Thank you for the music
By Dinuk Gunasekera
I remember I was still a relative newbie at JMSL, just a couple of months or so into the job, when I received a flyer, with a call out to any singers in the company, who would like to audition for a chance at singing for the Chairman’s awards at JKH.
Little did I know that this opportunity would kick-start one of the best experiences of my life.
You may say I’m being a tad bit dramatic (and I may even agree), but the truth is, the phrase “Thank you for the music” describes my take on life. From my days as a tiny tot, when movies like the Lion King and Aladdin made me fall in love with singing, to my “grown up” years when classics written by legends such as Freddy Mercury and Eric Clapton to Pandith Amaradeva and even Sunil Perera suddenly made so much sense, music has been a big part of my life.
And so, I was truly grateful to get the opportunity to sing at the awards, in 2018 and then again in 2019 as well.
From rocking on to “This is me” from the greatest showman in 2018, to a meaningful and well compiled (if I may say so myself) mashup of several songs of unity in 2019, these experiences were memorable to say the least. And as a token of encouragement from JKH for going that extra mile, we even received a “Bravo Award” in 2019! The icing on the cake!
Music is both fun and rewarding. But add to that a group of amazingly talented, yet crazy individuals and you’ve got an entertaining combo! This little write up would be nothing without this bunch of people with whom so many brilliant memories were shared across the last two years.
In addition to the Chairman’s awards, I was also lucky enough to work with several exciting teams of musicians for the annual John Keells and Keells Christmas Carol performances in both 2018 and 2019, as well as performing at the Annual Awards night of Cinnamon resorts in 2019.
There has been so much support and encouragement from my supervisors and team at JMSL and from everyone involved in Chairman’s Awards and Christmas carols in making this all possible; Though I still have a long way to go on my journey as both a professional and musician, my experience as a part of the John Keells family, has been nothing short of amazing. From the long practice sessions and late night snacks with the team, to the awesome feeling of doing what you love, sharing a stage with some amazing people, these are just a few of the many reasons why I am proud to be a part of this truly great company.
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