Article By – Ian Etugala, Sathnidu Dissanayake, Yashwin Fernando and Kashyapa Athauda. Sunday, the 2nd of March, was a day of particular significance for the Choristers. In the early hours of the Feast of the Transfiguration, the Choristers awaited eagerly to welcome a special guest. It was none other than Mr. Peter Ananda Burrows, son of late Major Gordon Burrows, the storied Vice Principal and Choirmaster of our school. Mr. Burrows, together with his family—his wife, two sons, and daughter-in-law—had traveled from England to visit Sri Lanka, particularly Mr. Burrows’ old haunts. As the choir lined up outside the south door for the procession, a taxi drove up the Chapel drive from which stepped out the Burrows family. Mr. Burrows (or so we guessed, from the familiarity of surroundings he displayed) sprightly approached the Choristers lined up, as if he did it every Sunday of his life, while his family took their seats in the Chapel. The Choristers greeted him warmly as he shook hands with some of the older boys, pausing to ask one of them whether the college tie he was wearing was really necessary, joking that he would prefer not to wear one. At that very moment, all those nearby realised that this English gentleman, whether through his manner of speech or the way he greeted the Choristers, as though he had always been among us, truly felt at home here. The Choristers, along with Mr. Burrows, proceeded into the Choir Stalls, and the service began with Mr. Burrows singing Bass with the Choristers. One of the highlights of the service was a special anthem sung by the Choir, with Mr. Burrows singing the solo part. The piece was Three Kings by Peter Cornelius, Philip Nicolai, and Ivor Atkins (deciding we were not too far away from Epiphany), sung in place of the Gradual. Mr. Burrows also read the day’s Gospel, and the service continued in its usual form. Once the final hymn was sung and the service had ended, the Choristers and the Burrows family enjoyed a cup of tea and a sandwich on the Chapel lawn. After tea, the Choristers returned to the Chapel, where the Choirmaster invited Mr. Peter Burrows to share a few life experiences with them. Mr. Burrows then spoke about his early days at Trinity as a young boy with a not-so-British accent and how he had pleaded with his father for a place in the choir. He mentioned how his father was so fond of Sri Lanka and Trinity that he named his Children Peter Ananda, Michael Rohan, and Alison Shriyani. Sadly, he had to leave for England before his career as a chorister could take off. However, his journey in music continued, and he fulfilled his dream of singing in many prestigious schools and cathedrals as a student and young adult. He specifically recalled how his singing teacher in college once told him, “I wouldn’t go into singing if I were you. There’s no money in it.” It seems that Mr. Burrows disregarded this advice, as he pursued a career in classical singing. However, he did take the warning to some extent and decided that working behind the scenes in coordination was a safer bet. Thus, he worked at a concert hall for seventeen years while singing as a substitute in choirs whenever opportunities arose. He also spoke of a small singing group he had joined—one that, upon realising their formidable talent, gave themselves the name The Sixteen and went on to become professional singers. By providence or otherwise, Mr. Burrows became a founding member of this esteemed group. He did not forget to remind the young Choristers that all great things in life come to those who are willing to take risks, especially in the arts. After sharing memories of his time at Trinity and his life journey, Mr. Burrows was presented what would be the last remaining copy of the Trinity College Choir’s CD ‘Carols from Trinity – What Sweeter Music’ by the Choirmaster. Afterwards, he had friendly chats with several Choristers. He was then taken on a tour of the Chapel by the Choristers and later joined them for a brief game of Tap Rugby. Following a group photograph with the Choristers, Mr. Burrows bid them farewell and went on to visit his old home, The Alison House, expecting to visit the rest of the school and Asgiriya Ground as well. Mr. Peter Burrows now works professionally as the organiser of The Oxford International Song Festival (formerly the Oxford Lieder Festival prior to 2023)  a UK-based classical music festival, specialising in the art-song repertoire.

By Nimuthu Pathiraja & Chaniru Senhas  Despite being a significant and annually celebrated event, the Trinity-Thomian weekend is not merely a tradition or a custom, but a symbolic moment of unity and friendship between the two schools. It is a moment where both Trinitians and Thomians of all ages set aside fierce rivalry and collaborate on activities appreciated by all. This year’s celebration took place amongst the picturesque and scorching foreground of S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia, on the 22nd and 23rd of February.   The Trinitians, who arrived during the morning hours of Saturday, were cordially greeted with a welcome drink by the friendly community of their brother school. Following several friendly interactions, the traditional and combined practice for the Sunday service took place at the Chapel of Transfiguration of S. Thomas College . After the fellowship tea, The Trinitans and Thomians built great memories as they enjoyed a few games, including Tap rugby and swimming. Signifying the friendly nature of the event.   The customary debate took place soon after:  A unique experience since the two schools had competed against each other countless times, throughout the year.  The atmosphere at this encounter though, was vividly different. The motion was relevant and timely, it read “This house regrets the practice of Importing in Sri Lankan Schools.” Trinity College opposed the motion whilst S. Thomas’ College proposed.  The Team was as follows;  After the debate, the prestigious dinner took place following the invitation of the Acting Warden, Mr. Asanka Perera. Amidst the delectable gourmet spread, were conversations of brotherhood, reflecting on the differences between the two schools, and how they unite, fuelling a sense of joy, cementing the legacy between the two schools for generations to come, in the presence of all the dignatories, including the Vice-Principal, Mr. Krishanthan Anthonydas, and the Chaplain, Rev. Fr. Shelton Samadanam of Trinity College. It is worth noting that according to custom, the Trinity College choir sang the “The School on the Hill” – written by TCK Choirmaster Mr. Ronald Thangiah in the 1960s as the Thomian choir sang “School by  the Sea” composed by STC Chorimaster Rev. Roy Henry Bowyer Yin in the 1950s  On Sunday morning, enthusiastic Choristers from both colleges joined at the Chapel of Transfiguration as they prepared for the combined Holy Communion service. The service contrasted with the CMS Low Church tradition at Trinity, which was what the Trinitians were accustomed to. However, they resonated with their brother school by the same Anglican Choral tradition.  After a productive weekend of friendly competition and service, the Trinitians were ready to bid farewell to their fellow brothers, as they enjoyed their last moments together. However, they are yet to collaborate and compete at various events throughout the year. Until then, students of both colleges waved hands in friendship and glory, as the Trinitians proceeded to make their way back to the hills of Kandy. They would meet yet again for a special weekend in just a year, to carry forward their shared mission of building Christ’s Kingdom for the greater glory of God. 

Reviewed by Shaluka Herath and Menath Kahapola  The Trinity College Choir’s Mind Your Music concert can be considered a modest attempt to showcase the Choir’s wide variety of repertoire, incorporating a broad array of music from different styles, genres, and eras. This ‘traditional’ concert is recorded to have had its inception in the ’70s, continuing through the ’80s and ’90s as an on-and-off event. Subsequently, due to enthusiastic requests and the Choir’s busy schedule, the concert has settled into a biennial event. Mind Your Music concerts are themed events. Each theme results from a careful search and consideration of suitability, emphasizing openness to different styles of music as they evolve over the years. The MYM concerts of the recent past have held themes such as ‘Plainsong to Pop,’ ‘Rhymes to Rhapsody,’ ‘Musicals to Movies,’ and the most recent ‘Jingles to Jazz.’ The songs and artists are selected after meticulous research and consideration, ensuring a purposeful choice. Through this concert, choristers received a greater sense of appreciation towards all forms and styles of music, distinguishing and appreciating the nuances and styles of each. The fact that almost all the music performed had been specially arranged for the character of the Choir, save for those musical pieces composed by the Masters with recognized choral arrangements, helped them to absorb the experience fully. The 2024 edition of Mind Your Music was performed by the Trinity College Choir on the evening of July 20th at the college main hall. Under the theme of “Classics to Chart-Hits,” the concert celebrated pieces considered Classics, which have earned much respect since their composition but don’t necessarily fall under the modern idea of ‘pop’ songs, while still managing to remain ‘evergreen.’ The concert featured performances of classics and songs that reached the Top Ten in the music charts, staying in our hearts as Hits. The carefully curated song list gave the audience time to remember. The list of masterpieces is as such, starting off with the Mind Your Music Theme, which is inspired by the theme of the famous British sitcom “Mind Your Language.” A choir-accompanied solo rendered “To Music” (1817). A subsequent soloist delivered “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” (~1865). “Linden Lea” (1902) and “Moonlight Bay” (1912) was rendered by the choir. A soloist, accompanied by the choir, offered “As Time Goes By” (1931), followed by a solo performance of “Edelweiss” (1959). A duet then presented “Ranwan Ran Kendi Pirala” (1956). “Good Luck Charm” (1962), and “The Longest Time” (1983) were performed and arranged by the choristers themselves. After a short break, a trio delivered “I Want to Hold Your Hand” (1963), followed by a duet performance of “Sunny” (1966) with a violin accompaniment by a Chorister, a challenging part to play. A soloist then presented the well-known song “On Top of the World” (1972). Another accompanied soloist offered a rendition of “My Friend the Wind” (1973), which also featured a Sirtaki dance (Greek origin) performed by four Choristers. The powerful song “Another Brick in the Wall” (1979) was brought to life by an enactment that added a dramatic element to the performance. A soloist delivered “Take On Me” (1984). “It’s a Kind of Magic” (1986) was performed as a solo, leading to a duet’s encore performance of “Kingston Town” (1970). Finally, the Choirmaster was invited by the Choir to deliver an impromptu rendition of “We Thank Thee” (1962) to bring the Night to a close. The Trinity College Choir is not only builds accomplished Choristers, but helps to develop instrumentalists. The Choristers are privileged to be inspired by performing with world-class musicians, and are enriched in their musicality by the rich choice of Choral music they engage in. Choristers who develop their skills in playing instruments to a high standard get the opportunity to perform with the Choir Special recognition is also given to the choirmaster, all staff members, members of the media unit, and musicians who were pivotal in achieving the show’s final goal.  Finally, the great voices of the Trinity College Choir deserve appreciation for their incredible performance and their service in all spiritual and holy aspects of this sacred institution. All in all, Mind Your Music 2024 was an enjoyable and joyous evening, consisting of breath-taking performances from all the choristers, equally supported by all staff and students involved. The show stands as a testament to the high standard maintained by the Trinity College Choir and the undying spirit of the choristers to surpass that standard, always raising the bar higher and higher. Intensely refreshing – Principal  It was a musical treat. The creativity and the contributions of the choristers were truly remarkable, along with the heavy dedication of the choirmaster and the support staff the end product was Superb! – Vice principal  What impressed me the most about the choristers of the trinity college choir was the level of soulfulness everyone had whilst singing, and as each song ended, I could hear the crowd cheering at the top of their lungs. This was a sentiment to all the tireless hours of work put in by everyone to make the program a success.  – An upper-school student  It was a delightful evening, well worth the ticket. From the first song itself I couldn’t not pay attention, tap along and have fun. I cannot wait for the next rendition of the show. – An audience member  The mind your music concert as always was a unique musical extravaganza in Kandy… For the first time I got the opportunity to enjoy the show from the audience and it helped me realise the great talents of our boys. – A staff member  Very amazing – A middle school student  I constantly catch myself humming the tunes which were sung at MYM every now and then. That’s how much the performances have stuck with me. It was an evening of musical brilliance.  – An old boy   The music deeply moved everyone in the audience, creating an unforgettable experience. Thank you for your commitment to excellence and for bringing such joy and