Western Music Society are winners at the Sri Lanka Festival of Music, Dance and Speech 2018

The Primary, Junior, and Senior Choral groups of the Western Music Society of Trinity College Kandy recently took part in the Sri Lanka Festival of Music Dance and Speech 2018 organized by the International Institute of Music, Speech and Drama (IIMSD).

Provincial competitions

The provincial competitions of the IIMSD were held on 21st June 2018 for the Primary choral group, and on 24th June for the Intermediate and Senior choral groups. All three Choral Groups won Gold medals with Distinction making them eligible to participate in the National stage of the competition.

The teacher-in-Charge, Mrs. Chryshanthi Cabral Surendrakumar was presented with the award for the most number of Gold medals won by a teacher for Pianoforte in Kandy and the Award for the most number of Awards for Pianoforte.

National competitions

At the National stage of the competition, held at Aesthetic Centre, Colombo 7 on 1st July 2018, all three choral groups emerged winners at the Sri Lanka Festival of Music Dance and Speech 2018. The Senior choral group participated in the  “Religious Choir” category, while the Intermediate and Primary choral groups participated in the “Popular Choir” category.

The Senior choral group sang “How can I keep from singing” arranged for 4 parts by Robert Lowry and the Intermediate choral group sang “Can’t stop the feeling ” by Justin Timberlake, arranged for 4 parts by Mac Huff.

The following members of the Western Music Society, were placed at piano solo and duet competitions:

• Piano solo 18 years all island winner : Abhisheka Surendrakumar
• Piano duet 16 years and All island winners : Sathira Wijetunge, Harshith Karunaratne
• Piano solo 15 years all island winner : Sathira Wijetunge
• Piano solo 12 years all island winner : Adithya Herath
• Piano duet 12 years all island winners : Adithya Herath, Rashmika Herath

In addition to this, the Primary choral group won the award for the Best Popular Choir  while the Senior choral group won the special award for the Best Overall Choir under 18 years of age at the Sri Lanka Annual Competitive Festival. The Western Music Society also received the special award for the Highest Number of All Island Awards won by a school for a choir at the Sri Lanka Annual Competitive Festival.

Unbeaten choral excellence produced by the Western Music Society has once again been produced under the guidance of the teachers Mrs. Chryshanthi Cabral Surendrakumar and Mrs. Krishni George.

Mrs. Chryshanthi Cabral Surendrakumar had this to say about the victory; “All this was possible by the grace of God and we wish to give all glory and honour to God for bestowing his blessings upon us.”

 

Review by Nikila Amarasena