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Talented singer Amandhi has been an active member of Soul Sounds since 2008. She has furthered her passion for singing, acting, and teaching children with special needs, securing along the way a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She is currently doing her Masters in Clinical Psychology at the University of Colombo.

When she is not busy with her students, Amandhi spends her time on stage; she has acted with the Workshop Players (taking on lead roles in productions such as The Sound of Music, Ragdoll, and Jesus Christ Superstar, Les Miserable) and with Jehan Aloysius in his production, Rag. Amandhi aspires towards a career in Child Psychology, and hopes to one day establish a school for children with special needs. She was Music Director and producer for the primary school production ‘Bully’ presented by Ladies College. She has performed with Soul Sounds both in Sri Lanka and overseas at concert tours and competitions

Amandi is a vocal teacher at the Soul Sounds Academy, has completed her grade 8 with high distinctions in Pop and Rock exams from Trinity London, as well as Grade 5 of Vocal classical exams conducted by the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. She also conducts classes for children with special needs at the Soul Sounds Academy, using music as a therapy. 

Started learning music at a very tender age when her maternal grandfather taught the basics of Oriental Music on a pedestal model of a Harmonium and the Violin. However, a few years later, she started the serious study of Music on the Piano at the Pestonjee School of Music under the able guidance of the late Mrs. Mary Billimoria who instilled a very firm foundation in the field of music. She completed her final grades in music at her alma mater at Holy Family Convent, Bambalapitiya under the tutelage of the late Rev. Sister Mary of Mercy. After a break in her adult years, when she was employed in the field of Stenography and Secretarial work, she once again resumed her music under the tutelage of Mrs Louisa David, and Soundarie David Rodrigo, who inspired her to complete her Associate of the Trinity College of Music, London, and her Certificate of Performance of Teachers, in Western Music in Sri Lanka.

Since 2003, she has been teaching the piano to young children, and has been teaching at the Soul Sounds Academy since 2013. She derives much pleasure in imparting her knowledge and being a part of the talented and energetic group of young children at the Soul Sounds Academy.

Manoj Chandrasena, known to all as simply “Manoj” started working with the Soul Sounds Academy from 2013. Prior to that whilst completing his studies, he has also been helping the David family with the music shop – “Sounds & Company”. He looks into student registration, student enrollment and all administrative aspects of the Academy, and works directly under the Board of Directors.

Soundarie David Rodrigo, completed her musical career at the prestigious Royal College of Music in London, where she was conferred with the award, Associate of the Royal College of Music, in piano performance and piano accompaniment. While at the Royal College of Music she participated in the prestigious Piano Platform series, which also gave her the opportunity to accompany various instrumentalists and vocalists, and collaborate at various venues including the Royal Festival Hall. As a soloist, Soundarie has performed both locally and internationally. She has performed with the Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka playing Beethovan’s piano concerto number one and the famous Greig Piano Concerto. She has performed the Grieg Piano Concerto with the Bombay Symphony Orchestra in 2009. In 2015, she performed the Rhapsody in Blue with the Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka. She enjoys collaborating with various singers and instrumentalists for recitals.

Soundarie is the Founder and Music Director of Sri Lanka’s premiere female ensemble, ‘Soul Sounds’ the first choir in Sri Lanka, to perform and win awards internationally over the last ten years, with acclaimed performances in India, Australia, China, Kuwait, Austria, France, and recently the USA, Malaysia, and South Africa, thus placing Sri Lanka on the map of International choral Music. She is also the Sri Lankan Representative on the Council for Musica Mundi, the International Organisation that hosts several prestigious International Choral Festivals and Competitions and is a jury member at international choral competitions. The ‘Soul Sounds Academy’ is founded by Soundarie, where giving opportunities for those passionate about music is her goal..

Besides having a hectic schedule in the field of music, Soundarie is also a qualified lawyer with a masters in law, in the field of Intellectual Property and Entertainment Law from the University of California, Berkeley. She is currently Deputy Director at the SAARC Cultural Centre based in Sri Lanka. Among her awards include the SAARC Women of Achievement Award, Zonta Award, and the Bunka Award presented by the Japan/Sri Lanka Association.

Dinushka is an English (Hons) graduate of the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka and an Associate of the Trinity College of Music London. She has been a senior Vocal Coach at the Soul Sounds Academy since 2007 conducting both vocal and musical theatre classes. She is currently a Programme Officer at the International Centre for Ethnic Studies as well.

Dinushka began singing at the age of six with the Merry Ann Singers, and was adjudged first runner-up in the Under 16 Solo Category, at the 58th Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in Wales, UK in 2004. She was also awarded an honourable mention at the seventh Biennial Concerto Competition organized by the Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka in the vocal category in 2006 for which she was trained by Soundarie David Rodrigo. Subsequently, she was featured as a soloist at the Young Soloists Concert organized by the Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka in 2010 and the St.John Passion which was performed at the Sri Lankan Choral Week in 2015.

She is a founder member and soloist of Soul Sounds and  has been one of its lead soloists  for local concerts, as well as international concerts and competitions. She was also the Assistant Director and Conductor of the Soul Sounds Academy Choir who competed at the 64th Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in Wales, in the Senior Children’s Choir category in July 2010. Dinushka is an ardent theatre lover and is a member of the Workshop Players of Sri Lanka, directed by Jerome L. de Silva.

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