Jaliya Senanayake, Laknath Seneviratne and Asanka Perera are the soloists in this programme with Navin Fernando (trumpet), Ayesha Casie Chetty (piano) and Neranjan de Silva (organ) as accompanists.

Jaliya made an impression of solo potential when he was a student in the Royal College choir. He made his debut contribution and awareness as a tenor in the Cantata Singers presentation of Cantate Domino in July 2006. He was the solo tenor in Purcell’s Ode to St Cecilia’s Day. Recently Jaliya attended the Eton Choral Summer Course in the United Kingdom and sang at King’s College Cambridge with the workshop choir and also sang in a programme with the BBC. Jaliya is a pupil of Menaka de Fonseka Sahabandu and has distinctions in the Performers Certificate (Trinity College London) and in Grade 8 (Royal School of Music). He was also a member of the chorus of the opera "Pearl Fishers", by Bizet, staged in Sri Lanka in January 2008, by the Neemrana Music Foundation.

Laknath who was a student of Royal College was a member of the of College Choir of which he was the Leader in 2003 and trained the choir in 2004. He was a student of Mary Anne David from 1996 to 2002. He continues his singing as a pupil of Menaka de Fonseka Sahabandu and joined the Cantata Singers in 2004. He has a Performers Certificate (Trinity College London) in singing and was a prize winner in 2007. He was also a member of the chorus of the opera "Pearl Fishers", by Bizet, staged in Sri Lanka in January 2008, by the Neemrana Music Foundation and in the Indian production of the opera "Carmen" staged in April 2008 in New Delhi, India. He has achieved a pinnacle in his studies - Law, and will be leaving for his Masters in Law later this year at the University College London.

Asanka Perera commenced his musical career in the Thomian choir as a young boy of 7 years of age and was the leader of the choir from 2001 to 2004 and is grateful to Russel Bartholomeusz who trained him for that position. Asanka is a vocal creation of Ruwani Seimon - an impressionable impresario, who had built a reputation for herself and to her choral group the Voices in Harmony. Asanka has been carefully trained by Ruwani into a strong musical voice, who sings both as a bass and when required as a tenor and is an Associate of Trinity College London. He is also a member of The Revelations male voice choral group, who were adjudged World Champions in two categories and won two gold medals and a silver at the recently concluded World Choir Games in Graz, Austria in July 2008. He is now the Associate Director of the Cantata Singers.

There were many composers whose music have enraptured the hearts and minds of an unaccountable magnitude of musical adherents and Handel was one of them. Handel gave the "Saints" of the musical world such unimaginable dramatization in his Oratorios - no costumes, stage presentation and scenery - characteristic of the style of music which introduced the quality of opulence and veracity as a captured admirer acclaimed about his secular staged oratorios. It is the sacred opinion of the musical world that nothing could be less immaculate than the Messiah. Among the narrative oratorios based on biblical themes, Samson, could clip the edge on others as the most outstanding.

Jaliya, Laknath and Asanka join the chorus of Cantata Singers in excerpts from Samson and Messiah. It is a special performance to thank these young singers for their association with the Cantata Singers. They have shown devoted concern and support and have associated with the Cantata Singers with thankful friendship and co-operation enjoying shared companionship with the other choristers. The Cantata Singers wish their ambitions fulfilled in the academic field, and their adventurous stride into a new world of adult growth will bring them rewards they can enjoyably share with others in the new world which they will be building for the future of their generation.

This is also a performance to thank Premila Perimpanayagam as we have known her, now Rajendra, for her contribution, support and loyal friendship with Cantata Singers as we bid farewell to her on her decision to migrate to Canada, whose untiring efforts as accompanist over the years and her friendship and loyalty no words could express.

Entrance by programme (Rs. 200) which will be available at the entrance of the Kollupitiya Methodist Church.