The Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka will stage its first ever performance in Jaffna on November 17th as part of the Japanese Embassy’s 60th anniversary celebrations. The Concert titled “Music from Around the World” will will feature three excellent Japanese professionals as the conductor – Keiko Kobayashi, the main soloist (Clarinet) Ado Kihara and the Japanese composer, Eiji Suzuki, who will introduce his special composition to the People of Jaffna.The Concert in Jaffna is free of charge

The Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka is delighted to be collaborating with the Embassy of Japan in their celebration of 60 years of diplomatic relations with Sri Lanka.

Japan has been a long term contributor to cultural development in Sri Lanka, besides being one of the biggest donors to this country. In 1992 Japan gifted an assortment of instruments to the Ministry of Education for the establishment of the National Youth Orchestra, which recently celebrated 20 years of performance of western orchestral music.

The Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka was invited by the Association of Japanese Orchestras and the Agency for Cultural Affairs to perform in their annual Asia Orchestra week in 2007, in a Goodwill orchestra, which combined musicians from India, Japan and Sri Lanka. The relationship between our two countries, in the sphere of classical music, blossomed over the next five years through the annual sponsorship of the Japanese conductor Keiko Kobayashi and successive soloists from Japan by the Japan Foundation. The interaction with Japanese musicians has been of great benefit to us.

This year is the 55th season of the Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka – its driving force is its commitment towards sharing the joy and beauty of classical orchestral music with the people of this country. We have, over the years, presented master works from the orchestral repertoire in our concerts as well as provided many opportunities for our audience to enjoy the artistry of outstanding Sri Lankan and foreign soloists.

The Premieres Concert on November 10th will feature the International Pianist Dr. Tanya Ekanayaka from Sri Lanka, who will be the soloist in Beethoven’s Piano concerto No. 3. This concert is conducted by our Japanese conductor Keiko Kobayashi and will showcase a special composition by renowned Japanese composer Eiji Suzuki, which is based on Sri Lankan folk tunes.

Our commitment to share our music is not restricted to giving formal concerts in Colombo. The SOSL reaches out to students through outreach programs both in and outside Colombo. Over the last two years the SOSL has taken music to the South and to the North, up to Kilinochchi, in our efforts to share our music with the communities outside Colombo.

We are delighted that on November 17th, as part of the Embassy of Japan’s 60th anniversary celebrations, SOSL will perform its very first concert in Jaffna. This concert, which is titled “Music from Around the World”, will feature three excellent Japanese professionals as the conductor – Keiko Kobayashi, the main soloist (Clarinet) Ado Kihara and the Japanese composer, Eiji Suzuki, who will introduce his special composition to the People of Jaffna.

The concert in Jaffna is offered free and is open to all music loving people. It is a program which will entertain and educate as well. The different instruments of the orchestra will be explained and demonstrated to the audience. In addition, the music to be performed during the concert will be described to give a greater understanding to the audience. We are sure that the overall experience will provide great entertainment for students, teachers and the general music loving public.

We look forward to the opportunity to share our music with the People of Jaffna as we believe that music is a universal language that transcends all barriers and is enjoyed by all. We thank the Embassy of Japan for giving us the opportunity to do so.