Mr. G. S. G. W. Kumara
Acting Head - Department of Western Music | Lecturer (Probationary)
Qualifications: Bachelor of Performing Art (Special) Degree awarded by University of Visual & Performing Arts
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 Art (Special) Degree awarded by University of Visual & Performing Arts
- Associate Diploma in Music performance (ALCM) Classical Singing – awarded by London College of Music
- Associate Diploma in Music performance (ATCL) –Singing – awarded by Trinity College London
- Advanced Level Graded Examination in Music Theory – awarded by Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, United Kingdom
- Post Graduate Diploma in Writership & Communication awarded by University of Sri Jayawardhanapura
- Master of Education degree programme in Asia E University, Malaysia (Reading)
Research Interests:
- A study on techniques for voice production in Western classical singing
- A study on Western Ballet and its Music
- A study on the importance of including, concepts related to value education in the grade 6 Western Music school curriculum
- Inquire into the problems related in the implementation of School-Based Assessment Programme at the school level in the subject of Western Music
Publications:
- 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
- Prize winner for ALCM (Standard) – Classical Singing – 2016
- All Island winner from Classical Ballet Duo for Sri Lankan Festival of Music, Dancing and Speech held by British and International Federation of Festival for Music, Dancing and Speech – 2010
Achievements:
- Lionel Edirisinghe Scholarship awarded by the Faculty of Music (UVPA)