Maestoso 2007:

Strengthening school ties with music

Ruwini Jayawardana

BAND FIESTA: There was a buzz of activity everywhere. Girls in colourful band kits and school uniforms were

 running around busy as bees. It was the day of ‘Maestoso 2007’, the indoor Band Fiesta organised by Girls’ High School, Kandy.

The school’s senior band, consisting of 30 members along with the junior A and Junior B bands performed at this event. The Western bands of St. Anthony’s College, St. Anthony’s Convent, Mahamaya Girls’ College, Pushpadana Girls’ College and Ranabima Royal College from the Central Province and the Western bands of St. Paul’s Milagiriya and Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo also participated in this event held on April 2. This was the first time that the school had organised an indoor Band Fiesta and they hope to hold it every year.

With just minutes away from the opening of the grand performance, a few girls from the school’s senior western band stepped aside to share their views with Daily News Teen.

Band leader Ajanee Ranasinghe, 18, said she had been the band leader for one and a half years. She said the

goal behind this function is to develop friendship between school bands and to give the public a taste of brass band music.

“We play a variety of instruments: trombones, baritones, trumpets, saxophones, clarinets, side drums, tenor drums, tambourines and the bass drum. Our instrumental music includes English songs such as Bride of Seto, Elcondo Pasa, and Lapaloma.

We have Sinhala songs such as Kandula Ithin Sama Weyan and Sithin Prema Wadana, aimed at the younger crowd. A special item includes the song Ru Rasay Andina Lesay where our Kandyan dance troupe would join us on stage. We are all looking forward to the performance,” Ajanee explained.

Tilani Subasinghe, 19, says the fiesta would provide a good opportunity for all participating schools to recognise better means in improving their music.

“Lots of students will be inspired to join their school band after this function. This would encourage them to take part in aesthetic activities,” she said.” I have been captivated by music from childhood. I play the jazz drum

 in our band.”

“We have been planning this event from August 2006. We stopped practises for a brief period because of our examinations and started again from January. Our practice sessions were held after school and during weekends.

All our members can play their instruments well,” smiled Sureni Sumathipala, 17, the side drum soloist. Sureni handled the drum role of some parts of a song all by herself while the other side drummers accompanied her with a stick drill.

Nimalshi Fernando, 16, handles the clarinet of the western band. She sees ‘Maestoso 2007’ as an opportunity preparing students to display their talents before others. This would aid them in their socialising process, she pointed out.

Nimalshi said: “I hope to proceed in this field. My father plays the drum and my grandmother can play the organ. My brother is also interested in music. I have taken part in school dramas and I can deliver speeches. I will give the vote of thanks at this event.”

Manthika Dissanayake, 18, plays the trumpet. Though she is a member of the Western band, Manthika does Eastern music as a subject. She expressed that ‘Maestoso 2007’ made way for them to take up responsibilities in organising the function.

Though Mangalika Fonseka, the teacher in charge, and Jinali Gunasekara and Rukshani Karunadasa, the supporting teachers, had been very supportive, they had always encouraged the girls to handle their duties by themselves.

Prabuddhi Edirisinghe, 18, who handles the trombone and likes to play piano music as well was also looking forward to the event.

Udari Wickramasinghe, 18, believes that taking part in the annual Prashasthi indoor band fiesta organised by Ananda College, Colombo, had helped the girls to improve their abilities. She pointed out that opportunities to display teen talent are as beneficial as taking part in competitions. Udari keeps the band’s rhythm intact with the bass drum.

Shalini Ratnayake, 18, plays a dual role in the school’s Western band. She handles the saxophone as well as

 the trumpet. She has a passion to play the piano and the organ too.

Not forgetting to give a thought to all those who have been supportive of them, the teens said they wish to convey their spacial thanks to the principal of Girls’ High school, Malkanthi Abeygunasekara, past principal, H.M. Wattaliyadda, teachers in charge, Ramani Wijesekara, the teacher in charge of the Kandyan dance troupe, Lalith Dissanayake and W.P.C. Weerakoddy, the two instructors, parents and friends. Then off they went back to practices and making arrangements for the grand event.

Pictures by Udani Rajapaksa

Learning the ABC of newspaper printing:

Thomians visit Lake House

Ruwanthi Abeyakoon

PRINTING: Thomians got a rare chance recently to visit Lake House. They strolled around the corridors and

 visited several places where they saw how a paper is printed. Most were awed at the hard work done by many to print the papers that they read.

When they returned to the reception they had gathered a lot of knowledge and experience. The students from S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia did not forget to share their thoughts with the Daily News Teen.

“There were so many machines. It was a really good experience. I enjoyed and learned a lot,” Sachitha Jayathilake said. Warren White added that he enjoyed the walk around that enriched his knowledge.

“It was the first time I visited a printing press. They explained how a newspaper was made. It is a huge process. I am happy that we got the chance to learn many things,” Primesh De Mel explained.

Pulinda Perera said it was amazing. “I saw how newspapers are printed. It was amazing. I have never seen a press before. I enjoyed the visit very much,” he said.

G. Hamshavathaman joined to express his ideas. “The printing was fast. We got the chance to talk to page makers. It was the first time I visited a printing press and I learnt a lot,” he said.

“We learned how the papers are printed. Lots of machines are used and they work hard. I saw how the pages were made before printing. It was very educative,” J. Gunaratne added.

“The staff explained to us the various steps in printing a paper. We visited several sections. We are thankful for giving us this opportunity. Our parents and teachers helped us in this. I learned a lot and enjoyed my visit,” A. Francis said.

Suhane Udumalagala said that he was surprised to see various papers printed at the same time. “Lake House is a place where they print various papers. When we visited they were making pages in all three languages. It was a new experience and I had a lot of fun. We gathered lot of knowledge too,” he said.

“When I heard that we were going to Lake House I was happy. I knew that it will bring lot of experience. We were taught the different steps of making a paper. It was the first time I visited a printing press and I thank

 everyone who gave us this opportunity,” Sandaru Polgolla said.

The teacher in charge, Wathsala Wijewickrema said it was a rare chance and thanked Lake House for giving this opportunity. “Children had to study about important institutions and the uses of them.

So we chose Lake House and the children were able to get a good idea about printing a newspaper. It was a massive production processand we are thankful for giving us this rare opportunity,” she said.

Pictures by Ranjith Jayaweera

Questions without answers

Can you cry under water?

If money doesn’t grow on trees then why do banks have branches?

Since bread is square, then why is sandwich meat round?

Why do you have to “put your two cents in”.. . but, it’s only a “penny for your thoughts”? Where’s that extra penny going to?

Why does a round pizza come in a square box?

What disease did cured ham actually have?

How is it that we put man on the moon before we figured out it would be a good idea to put wheels on luggage?

Why is it that people say they “slept like a baby” when babies wake up like every two hours?

If a deaf person has to go to court, is it still called a hearing?

Why are you IN a movie, but you’re ON TV?

Why do people pay to go up tall buildings and then put money in binoculars to look at things on the ground?

Do illiterate people get the full effect of Alphabet soup?

Why do toasters always have a setting that burns the toast to a horrible crisp, which no decent human being would eat?

When your photo is taken for your driver’s license, why do they tell you to smile? If you are stopped by the police and asked for your license, are you going to be smiling?

If Jimmy cracks corn and no one cares, why is there a stupid song about him?

If the professor on Gilligan’s Island can make a radio out of a coconut, why can’t he fix a hole in a boat?

If corn oil is made from corn, and vegetable oil is made from vegetables, what is baby oil made from?

If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons?

Is Disney World the only people trap operated by a mouse?

Why do the Alphabet song and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star have the same tune?

Why did you just try singing the two songs above?

Did you ever notice that when you blow in a dog’s face, he gets mad at you, but when you take him for a car ride; he sticks his head out the window?