At Traffic Lights
differences however, it’s the music that’s brought them together all these years. ‘Forever in song’ captures the idea of a friendship and a sense of sisterhood, forged through music.
Furthermore, it is because of their differences that the practice sessions end up being quite interesting, we find out. “Apart from somebody yelling ‘girls!’ over the noise, it almost always ends up being about laughter and fun,” Thilini says.
The fun aside, the girls have also stay focused and determined to reach their goals. It was this attitude which won them the medals at the Choir Games.
Winning at The Asia Pacific Choir Games was a pleasant surprise, Thilini recalls. Indeed, they hadn’t even entered for the Grand Prix category, but qualified through the Gospel/Spiritual rounds. Thilini was in a three wheeler on her way back home after a morning session of the competition, when she got the call, telling her they had qualified.
Surprised, she didn’t know what to say because Contempo didn’t have a song prepared and some of the girls had either gone back to work or home. “We finished around 11 am and the competition was starting at 2.00pm. We had to pick a song fast and get it approved by Interkultur. “It was, to simply put it, chaos. But it was good chaos.”
Once they got the song sorted, everyone put on their costumes and went back on stage, only to win a Gold medal in the Grand Prix as well. “Forever In Song” builds from the experience gained at the games and promises a performance that is truly world class. Contempo will showcase pieces, which the choir performed at the games. The aim is to give everyone a chance to hear and understand what they are capable of.
“We’re good at singing different genres of music so we don’t just stick to one category, rather we cater to a wider audience and this is just what you can expect at the show too,” Thilini adds. In this sense, the concert will feature songs that are spiritual, whilst also including a range of Pop, Jazz and Rock music. The audience might just witness a little bit of dancing as well, we are told.
Dulani Denipitiya a younger member of the choir joins us. As she recalls, her journey with ‘Contempo’ has been nothing short of exciting, to the point where she looks forward to the practices each day.
“It is more like an extended family,” she explains adding that even though they induct new members every year, they blend in perfectly well.
I braked the vehicle suddenly as the traffic lights changed color.
On our right side there was a large blue color bus waiting in the traffic to go in the other direction & my wife was staring at that bus.
During those ninety seconds stay there, she did not take her eyes off the bus.
Lights turned to green & I moved my vehicle forward. At that instant I saw her waving her hand towards somebody in the bus.
“Who was he?” I wanted to know.
“Oh, some pathetic old man with unkempt hair and a sad face”.
“And?’
“His eyes were full of tears too” she said sadly. “So, what did you do?” I wanted to know. “I smiled at him, Jaye & he too waved at me and smiled with me”
I wanted the conversation to go further. “Why?”
And it hit me like a thunder.
The blue color bus was a prison bus! Tickets are priced at Rs. 1500, Rs.1000, Rs.800 and Rs.600 (Balcony). And can be purchased at St Bridget’s Convent Colombo 7