Encore!

Ruwini Jayawardana

Jewish poet and author Berthold Auerbach once said that music washes away dust from the soul of everyday life. Similarly it adds spirit and rejuvenates your mind when you consider your everyday schedule of going to school and studying for exams. It is not only a refreshing difference to the stress and monotony but teaches you to appreciate the beauty of art.

Music was the refuge which these girls sought to pep up their lives. They have come a long way from being junior band members to playing a pivotal role in Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya’s aesthetic section as members of the senior western band. Their recent achievement was to win first place at ‘Vivace Brass 2011’, an inter school indoor brass band competition organized by Devi Balika Vidyalaya, Colombo.

“We were simply thrilled by the victory. There were around nine girl school bands from all parts of the island competing in the first round. They selected four for the finals. We practised day and night as the finals drew near. I feel that all our hard work had paid off,” an elated Abhisheka Dayananda told Daily News.

Abhisheka is the past band leader of the school’s senior brass band. She had spearheaded her team in many events including their Vivace Brass 2011 win. She is succeeded by Githmi de Silva.

“We had to play a classical piece and an entertainment number at the event. We played The Blue Danube waltz by Johann Strauss and the Mexican folksong La Bamba,” noted band member Heshani Gunaratne. The 24-member team decided on these pieces because they set a lively tone. You can also judge the tempo variations through The blue Danube for it is a piece in which musical expressions are at its height.

“We worked as one unit. I believe that teamwork is the key to our success,” said Abhisheka. As the band leader she commands a lot of respect. Her job is to monitor them, maintain unity and discipline. She also added that taking part in the competition had been an exciting experience and that they had learnt a lot by mingling with bands from other schools.

Past band leader Abhisheka

Present band leader Githmi

Deputy band leader Kaumadi

Bass drummer Heshani

Joining into the conversation Githmi added that the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Senior Brass Band had been a regular item in the country’s National Day parade. They have taken part in band competitions in 1996, 1997 and 1999 and had emerged runners-up for their excellent performances.

They have even won first place at ‘Prashasthi’, the indoor band competition organized by Ananda College, Colombo, in 2001 and 2002. They clinched second place in the All Island Inter-school Western Music and Dance Competition titled ‘Wind Ensemble’, held by the Education Ministry in 2002.

The same year they bagged the runners-up title in the outdoor band competition commemorating International Children’s Day celebrations. Their winning streak continued as they were placed third at 2004’s Wind Ensemble and won the outdoor band competition put together by St Paul’s, Milagiriya.

“We practised regularly after school, during the interval and during weekends. It is not only about playing the percussion instruments but being able to keep in line and march to the beat,” Deputy band leader Kaumadi Wijesinghe explained.

Their next step is to stage their school indoor band fiesta Brass Capriccioso. The musical extravaganza had been held in 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2008. “We are looking forward to delivering an unforgettable performance this year” Hemanthika Hettiarachchi is the teacher in charge. She had been a ‘pillar of strength’ for the girls, as they put it. She was backed by Manjula Chandraratne.

“We would also like to thank our Principal Pushpa Kalbowila, Deputy Principals including Anoma Wijenayake, Instructors Roshan Weerasekara and Lesley Gunasekara, parents and senior band members for all their support. Working with the band had been an extraordinary experience,” the girls chorused.