The National Youth Orchestra wows the audience in Kandy

Last Friday the Dharamaraja College auditorium was the venue for a unique and artistic evening of classical and contemporary orchestral and choral music that featured young talent being honed to perfection to exceed the mere act of playing music; it was a wonderful collaboration of over 300 youngsters from age 11 to 25 – a chorale of no less than 250 students, both girls and boys from schools in Kandy and 70 budding musicians of the National Youth Orchestra (NYO) – who came together for an unforgettable musical performance.

The musical afternoon opened with the orchestra performing the first movement of Beethoven’s “Symphony # 5” which was followed by Sunil Edirisinghe’s “Ruduru Thuru Wadule”, John Philip Sousa’s “Liberty Bell”, the much loved and venerated song “Danno Budunge” composed by the Indian musician Viswanth Lauji and “The Typewriter” – a composition by Leroy Anderson, in which compère Arun Dias-Bandaranaike used an actual typewriter as a percussion instrument – the evening continued renditions of “Mihikatha Nalawala”, “When you Believe”, “Katu Akule”,

Sri Lankan students are focused, committed and determined to learn and up- skill their knowledge with hands-on experience within the field of choice. The country needs students to come and serve for the motherland. It is reassuring to state that some of the students actually does return, due to the strong bond established with their roots of origin. Sri Lankan industries are starting to bloom, and it is growing to a different level. This is a country which is focused on service and agriculture. Leaving that aside, it is noteworthy to realize that the options are infinite, since employment potential are diversified within a variety of different industries.

There might be several restraints, but those who return most probably will be able to build a bright prosperous future for themselves, their family and create a favorable contribution for the domestic economy. Those who return can be a fabulous employee to an organization who gives opportunities for future students somewhere down the line, or become a great entrepreneur who creates new lanes for others to pursue.

“Love Changes Everything”, Choose the right path that suits “Amigos Para Siempre” and your future. A student who wishes to “World in Union” by the choir be a medical professional ought to be was simply perfection in groomed within that specific field, sound that suggested that the without settling on alternative lane. coaching masters had thorThis should be done at a younger age, oughly prepared these youngbecause it gets difficult as the student sters, who performed as a singets older. Parents should be focused gle disciplined unit carried by on their commitments to their chilthe committed dedication and dren. The commitment starts from the direction of Ms Ushitha early stages of a student’s life. As a Samarakoon, Deputy Director parent, it is my dream to give the best of Western Music of the education for my child, and this is a Ministry of Education; even dream shared by every parent across the encounters with the the globe. That is the biggest chip that Kandyan Dancers of the they carry on their shoulder. As an Ranaviru Royal College and the institution, as a professional and as a girls of Mahamaya Girls school parent, I would say that the fundamenimpressed the audience in tal responsibility is to provide the best their own way as did the skit possible education for your child, by the comparer Arun Diassince it is a fundamental right of any Bandaranaike for “Typewriter”. individual. That is the manner in which

The evening concluded we, as parents, can take our children, with Johann Strauss Sr.’s as well as our country towards pros“Radetzky March”perity.thatwon rounds of applause and Prof Marcus Lane, A/g Deputy Vice cheers by more than 400 Chancellor, Division of Tropical spectators – student, teachEnvironments and Societies and Vignesh ers and parents who packed Vijayaraghavan, Head of International of the auditorium at James Cook University will be visiting Dharmaraja College. Sri Lanka during the period 26-27 Nov

This year also marks the 2019 to meet with potential collabora27th anniversary of the foundtors to discuss opportunities they could ing of The National Youth present to the university. For further Orchestra (NYO),that has durdetails and appointments, please email ing the past decades made David Samuel, Regional Head, James great efforts to create an Cook University. awareness of classical westE: david.samuel@jcu.edu.au ern music to school audiences. Randheer Mallawaarachchi

How does James Cook University remain competitive within the University System?

James Cook University has its own strengths. Some of the courses that are offered; Engineering, Accounting, IT, Sciences, Education, Governance and Leadership, Guidance and Counselling, Health & Medicine, MBAs are highly sought after. The competition is not regarding greatness, but with the global placement it has made throughout the years. James Cook University continuously seeks to explore means to further