Lanka on top at Choir Olympics

ChamikaraWeerasghe

The Sri Lankan choir Soul Sounds have won two Silver medals at the fourth World Choir Games, which was held in Xiamen province, China last week.

Soul Sounds with its Music Director Soundari David and Artistic Director Jerome de Silva, has won the medals for gospel and spiritual, and scenic folklore categories in the competition, which was formally known as the World Choir Olympics.

This is the first time that Sri Lanka was represented in the World Choir Olympics. The last World Choir Olympics was held in Germany two years ago.

More than 400 choirs from 60 countries have performed at the games this year which took place at the Grand Hall of Xiamen from July 15 to 26. Among the countries participated were USA, Russia, Germany, Hungary, Poland, India, Indonesia, Australia and Philippines.

This year's games were held under the theme "singing together brings nations together."

The choir Soul Sounds composed of 30 girls who are regulars at chapel singing, arrived at Sri Lanka Airport yesterday morning following a successful tour of China. They were primarily sponsored by the Deutshe Bank.

They have done their country proud. So I asked the director of the happy choir, to share a few words with In Tune about their win and what they sang.

"Oh, I would have thought that it would have been a great honour to have been among the best of singing choirs of the world, even if he had lost a place."

"The girls and I were overjoyed when it was announced that we have won the second place for the categories of Gospel and Spiritual and scenic folklore," she said.

"In fact, the girls worked really hard on their voices and did very well at singing," she added.

The Soul Sounds choir sang the traditionals "Danno Budunge", "Siri Sarakethe", "Nan nana an..." (a Vannam song), "Heiru" with a devil dance and "Kedelle Athi Vu Kirilli Wage" by Mignonne Fernando.

The girls sang "He is the Rock" (a Negro Spiritual) for the Gospel and Spiritual category, and "Joyful Joyful", a song from the movie Sister Act, which was arranged for piano by Saundari with Christopher Prins on percussion, said Saundari.

She also remembered P. Thambirajah of International Centre for Ethnic Studies for the support given by him as well-wisher.

Nilanga, a member of the Soul Sounds had this to say. "It was a fabulous experience to be among a crowd who likes doing what you like doing. Everybody stayed at the well known choir village in Xiamen.

Every morning when you wake up you will see choirs practising singing. You wake up to the sound of music , she said.

The standards of singing was very high. And at the coffee shop you meet with people from the rest of the world who likes singing. And people singing different flavours of tunes indigenous to their own countries. The entire time at the Olympic Village was a wonderful experience, she remembered.

Soul Sounds have depicted village life in Sri Lanka for the folklore category with dances based on paddy harvesting (Goyam Kapima) and Kalagedi dances. "We concluded our show with Mignonne Fernando's song Mangala Mohotha," Nilanga said.

'5 Star X'plosion' - rare showbiz innovation

'5-Star X'plosion,' the musical show will come alive on Sunday August 13, 6.45 p.m. at the BMICH. The show will begin with the welcome and introduction by that incomparable Master of Ceremonies, Vijaya Corea, who will talk about, not just another line up of stars, but a brilliant concept in entertainment that is designed to thrill.

The star attraction will be the Gypsies who will both perform and back all the artistes, including their own Sunil Perera, Rajitha (of Misty) Mariazelle, Ishan Bahar (of Jetliners fame) and Ronnie Leitch, together with guest stars, Rukshan Perera, Ricky Bahar and Shenelle. Each of these stars will perform with choreography to fill the air with a new wave of entertainment.

For example, Sunil Perera, in addition to the new look rendition of 'I Don't Know Why' and 'Lankawe' will come out with his brand new hit titled 'No Problems Private Limited'.

This show one of the best shows of the year, will highlight five multifaceted individual singers. Ishan Bahar will bring out the best in him and the best in you when he belts out the super hits from the repertoire of Elvis Presley and Cliff Richards. He will also move into a duet with his talented son, Ricky, who will then be joined by the starting Shenelle for a Michael Buble medley.

Ricky and Shenelle, who will do solos too, have been loudly applauded for their performances both here and abroad.

Rajitha of Misty will indeed be a hit on stage when he gets everyone reminiscing through Louis Armstrong and Neil Diamond in replica style. He will also be putting out his new choreographed hit song with Sunil Perera.

Rukshan Perera returns again from the USA and will be there to demonstrate his rare talent and personal style with a superb performance. Then there will be Mariazelle who, together with Ronnie, will perform extraordinary acts that will keep one and all spellbound.

The second half of the show will be fun filled with Sunil and the Gypsies taking the audience by storm. Ronnie Leitch too will join in at one point to enhance the fabulousness of the act by the Gypsies with Sunil in the spotlight. No doubt, the ticket you buy will give you entertainment....plus....plus...

5-Star X'plosion will be presented by the Old Thomians Swimming Club (OTSC) in collaboration with DK Promotions.