling and many people go through life not feeling its warmth. It is my hope that the piece inspires anyone who hears it to reflect on their own journey of belonging, and consider what we can do to help those around us feel the same sense of community and love. The performance will mark the world premiere of this piece which is specifically written for the Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka.

Q CAN YOU TELL US HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT PERFORMING AT THIS CONCERT, WHERE LADIES ARE AT THE FOREFRONT OR ARE THE MAIN PEOPLE INVOLVED IN IT? To be featured in such a way in my own homeland at a concert featuring incredible women in classical music from the past and present – how do I even begin to comprehend that? All the women in the concert have paved the way for me to be where I am today as a composer, and I am grateful to each of them. I feel so honoured, excited and a little nervous. Writing a piece and releasing it out into the world requires vulnerability because you never know how the audience will receive it. I cannot wait to hear it being played by real instruments for the first time.

Q TELL US BRIEFLY ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY IN THE AREA OF MUSIC It’s been a lifelong journey that started at the age of four with piano lessons and continued to grow into music direction and composition. This led to travelling to the US to further my education in music at Berklee College of Music. I eventually became a staff at Berklee, and am also on the faculty at Boston College. I write, direct and produce a wide array of music ranging from classical and contemporary. I have to acknowledge that none of this would have been possible without the support of my family who sacrificed so much to give me the life I have today. I am deeply grateful to them and my husband Drew.

Q HOW DO YOU HOPE TO CONTINUE CONTRIBUTING TO CLASSICAL MUSIC IN SRI LANKA? By never forgetting my roots, staying true to who I am, and continuing to support the music industry as an educator and artist. I would love to keep composing for local orchestras and groups.

Q WHAT ARE SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF YOUR MUSICAL CAREER? Composer: Truth From Above (17:05-22:15), a commissioned acappella piece for the Chapel Choir of S. Thomas’ College Sri Lanka, December 2015. We Are Going To Play Doctor!: A commissioned original jazz composition written, directed and produced for the Combined Theater Company Sri Lanka, July 2016. Arranger and Music Director: Celebrating Sri Lanka, a commissioned arrangement of traditional and contemporary Sri Lankan hits released for the 72nd Independence Day Celebration of Sri Lanka, February 4, 2016. This initiative was also launched to foster relationships between the island nation of Sri Lanka and Berklee College of Music, USA. Composer (Logic): A digital music piece involving the call of blue whales in Sri Lanka for Oceanswell, a non-profit conservation organisation headed by Dr. Asha De Vos, Sri Lanka’s only National Geographic Explorer. Park Street Church Music Video Series: Arranged, produced and directed as a means to reach the PSC community and the larger Boston community during COVID-19 lockdowns that prevented in-person engagement and worship.

What Child Is This You Are Good Your Spirit My World Needs You Composer: A commissioned original piece Romeo and Juliet for the Spirit of Strings concert with the strings of the Gustav Mahler Society Orchestra Colombo Sri Lanka, February 2023. There are two future highlights that I am very excited about! Guest Clinician for Princeton, NJ Public Schools Black History Month Celebration, February 20-23, 2024: Master classes and rehearsals culminating in a concert involving Princeton High School choral groups of upto 200 students, community members from local churches and Princeton High School Jazz Band. Arranger: Arrangement of the spiritual Rocka My Soul that will be written specifically for the University Chorale of Boston College for their Spring 2024 tour for Spain and Portugal. This arrangement will also help inform guest college choirs abroad of the traditions and history of spirituals in the United States.

text Kshalini Nonis