They practised, they sang their hearts out, and they won acclaim. The talented youngsters brought honour for the city and the country and last week was the city’s opportunity to honour them.
Saturday, December 14, was when the citizens of Moratuwa gathered together to appraise their talented young singers who brought fame at the Asia Pacific Choir Games (APCG) Colombo, and to recognise their enthusiasm to step ahead to participate at the World Choir Games (WCG) otherwise known as the ‘Olympics of Choral Music’.
“Moratuwa was unheard of. They knew Colombo, but not Moratuwa. They were surprised as to how a very young choir, from an unheard of city achieved so much at the APGC,” Head of Prestantia Music School, and Choir Director, Dr. Priyeshni Pieris-Perera reminiscenced. Now, the city of Moratuwa had come forward to make their dream come true.
“This is the first of such efforts to support their participation at the WCG at Flanders in Belgium,” said the organisers.
They sang, they danced and they had fun. It was a joyful and jolly evening in keeping with the true spirit of the city along with prizes and surprises which made many hearts merry.
While the angelic voices of the Children’s Choir of Prestantia School of Music and the Prestantia Chorale were raised in Christmas carols, the artists of fame hailing from Moratuwa, Rukshan Perera, Lankika Perera, Melantha Perera, Eranjan and Viranjan Perera entertained the audience with popular songs, both Sinhala and English, from many a different era joining the hearts as well as the voices of young and old alike.
The public who are interested in encouraging the young singers and participating in their effort to raise funds to compete at the WGC could contact them through their Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/pg/PrestantiaChorale/) or call Rukshan +94-77-244-1501 and Eranga+94-77-343-7428 for details.
Pix: Chaminda Niroshan