Qualifications: BPA(Hons)Sp.-UVPA, PGDW&Com(USJ), PGDE(NIE), MEd(Malaysia)
Profile:
Wasantha Kumara Geekyanage is a vocal lecturer at the Department of Western Music, University of the Visual and Performing Arts (UVPA). His versatility and promising career followed joining as a visiting lecturer to the UVPA in 2011 and establishing himself as a lecturer to the permanent staff 2021. Before adding a feather to his crown in the permanent staff of the UVPA, he has shown the flying colours, whilst as a government teacher for the subject of Western Music, an Assistant Lecturer, Subject Leader on Western Music and Curriculum Developer at the Department of Aesthetic Education in National Institute of Education, Maharagama.
His intrinsic capacity was well proved having the prime opportunity to take part in “The International Chorus Week” in Chengdu, China representing Sri Lanka amongst other Nations like Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, France, Germany, and Russia in the year 2018, while possessing his consistent experience of training both government and international schools’ choirs.
His budding aesthetic skills came into the limelight as the main characters of “The Love Changes Everything” in 2009 and later on “Ethereal Love” in 2012- Ballet Opera Plays, conducted by the Department of Western Music (UVPA). Wasantha Geekiyanage has also achieved the distinction, having been accorded the Lionel Edirisinghe Scholarship for his all-round performances for bagging the highest marks in all the subjects amongst the third-year fellow students of the faculty of Music (UVPA).
Qualifications:
- Bachelor of Performing Arts (Special) Degree, University of the Visual and Performing Arts
- Associate Diploma in Music Performance (ALCM) – Classical Singing, London College of Music
- Associate Diploma in Music Performance (ATCL) – Singing, Trinity College London
- Advanced Level Graded Examination in Music Theory, Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, United Kingdom
- Postgraduate Diploma in Writership & Communication, University of Sri Jayewardenepura
- Postgraduate Diploma in Education, National Institute of Education
- Master of Education (M.Ed.), Asia e University, Malaysia
- Master of Philosophy (MPhil) – Reading, University of Colombo
Research Interests:
- A study on techniques for voice production in Western classical singing (2010)
- A study on the importance of including, concepts related to value education in the grade 6 Western Music school curriculum (2020)
- Inquire into the problems related in the implementation of School-Based Assessment Programme at the school level in the subject of Western Music (2022)
- Effects of Evaluation Strategies among Western Music Undergraduates (2023)
- From Hindustani to Classical Western Vocal Paradigm: Bi-musical Challenges of Indian Classical Vocalists (2023)
- Factors Influencing the Reduction of Western Music Education in Sri Lankan Public Schools (2023)
- Barriers to Developing and Sustaining Western Choirs in Sri Lankan Government Schools (2023)
- An Exploratory Study Based on Sri Lankan Teacher’s Perception of Teaching Music in Primary Education (2024)
- Developing the Cognitive Skills of Students in Key Stage 2 of Primary Education Using Music Activities (2024)
- Integration of Music into the Primary Education Curriculum in Sri Lanka: A Literature Review (2025)
Publications:
- An Exploratory Study Based on Sri Lankan Teacher’s Perception of Teaching Music in Primary Education, Journal of Rajasthan Association for Studies in English 22, 167-185
- Study on the Importance of Including Concepts Related to Value Education in the Grade Six Western Music Sri Lankan School Curriculum (October 2023), Journal of Research in Music 1(1):28-44, DOI: 10.4038/jrm.v1i1.4, License: CC BY-NC 4.0
- An article of “Physiology of Voice Production”, Magazine of State Music award ceremony, 2013, Ministry of cultural affairs
- Musical Harmony, 2019 – Member of the editorial board “Musical Harmony” Book and DVD Production presented by Department of Aesthetic Education, National Institute of Education
Awards:
International
- Gold Medalist and Champions of Music Sacra at Asia Pacific Choir Games -2017
- Golden Diploma at the Asia Pacific Choir Games – 2017, organized by Interkultur
- Prize Winner of ALCM (Standard) – Classical Singing – 2016
- All-Island Winner in Classical Ballet Duo at the Sri Lankan Festival of Music, Dance, and Speech, organized by the British and International Federation of Festivals for Music, Dance, and Speech – 2010
Achievements:
- Lionel Edirisinghe Scholarship, awarded by the Faculty of Music, University of the Visual and Performing Arts (UVPA)
- First Runner-up, Festival of Choirs organized by the Institute of Western Music and Speech, Sri Lanka, 2010 (Evolution Choir – UVPA)
- Certificate Course in “The Background to the Law”, School of Legal Studies, Colombo 08, Sri Lanka
- Assistant Conductor and Vocal Trainer, Prestantia Junior Choir, Sri Lanka
- Former Assistant Lecturer, National Institute of Education, Maharagama
- Former Government Teacher, Ananda Sastralaya, Kotte; introduced and established Western Music as a subject
- Former Choir Trainer and Part-time Teacher (Western Music), Lyceum International School, Ratnapura, Sri Lanka
- Respect and Appreciation: Felicitation by the All-Ceylon Buddhist Congress on its Centenary (in recognition of social services).
- Honorary Title: Conferred by the Board of Shasanaraksha, Pannipitiya (for services to society).