Timeless Classics Recital

Sanduni Amarakoon-Kamalinie Samarakoon

The Russian House in Colombo and the Gustav Mahler Society of Colombo are proud present a delightful evening of timeless favourites featuring the two newly appointed concertmasters of the Gustav Mahler Orchestra of Colombo, Shehani Fernando and Sanduni Amarakoon along with pianist Kamalinie Samarakoon. The programme features works by Tchaikovsky, Kreisler, Elgar, Massenet and Shostakovich.

The recital will be held at the Russian Cultural Centre on July 22 at 7 pm.

Shehani, who is an alumna of Ladies’ College, Colombo 07 is not only a stellar violinist, but is also equally talented as a pianist, choral singer and a conductor. Shehani serenaded the Colombo audiences last year with her outstanding performance of Franck’s monumental sonata for Violin and Piano at the Lionel Wendt Theatre, and also made history earlier this year by being the youngest female conductor in the country on her appointment as the music director of the Gustav Mahler Academy Orchestra.

Sanduni is a past pupil of Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo 04. She is an undergraduate of the University of Visual and Performing Arts in Colombo. Sanduni is a versatile musician who is equally active in Western Classical music and contemporary music industry is Sri Lanka. Sanduni previously held the position of Associate Concertmaster of the orchestra. She is also a highly sought-after recording artist for violin.

Kamalinie is a highly acclaimed pianist and she currently serves as Senior Lecturer at the Department of Western Music, Faculty of Music of the University of Visual and Performing Arts and was the Head of Department from 2019 to 2022. Kamalinie Samarakoon was granted a visitor scholarship to University of Kansas (KU) in 2008 to study Music Therapy under the Fulbright Commission. Whilst being a pianist she is also a qualified speech and language therapist from the University of Kelaniya, of the medical faculty Ragama. She has also been featured as soloist performing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No1.

The recital marks the launch of the new artistic partnership between the Gustav Mahler Society of Colombo and the Russian House in Colombo which has been a longstanding patron of arts in Sri Lanka.

Tickets are available at the Russian Cultural Center and can be purchased online by contacting 0777987030.