Aconcert featuring Tilanka Jayamanne on flute and Sureka Amerasinghe on piano in a pot-pourri of classical, jazz and pop music will be held at the Russian Centre Auditorium, 10 Independence Avenue, Colombo 07 on Friday 26th September 2008 at 7.00 p.m.

Twenty year old Tilanka Jayamanne began lessons on the flute with Sita Joseph-de Saram at the age of 11 and thereafter continued lessons with Sureka Amerasinghe. He is a gifted flautist who at the age of 15 succeeded in obtaining his first Diploma (ATCL), held his debut recital and won the wind category award at the prestigious Concerto Competition of the Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka. In 2005 he secured distinctions for both LTCL and Dip ABRSM exams conducted by the Trinity College of Music and the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, London respectively, coming first in both these Diploma exams for Flute Music Performance.

Tilanka is an undergraduate of the University of Warwick, London, studying for a degree in law. A music scholarship awarded to him by the University’s Music Centre bestows on him the privilege of being tutored by specialist teachers to further develop his musical skills. Tilanka contributes to the varied activities of the Music Centre and participates in the Symphony Orchestra, the Wind Ensemble and Flute Choir (as leader) of the Music Centre.

Tilanka also plays the piano, recorder and guitar and enjoys singing. He loves composing and performing modern melodies for the flute and piano.

Sureka Amerasinghe is a Pianist, Flautist, Violinist and a Recorder player. She has been an award winner in all four instruments. She is a Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music in Piano Teaching and a Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music in Flute Performance. She was the winner of the travel grant scholarship awarded by the Royal Schools of Music London which gave her the opportunity to study at the Royal Academy of Music, London.

Sureka teaches Flute, Piano and Voice. She is the Choral director of the Ladies’ College, Royal College and Colombo International School choirs. She has presented choir shows and musical evenings comprising of a wide range of styles with the three schools and also directed many combined choirs comprising of up to four hundred voices.

She has done many choral and orchestral arrangements which have been performed by the Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka, Philharmonic Orchestra and other ensembles. Sureka is also a keen singer. She performed in the Indo-French-Sri Lankan production of the opera "Pearl Fishers" in Colombo and earlier this year in the opera "Carmen" in Delhi.

Friday’s concert will include classical works by Mozart, Hindemith, Chaminade, Rachmanincv and Godard in addition to jazz and pop music. Tilanka will perform his own modern composition "Dragon Fly" arranged for flute, piano, violin, bass guitar and drums. Brilliant pianist Eshantha Peiris, virtuoso violinist Dominic Johnpillai, well known bass guitarist Upula Madhushanka and maestro on drums Aruna Siriwardena will join him in this special item. The entire proceeds of this concert will be donated to the Colombo YWCA. Tickets are priced at Rs 1000/- (Reserved), Rs 700/- (Free seating) and will be available for sale from 12th September 2008 at the YWCA: Tel. 2324694, Russian Centre: Tel. 2685429/2685440 or from Rohini: Tel. 071-2762404.