Teens to shine at instrumental ensemble

Ruwanthi Abeyakoon

Talents scattered in the country will be harnessed and brought on one stage at the `National Youth Orchestra in concert' which will be held on September 20 at the BMICH. The orchestra will perform to mark the 15 anniversary.

The National Youth Orchestra is a training ground for talented student to learn to play orchestra instruments. The concert will offer a wide variety of music including Rossini's Baber of Seville Overture, Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture, Von Suppe's Light Cavalry Overture and Sarath Fernando's the renunciation.

The conductors at this performance will be Prof. Ajit Abeysekera, Manilal Weerakoon, Dayananda Fernando and two past members of the Orchestra Dilan Agunaawela and Neomal Weerakoon.

Students from out stations and less privileged schools together with schools in the suburbs meet every Saturday to prepare themselves to this great event. Daily News Teen spoke to some teenagers to find out the way they feel about the largest orchestral performance.

Roshan Chamara of Mahinda College said it is a great opportunity to take part in a National Orchestra. " We

 are from outstation schools. Some times we don't get the opportunity to participate in such events. I gathered lot of knowledge and experience through this.

I am the coordinator and conductor of the national youth orchestra in the Southern Province. I also play for the symphony orchestra. This is my fourteenth year," he said.

" This concert is an annual event. This time it is going to be very successful. Every body is working hard towards it," Roshan added.

Amal Abesekera, 18 the leader of the orchestra is a student of Royal College. He studies in the commerce stream. "We have been practicing from the beginning of the year.

This time lots of schools are participating even from outstation areas such as Kurunagela. Past members are also playing with us. I play the violin. Playing in the orchestra was not difficult for me because I have been playing for six years. I am also a member of the symphony orchestra. I hope to do my best for this event," Amal said.

"I joined the orchestra in Grade 11. My former music teacher paved the way for me to join the orchestra. The conductors are supportive. I come from Badulla and I study in Badulla Central College. I like music very much and I joined the orchestra to improve my knowledge. We not only learn to play for the concert.

We also learn discipline. There is a lot to learn. I hope to continue to be in the orchestra as long as I can. Music is my hobby so I won't give up," Nayomi Bandara said. Sumadu Fernando also said that the orchestra taught her many things in life.

" Through the orchestra I learnt to be forward and to carry myself well in public. Everybody was supportive. I joined the orchestra in grade 10. I have been playing for 10 years. During this time I gathered lot of experience and knowledge," she said.

Anushka Gunawardena, 18 comes from Visaka Vidyalaya. She has been in the orchestra for five years. " This year's concert will be a success. Everybody is talented and keen. They come for practices regularly. The conductors are excellent and support us a lot. It is fun to be in the orchestra. I met a lot of friends. There is unity among us.

Everyone is dedicated. I love playing in the orchestra," Anushka explained. "I joined the pool in 1999 and in 2001 joined the orchestra. I have taken part in several concerts. I play the clarinet. I like music very much. My teachers encouraged me. I learnt a lot from the concert and I will do my best to make it successful," said Anuradha Akmeemana.

Her sister Dananjani Akmeemana, 17 is in Grade 12 and plays the violin for the concert. " I was in the pool for two years and this is my seventh year. I enjoy playing in the orchestra a lot. My friends and teachers support me. I have improved myself through the orchestra," Dananjani said.

Teens thanked Maya Abeywickrama the present Western Music consultant and all those who assist them in numerous ways. Daily News Teen wishes the talented teens best of luck for the concert.

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Scrabble winners

SCRABBLE: The Sri Lanka Scrabble League, the governing body of Scrabble in Sri Lanka, founded in 1989, concluded the 15th version of the All Island Scrabble Tournament last week.

Samitha Amarasinghe of Royal College emerged the winner and Charith Rajasiri of D.S. Senanayake College came the runner up. K. H. R. A. Peries of S. Thomas College had the highest words score with 122 points. Samitha Amarasinghe scored 729 points and achieved the highest score.

The Sri Lanka Scrabble League has been represented at many international Scrabble tournaments including the World Scrabble Championships and the World Youth Scrabble Championships. It also holds three other major tournaments throughout a calendar year (Premier Players' tournament and the Scrabbler of the Year which are both only open to members of the SLSL, and the Open All Island Scrabble Tournament held under three age categories which is open to all)

The tournament was held under a new format with the introduction of an individual tournament Schools' Scrabbler of the Year (SSOY) and a division based team event (held under two divisions - A and B), the former being sponsored by Hong Kong & Shanghai Banking Corporation and the latter by BRAND'S Essence of Chicken.

The SSOY was a tournament open to two players from each Division A school and one player from each Division B school. The highest ranked player will be selected as representatives for the World Youth Scrabble

 Championships to be held in Malaysia in December.

The SSOY was held at the Hong Kong & Shanghai Banking Corporation Centre, Deans Road, Town Hall (opposite Eye Hospital) tomorrow while the Divisional tournament will be held at the Royal College Main Hall on September 15.