Orchestra

The Orchestra of S.T.P.S. was inaugurated on the 25th of July in 2016 with a combination of instrumentalists from the Carnatic Orchestra, Sinhala Orchestra, Hewisi Band and Western Band. When forming the Orchestra, we had in mind the following aims and objectives:

  1. The intention of combining various instrumentalists such as Western, South Indian, North Indian and Folk Music.
  2. The Objective of teaching the young musicians how to pay respect to all types of cultural music from all over the world.
  3. To abstract different interests and tastes of these types of music and mix them together to create Orchestral Fusions.
  4. To improve the talent of playing different types of Instruments.

In 2018, when the School had to celebrate its 80th anniversary; we were able to start a series of Orchestral Concerts by the name “GANDHAR”. The first of these concerts was held at the Bishop’s College Auditorium on the 7th of March that year. “GANDHAR II” was held on the 14th of February in the year 2020 at the Bishop’s College Auditorium. Before this concert, three Practice Camps were organised for the participating students. Two of these Practice Camps were held at “METH ARANA” and the other one was held in the School itself.

In addition to this concert, some of the instrumentalists perform for the Founders Day programme and the Carol service, annually.

At present, instrumentalists from Grades 4 – 11 are allowed to join the Orchestra.

Orchestra practices are held in two stages. In the first stage, different kinds of instruments practice separately on a daily basis. The main practice sessions take place on Tuesdays and Fridays from 6.15am – 7.45am in the School Orchestra Room.

The instructors of the School Orchestra are Mr. Saranga Wickramage, Mr. Gayan Binduhewa and Mrs. Tanya Alawatte.