The Ceylon Fellowship of Service (CFS) – Prithipura Home will host a fundraising concert on August 13, at the Lionel Wendt Theatre to address their financial deficit this year, caused by the high cost of food and medicinal items.
The concert will feature a violin and piano recital by the musicians Sulara Nanayakkara (violin) and Johann Peiris (piano).
This week, the Youth Observer reached out to the team behind this concert: Devika Anthonisz, the President of Prithipura Home, and Sulara and Johann.
Q: Has Prithipura Home conducted events like this before?
Devika Anthonisz: Yes, we have. We organized piano recitals with Ramya de Livera and Sudari Devi before the Covid-19 pandemic. Fiona used to arrange animal-themed craft sales and handmade jewelry events at the Lionel Wendt. The last event we held was in November of last year.
Johann Peiris (piano)
Q: Why have you decided to have a fundraising concert now?
Devika: This year has been particularly challenging. Typically, we rely on management donations from our sponsors, contributions, and ad hoc donations. However, due to the economic crisis, we are receiving fewer donations. We believe now is the time to take a significant step, and this concert is our way to do it.
Q: Why did you choose Sulara and Johann for this event?
A: They are exceptionally talented and bring a fresh perspective to our concerts. We thought people would be interested in something different, especially for such a worthy cause.
Q: Tell us why you continue to work at Prithipura Home?
A: I have been involved with Prithipura Home since 2016. Every visit fills my heart with joy because the residents are so loving and welcoming. Their positive spirit is infectious, and it gives me a sense of lightheartedness. I am committed to this work for as long as I am able.
The musicians
Sulara Nanayakkara began his violin studies at age five under Lal Perera, continuing with Lakshman Joseph de Saram and Ananda Dabare in Sri Lanka. He earned an Associate and Licentiate diploma from Trinity College of Music, London, and in 2019, completed a Master of Music in Violin Performance at Boyer College of Music and Dance at Temple University, USA, studying under Prof. Meichen Barnes, Dr. Eduard Schmieder, and Prof. Lambert Orkis.
During his time in the USA, Sulara participated in masterclasses with the American String Quartet, Harlem String Quartet, Takács Quartet, Dover String Quartet, and Horzowski Piano Trio.
He also attended masterclasses and was mentored by renowned professionals such as Prof. Gottfried Schneider, Andrew Sherwood, Leo Phillips, Stefan Milenkovich, Ashan Pillai, Stefan Jackiw, and David Kim.
In 2021, Sulara received the Honorary Fellow (FAGM) award from the Australian Guild of Music, recognizing his exceptional teaching and performance in the USA and Sri Lanka. He also serves as a lecturer and examiner for the Bachelor of Music degree at AGM globally.
Sulara is a Grammy-nominated recording artist, receiving nominations for “Best Instrumental Composition” and “Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella” for his work on “Constant Renaissance.” He has performed in prestigious US venues such as Verizon Hall, Temple Performing Arts Center, Rock Hall Recital Auditorium, and Alice Tully Hall.
In 2023, Sulara was invited by the Con Brio Foundation in India to judge the violin category of their 13th annual nationwide competition at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) in Mumbai. He is currently the Principal Second Violinist of the Chamber Music Society of Colombo.
Johanne Peiris is a keyboardist who has collaborated on numerous musical projects, including piano recitals, chamber music, contemporary musical theatre, and soul performances with the Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka and the Chamber Music Society of Colombo.
He has performed in Europe at the Vianden Chamber Music Festival and participated in the Summer Voice Festival at the Manhattan School of Music. His principal teachers include Ramya de Livera, Nathan Hess, Adam Tendler, Sureka Amarasinghe, and Peshali Yapa.
Johanne holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Tharaka College and New York University, respectively. He has been involved in various musical productions, including “Cinderella,” “Fun Home,” and “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change.” He has also worked on experimental music projects for festivals such as the Colombo School and directed music for independent video productions.
Sulara and Johann spoke to us on what we can expect at the concert;
Q: Why did you decide to be a part of this fundraising concert?
Sulara & Johann: We wanted to do a recital for quite some time, and we knew a few people who wanted to help us. When we spoke to Devika and learned about her work at the home, we decided that a fundraising event would be the best approach. This way, we could offer a unique concert experience while raising money for a good cause.
Q: Can you tell us a little bit about what we can expect at the concert?
Sulara & Johann: We will feature works by Mendelssohn, Hindemith, Bloch, Paganini, Kreisler, and more. We wanted this to be an unprecedented experience, so we will not be playing the popular pieces by these composers. Instead, 99 percent of the repertoire will be pieces that have never been played in Sri Lanka.
Prithipura Home
Set up in 1962 as a boys’ home, Prithipura Home began with four residents cared for by house mothers. Today, it is home to 60 differently-abled male and female residents of varying ages, some of whom have been there since childhood and are now over 60 years old. The residents are often sent by the courts from families unable to cope with their mental or physical disabilities or due to socio-economic reasons. Prithipura Home is now their lifelong residence.
The Home is an approved charity under the Inland Revenue Act of 2017. It strives to provide a caring and safe family environment for the well-being and rehabilitation of residents requiring special care. They are encouraged to develop their skills and interests through activity classes provided by the Home.
However, feeding, clothing, and medical expenses for the aging residents, staff salaries, and maintenance of the cottages and garden are ongoing struggles, especially in the current economic climate. A small government grant and generous public support have helped the volunteer Executive Committee continue their work courageously. Nevertheless, this year, donations, regular and ad hoc, have significantly declined.
