‘King of Kings’ theme for Sebs Christmas Carols
he Sebs Choir’ of St. Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa, one of the prominent choirs amongst the catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Colombo, will come alive again with their annual ‘Carols and Christmas Extravaganza’ at the College main Auditorium on Sunday, 10th December, 2023 at 6.30 onwards.
Through the rapid journey of development over the years, Choir of St. Sebastian’s College began with just a handful of dedicated students who were musically inclined, under the guidance of Rev. Fr. Prasad Niranjan, a musician himself. He transformed the ‘Sebs Choir’, maturing it to be accepted at a national level. Currently, under the guidance of Rev. Fr. Daya Dharshana, the Team is trained by Harith Shihan and directed by Sanjeeva Silva, two proud products of the College Choir. The choir is led by Mas. Ramiru Fernando, Mas. Randima Dissanayake, Mas. Goshitha Chathuranga, and Mas. Ameesha Fernando.
This year’s theme for the ‘Carols and Christmas Extravaganza’ is ‘King of the Kings’. In the serene winter landscape, snowflakes symbolise divine artistry and subtly allude to the King of Kings.
‘As these delicate crystals fall, there’s a quiet celebration of Jesus’ miraculous birth, blending nature’s beauty with a spiritual undertone. The message for society is to embrace diversity like the unique snowflakes, fostering inclusivity, understanding, and unity. May this reflection inspire compassion and kindness, creating a society that mirrors the interconnected beauty found in the delicate dance of snowflakes’ said the Director Sanjeeva Silva.
The Sebs Carol services have been held consecutively for 20 years, starting from 2003. Since then, the annual carol service has been progressively developing each year, thanks to the dedication and hard work of its enthusiastic participants. Currently, the main carol service in Moratuwa is thriving.
Since 2013, the carol service has continued its trajectory of improvement. In 2014, a theme was introduced for the first time, and this practice has continued in the following years. The themes include ‘Rejoice’, ‘Christ our Hope’, ‘Gloria’, ‘Bethlehem’, ‘Breath of Heaven’, ’Night of Silence’, ‘Memories’, ‘A Time of Wonder’, ‘We the Kingdom’ and this year’s theme will be ‘King of Kings’.
‘This year too, the carols will be held in the aim of spreading the Christmas cheer among the Moratuwa music loving family . The carols will be one of the most important and one of the most alluring event in the school calendar’ he added.
The theme chosen for the carol ‘King of Kings’ suggest an intention to engage audiences with both the joyous and spiritual dimensions of the Christmas story. Ultimately, the ‘Sebs Carols’ aim to create an inclusive and celebratory atmosphere that resonates with individuals from various walks of life, including music enthusiasts in Moratuwa.
This year Carol Service ‘King of Kings’ will consist of two sessions. First session will take about 1 hour, and the second session will take about 45 minutes. The two sessions consist of: Traditional Hymns (English/ Latin), Classical compositions of Great composers, Traditional Sinhala Hymns and Modern classical compositions.
There will be more than 100 school choristers from grades 5 to 13 will participate at this year’s Carols.