Cinnamon Lakeside’s debut Children’s Christmas Choir Festival celebrates magic of Christmas

From left: Cinnamon City Hotels Marketing Executive Nipun Bandara, Head of Marketing Communications Tharika Goonathilake, Soundarie David Rodrigo, Elena Volodina, Communications Manager Indumathi Bandara, Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo Assistant F&B Manager Ishan Rodrigo, and Director F&B Malintha Pathiraja 

The two music directors, Soundarie David Rodrigo and Elena Volodina with members of the Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo team and the City Sector Marketing Communications team

Two internationally-acclaimed music directors on one stage – Sri Lanka’s Soundarie David Rodrigo and Russia’s Elena Volodina with the Alye Parusa choir 

• Features Russian choir and over 400 junior choir students

For the first time in Sri Lanka, over 400 children participated in the Children’s Christmas Choir Festival curated by Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo, where internationally award-winning Russian all-female choir Alye Parusa, directed by Elena Volodina, performed on 13 and 14 December. 

The festival was supported by internationally-renown music director Soundarie David Rodrigo. 

Audiences witnessed the exceptional vocal and musical talents of the youngsters, ranging in age from five to 14 years. A variety of Christmas songs and carols were performed by the enthusiastic choristers, paying tribute to the meaning of the season, and the joy that music brings throughout Christmas time and the period surrounding it. 

On the first night, the Russian choir was joined by three junior choirs of the Soul Sounds Academy, directed by Dinushka Jayawickrama and Amandhi Caldera, as well as the youngsters of Petite Chorale, directed by Haasini Andree.

On the second night, the Alye Parusa choir performed alongside students of local and international school junior choirs, including Asian International School directed by Indumini Siriwardana; Gateway College, Rajagiriya directed by Gayathri Sellathurai; St. Benedict’s College, Colombo directed by Maryanne Victoria; Lyceum International School, Panadura directed by Nilangika Mendis; the British School in Colombo directed by Anupama Dehiwela and Sarah Flynn; and Wycherly International School directed by Ilma Faizeen.

Alye Parusa Director Elena Volodina expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the teams involved for inviting the choir to Sri Lanka, and for providing them with an opportunity to share their love and appreciation of music and song, while also experiencing the hospitality of Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo. 

In addition, on the morning of 14 December, a choral workshop was conducted by the Russian choir where other youngsters interested in singing and choral performance could learn from the experienced choir members.

This first-ever event in Sri Lanka was made possible with the hard work, dedication and support of General Manager Rohan Fernandopulle and the teams at Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo as well as the City Sector Marketing Communications team which conceputalised the event with Rodrigo. Stage production, light and sound were coordinated by Javin Thomas and his team.

To see more photos of the two-day event, visit the Cinnamon Lakeside Facebook page:

www.facebook.com/cinnamonlakeside.

Soul Sounds Academy Choir