Two Lankan musicians of note at SOSL’s Women of Note
In the music world, it is not common to come across notable contributions by established female composers and musicians. On October 14 at the Lionel Wendt, the Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka (SOSL) presents “Women of Note”, a concert exclusively featuring women composers and highlighting this country’s own exceptional women musicians.
The concert is being held to honour the memory of Mrs. Swarna Gunasekara, one of the founders of the SOSL who was also an active first violinist of the orchestra for over 50 years.
The concert will highlight the works of Shannon Jacobs, one of Sri Lanka’s very own composers, who also excels in the roles of music director, performer and educator. Assistant Director of Faculty Development at Berklee College of Music, Boston, she is an alumnus of the college herself, and teaches courses such as ‘Music and Social Justice’ and ‘Women in Blues and Gospel Music’. Shannon is actively involved in dialogue surrounding justice through the performing arts and providing faculty with resources for classroom management.
“When I was younger, my services to the St. Paul’s Church Milagiriya inspired me to explore the possibility of using music for social change,” Shannon said in an email interview with The Sunday Times. “As creatives, we have the power to reflect the world around us though our work and bring people together.”
In 2011, she founded Music.Inc along with her close friends; a show choir in Sri Lanka that created awareness through the performing arts and fulfilled a wish-list for terminally ill and underprivileged children.
Her compositions and arrangements range from classical, jazz, gospel and contemporary for the likes of Color Violeta, The Southeast Asian Choir Games, the Gustav Mahler Symphony Orchestra and various theatrical productions and short films. “I can’t remember exactly when I started composing, because I kind of fell into it from a very young age and never looked back. All I remember was that music brought me joy and that I always wanted more of it!”
“Motherlands: Belonging”, which she composed this year will be featured in the SOSL concert programme. “It is a piece about living between two worlds, and what made me feel like I truly belonged in each one of them,” Shannon says, reflecting on her work. This genre of music is partly classical, partly contemporary, she adds, expressing that it reads like a story and plays on your emotions.
There are certain sections of the piece that emulate the emotions she felt throughout significant parts of her life. “I realized through this writing process that for me, belonging was not necessarily associated with a place or objects, but the people and experiences that shaped me at that point in time,” she says, encouraging those who hear it to reflect on their own sense of belonging.
The programme will also feature the remarkable talent of Shanthi Dias – pianist, accompanist, and educator, as she delivers the works of Clara Schuman; Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 7. “It’s an honour to be a part of this programme,” Shanthi says, stating that apart from the women composers featured, there are many women in the orchestra who are an inspiration by their continued passion to play music together, despite family responsibilities and demanding careers. Shanthi herself is a past principal of Methodist College.
It should be noted that the performance of Clara Schumann’s works was only revived in recent times. Clara promoted the works of her husband, Robert Schumann, all her life, despite having composed many piano and choral works herself. “This piece is a beautiful work, though technically very challenging,” Shanthi says, but being the dedicated musician she is, the audience can look forward to a stellar performance from her.
The orchestra will be conducted by Dushyanthi Perera, the SOSL’s principal conductor as well as the country’s first female conductor.
‘Women of Note’ is on October 14 at the Lionel Wendt Theatre at 7 p.m. Tickets are now available at the Wendt Theatre: Rs. 7500, 5000, 4000, 3000 (Reserved) and 1500 (Balcony – unreserved).