| Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Symphony Orchestra of Ceylon |
| Also known as | SOSL |
| Born | 13/09/1958 |
| Origin | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
| Genres | Classical |
| Occupations | Symphony Orchestra |
| Years active | 1958 – present |
| Website | www.sosl.org |
The Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka (SOSL) is based in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and is one of the oldest orchestras in South Asia.[1]
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.[2] 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.[3]
The present principal conductors are Ajit Abeysekera, Ananda Dabare, Manilal Weerakoon and Eshantha J. Peiris.[4]
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[5][6]), 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),[7] there are other performances on special occasions.[8] 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.[9][10][11][12][13][14]
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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.[15]
The SOSL takes special interest in fostering young Sri Lankan talent, and dedicates one of its annual subscription concerts to feature Young Soloists.[16]
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 Galle,Sri Lanka on 24 April 2010.[17]
The SOSL is an amateur, not for profit organisation which depends on public support as well as corporate sector and occasionally diplomatic sponsorship for its activities.[18][19][20]