The Junior Symphony Orchestra in concert

The Junior Symphony Orchestra (JSO) will stage its third successive annual concert on July 11, at 7 pm at the Lionel Wendt Theatre. The JSO has prepared for the concert under the expert guidance and tutelage of Ananda Dabare, Leader and co-Conductor of the Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka SOSL).

The JSO comprises of over 30 young musicians from the ages of 13 years onwards. Playing with the JSO has been both a challenging and rewarding opportunity for artistic growth for the younger musicians. They have enjoyed the experience of making music with their peers and more senior musicians, seconded from the SOSL.

It is fitting that the JSO has chosen to play Mozart’s Divertimento No. 3, which he composed when he was sixteen years old, younger than some of the young musicians of the JSO. This delightful piece ‘sparkles with youthful optimism and spontaneity’ and is composed in a “sunny and carefree mood”.

The concert will open with poignantly beautiful ‘Air’ from the orchestral suite No. 3 by Bach, which is also known as the ‘Air on a G string’. The full orchestra will perform Khachturian’s richly melodious Waltz and Nocturne from his ‘Masquerade Suite’. Sulara Nanayakkara, the Leader of the JSO, will perform the violin solo in the Nocturne. The delightful music from Schubert’s ballet ‘Rosamunde’ will also be performed. The concert will end with an exciting arrangement of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s ‘Sound of Music’.

This concert, performed by young musicians, will be an inspiration to all aspiring young musicians and should not be missed.