Violinist Hiranya brings honour to Good Shepherd
A felicitation ceremony was held on October 14, in honour of Grade 12 Commerce student Hiranya Sathsaraniya Meththasinghe, who brought fame to her Alma Mater Good Shepherd Convent, Nuwara Eliya, winning the ‘Sangeeth Abhiman’ and ‘Sangeeth Praveen’ with the Violin and the Esraj, against contestants from Colombo schools.
Identifying her talents, her music teacher Mrs Devika Kumari selected her for the singing competitions in 2011. In 2015, she won 3rd place at the All-Island Individual Raghadhari Competition with the Violin. In 2016 and 2017 she came 2nd in the Senior competitions.
In 2018, she won the All Island Individual Raghadhari competition with the Violin and the Esraj.
She is equally talented in playing the guitar as well as the organ.
Nuwara Eliya Zonal Education Director Amarasiri Piyadasa speaking on the occasion, said “Unlike in Colombo, where you have all the facilities, here, in a village, it is a very difficult task to bring victory, but Hiranya has done it. I believe that, by making arrangements to play the music piece she played today at the morning assembly, you can do a great service to school.”
Hiranya said that, though she is a Buddhist, she was given the opportunity to join the choir at St. Sylvester's Church Nuwara Eliya and play the Violin for the choir. The felicitation ceremony was arranged on the instructions of Principal Rev Sr Mary Nilanka and was attended by Rev Kirioruwe Dheeranada TheraChief Incumbent of the Nuwara Eliya International Buddhist Centre, Rev Fr Kamalan Prasad- Asst. Parish Priest of St. Xaviour's Church Nuwara Eliya, Mrs Veronica Shrima, former Director of Music & Aesthetic studies, parents and well-wishers. Pic & Text by Shelton Hettiaarachchi