Dr. Kanchanamala’ the finalist from the Asian Continent at ICMA 2024 awards – By Sunil Thenabadu
Dr. Kanchanamala Ranasinghe has been selected as the single run finalist from the Asian Continent in Classical Singing category at the 11th InterContinental Music Awards (ICMA) 2024.
Based in Los Angeles, California USA, The InterContinental Music Awards, is a gateway to global recognition and a platform where young hidden musical talent from all over the world shines. ICMA music competition is designed to celebrate the diversity of music, nurture emerging artistes, and provide a Launchpad for young and hidden dreams.
The panel of judges consisted of Grammy Award winners, professors in music and artistes, who work closely with Grammy Award Winners. ICMA has close collaborations with music gurus in Hollywood who work with world famous artistes- Celine Dion, Selena Gomez, Ricky Martin, Miley Cyrus, Bella Thorn, Nelly Furtado, West Life, Gloria Estefan etc. They have also produced songs for many award winning films including Top Gun, Santa Barbara and Redline and closely collaborate with Warner Brothers, MTV, Netflix, Sony and Cinemax.
The heart touching music for Dr. Kanchanamala’s song ‘Pathiniyak Wee’ is created Maestro Nalaka Anjana Kumara and penned by Jayamali Charitha Bandara. This award has taken Sri Lankan classical music to a global level becoming the first Sri Lankan to achieve such a triumph in the Asian Continent.
The lyrics of this song expresses a story of eternal love:-
‘I will always love you in my heart although I know I can never be with you.
I will remember the time we spent together and the memories we made and wait in the hope of being with you someday somewhere in this life.
I know in my heart that you belong with me too and you will come to me the moment you can. I will wait for you my love until eternity’
Dr Kanchanamala Ranasinghe – a specialist general practitioner and a senior lecturer, School of Medicine, Griffith University, works and resides in Brisbane Australia. However her love for classical music drives her all the way to Sri Lanka to her homeland, where she trails her craving to make music with fellow artistes. She is also an actress and portrays the role of ‘Suppa Devi’ in Professor Ediriweera Sarachchandra’s world renowned opera style drama ‘Sinhabahu’ where her mother and father portrayed main roles and hold the Guinness world record for the most durable theatre performers in the world.
A multi-talent with special flair for music and drama Dr. Ranasinghe mastered singing and Sitar under Mrs. Sirima Warushakoon, Ashoka and Ananda Perera of MGP Music School, Kandy. She also studied singing and Sitar under Sangeeth Nipun Asith Athapaththu and Sangeeth Nipun Chandani Warushakoon.
Kanchanamala was artistically inclined from her school days and had the fortune to win the all island best actress award for her act in ‘Samudra Devi’ as well as the rare opportunity to represent the country as Miss University Sri Lanka at an international University talent contest in Japan in 1996.
She was introduced to the Sri Lankan stage very early in her childhood as her parents were dedicated artistes. Mother Malini Ranasinghe and Father Terence Ranasinghe hold the most durable theatre performers of the world award to this date for their contribution of over 5000 performances in the stage play ‘Sinhabahu’ as Suppadevi and Pothegu
Dr. Kanchanamala is a multi-potentiality individual with many interests and creative pursuits is highly qualified in the medical field and has numerous specialist fellowships possessing a degree as a Doctor of Philosophy in clinical medicine as MBBS, FRACGP- RG, FARGP (Emergency Medicine),FACRRM, EMC (ACEM), CWH (RANZCOG), ESME (AMEE), M.Phil., PhD (UQ).
Upright on par with world music genres like – blues, pop, country, Hindustani, Carnatic, Latin music, contemporary, Native American etc Dr. Kanchanamala and Maestro Nalaka Anjana Kumara have taken Sri Lankan classical music to global elevate.
Global winners of ICMA will be announced at the award ceremony in Los Angeles , USA on 25th August 2024.
Audio tracks of ‘Pathiniyak Wee’ recorded Mixed and Mastered by Anura Ranasinghe, while photography was handled by Narada Amarathunga. Makeup – Upul Mahanama Video – Sanjaya Hemasiri.
-Sunil Thenabadu in Brisbane… email sthenabadu@hotmail.com
