Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka
Encyclopedia
The Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka (SOSL) is based in Colombo
, Sri Lanka, and is one of the oldest orchestras in South Asia.
Its first concert was on 13 September 1958 under the baton of Hussain S. Mohamed, and the repertoire was Geminiani's Second Concerto Grosso, Haydn's Symphony no. 92 "Oxford" and Beethoven's Fourth Piano Concerto with Malini Jayasinghe-Pieris as soloist. Kalakeerthi Prof. Earle de Fonseka was the next principal conductor, a position he held from 1960 to 2000. Lalanath de Silva, who was for many years deputy conductor, took over the position of principal conductor from 2000 to 2002.
The present principal conductors are Ajit Abeysekera, Ananda Dabare, Manilal Weerakoon and Eshantha J. Peiris.
Soloists who have performed with the orchestra include Gervase de Peyer
(clarinet
), Barry Tuckwell
(horn), Richard Adeney
(flute
), Thomas Brandis and Leon Spierer (violin, then concertmasters of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
), Paul Olefsky and Rohan de Saram
(cello), Rodney Slatford
(double bass
), Druvi de Saram, Peter Cooper
, Ian Lake
, Robin Zebaida, Anthony Peebles and Rohan de Silva
(piano). In addition to subscription concerts (the number varies annually), there are other performances on special occasions. It is resident at the Ladies' College Hall, Colombo. Sri Lankan, as well as soloists and conductors of other nationalities, including James Ross
, have performed regularly with the orchestra on invitation.
,Sri Lanka on 24 April 2010.
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
, Sri Lanka, and is one of the oldest orchestras in South Asia.
Its first concert was on 13 September 1958 under the baton of Hussain S. Mohamed, and the repertoire was Geminiani's Second Concerto Grosso, Haydn's Symphony no. 92 "Oxford" and Beethoven's Fourth Piano Concerto with Malini Jayasinghe-Pieris as soloist. Kalakeerthi Prof. Earle de Fonseka was the next principal conductor, a position he held from 1960 to 2000. Lalanath de Silva, who was for many years deputy conductor, took over the position of principal conductor from 2000 to 2002.
The present principal conductors are Ajit Abeysekera, Ananda Dabare, Manilal Weerakoon and Eshantha J. Peiris.
Soloists who have performed with the orchestra include Gervase de Peyer
Gervase de Peyer
Gervase Alan de Peyer is an English clarinetist and conductor.-Professional career:Gervase de Peyer was born in London and attended Bedales School. He was awarded a scholarship to the Royal College of Music where he studied clarinet with Frederick Thurston and piano with Arthur Alexander...
(clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
), Barry Tuckwell
Barry Tuckwell
Barry Emmanuel Tuckwell AC, OBE , is an Australian horn player who has spent most of his professional life in the United Kingdom and the United States.- Early life and education :...
(horn), Richard Adeney
Richard Adeney
Richard Gilford Adeney was a British flautist who played principal flute with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and the English Chamber Orchestra, was a soloist and a founding member of the Melos Ensemble.-Biography:...
(flute
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
), Thomas Brandis and Leon Spierer (violin, then concertmasters of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
The Berlin Philharmonic, German: , formerly Berliner Philharmonisches Orchester , is an orchestra based in Berlin, Germany. In 2006, a group of ten European media outlets voted the Berlin Philharmonic number three on a list of "top ten European Orchestras", after the Vienna Philharmonic and the...
), Paul Olefsky and Rohan de Saram
Rohan de Saram
Rohan de Saram is a British-born Sri Lankan cellist. Until his thirties he made his name as a classical artist, but has since become renowned for his involvement in and advocacy of contemporary music....
(cello), Rodney Slatford
Rodney Slatford
Rodney Slatford is an English contemporary double bass player and teacher . He was the principal bass player of the Midland Sinfonia, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, and English Chamber Orchestra, a founder of the Nash Ensemble, and has been a principal player in other early music ensembles...
(double bass
Double bass
The double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
), Druvi de Saram, Peter Cooper
Peter Cooper
Peter Cooper was an American industrialist, inventor, philanthropist, and candidate for President of the United States...
, Ian Lake
Ian Lake
Ian Lake was a pianist and composer who taught for many years at the Royal College of Music in London.-References:....
, Robin Zebaida, Anthony Peebles and Rohan de Silva
Rohan de Silva
Rohan de Silva is a Sri Lankan pianist. De Silva studied at the Royal Academy of Music and The Juilliard School, working closely with violin pedagogue Dorothy DeLay. He has been awarded numerous prizes and scholarships including a special prize as Best Accompanist at the 1990 Ninth International...
(piano). In addition to subscription concerts (the number varies annually), there are other performances on special occasions. It is resident at the Ladies' College Hall, Colombo. Sri Lankan, as well as soloists and conductors of other nationalities, including James Ross
James Ross (conductor)
James Ross MA, MSt, DPhil, is a British conductor and author.-Career:Ross studied at Harrow School, and later at Christ Church, Oxford from where he received an MA in Modern History , an MSt in Music , and a DPhil in French opera...
, have performed regularly with the orchestra on invitation.
Administration
The Governors and the Players' Committees are elected by the players at the Annual General Meeting. The Board of Governors establishes overall policy, raises sponsorship and controls the finances. The Panel of Regents serves in a senior advisory capacity. The Players' Committee makes decisions concerning the music, soloists and the conductors.Young Soloists
The SOSL takes special interest in fostering young Sri Lankan talent, and dedicates one of its annual subscription concerts to feature Young Soloists.SOSL Outreach
The SOSL Outreach Program takes the form of a series of lecture concerts. Children who have never seen a Symphony Orchestra before, are introduced to the instruments that make up the sections of an orchestra. The range, tone, and method of sound production of each instrument is demonstrated. Students, Teachers and Parents are invited, free of charge, to attend these concerts. The first of these concerts took place in GalleGalle
Galle is a city situated on the southwestern tip of Sri Lanka, 119 km from Colombo. Galle is the capital city of Southern Province of Sri Lanka and it lies in Galle District....
,Sri Lanka on 24 April 2010.