Sujeeva Hapugalle soon in Sri Lanka for ‘Poetry of the Piano’

Friday, 7 March 2014 01:03 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sujeeva Hapugalle, award winning international solo recitalist returns to Sri Lanka to present an enchanting program of music. Sujeeva enjoys a special affinity with her audiences around the world in five continents. She has reached out to the hearts and minds of a variety of audiences around the globe, and has visited well over hundred cultural cities around the world via her work Beethoven Piano Society of Europe wrote of her: “Sujeeva Hapugalle presented a very demanding program which she performed with great insight into the music, with profound understanding of stylistic complexities and with rare artistry. She is an artist who never fails to reach the audience, communicating the spirit of the music. Here is a pianist of rare calibre.” Sujeeva was an ABRSM scholar at the Royal College of Music, London where she was a major prize winner. She has broadcast on Classic FM (UK) and BBC Television. During her many years of residency in London she was a frequent solo performer amongst others, at St Martin’s in the Field, St John’s Smith Square, and via the RCM, at Royal Festival Hall. Where the Piano Concertos performed with orchestras include Tchaikovsky No 1, Rachmaninov No 2, Beethoven No 5, Grieg, Saint Saens No. 2 and Gershwins Rhapsody in Blue. Sujeeva has been listed in the prestigious international roster of Steinway Concert Artists since 2001. Steinways have produced the world’s most coveted pianos since 1853. They are the instrument of choice in 98% of all major concert halls around the world, from present Classical pianists like Lang Lang, to jazz stars like Diana Krall, to pop icons like Billy Joel to Immortals like Rubinstein, Rachmaninoff and Irvin Berlin. Sujeeva treasures her affiliation with them and enjoys a Steinway extended gratis to her for concerts and practice from any Steinway base around the world. At home in San Francisco, she partners with Steinways in many special projects and concerts. She is referred to as a ‘true musical ambassador’ in recognition of her extended and quality of work as an educator, concert pianist and musical and community outreach work. Sujeeva is in demand as a Headline Solo Concert pianist for the 6 star Cruise Lines. She has often presented additional impromptu lecture recitals onboard. She was also invited to present three recitals on the RMS Queen Mary 2 during the Ocean

Liners Maiden World Cruise in 2007. Sujeeva is a very dedicated and highly motivated educator. She finds great joy in connecting with close musical and personal empathy with each of her students, to make it a passionate art form and an artist of each musician. Her students are regular top prize winners of international, national, state and county competitions. Several of them have performed at Weill/Carnegie Hall as prize winners. In an effort to encourage musical performance and appreciation traditions in the younger generations, her husband, Prasanna and Sujeeva extend much effort in setting up Young Artist Performance Platforms in the area. She conducts master classes at her studio for local and visiting pianists and other institutions in California , and on travel - lectures , conducts teaching workshops and is invited to adjudicate at several leading piano competitions in the Bay Area, California. Sujeeva has served on the Board of the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra where she initiated the popular Rush Hour Concert Series in San Francisco’s Financial District which ran for six years. She is forever enthusiastic and earnest to help with meaningful community and musical causes in Sri Lanka via her music and is excited to partner with Zonta Club 11 once again to help an urgent and poignant community need. Sujeeva talks of fond memories of her roots at home and at Ladies College, her gold medal for dedicated services to her school is a most treasured award and memory of much camaraderie and creating fun legacies together! Sujeeva dedicates this present artistic contribution to her beloved mother Indranee a wonderful loved, music educator who tirelessly dedicated her efforts for over 50 years to hundreds of students.