(By Sujeeva Nivunhella reporting from London)

In a musical celebration marking the 87th birth anniversary of Sri Lanka’s iconic composer Maestro Premasiri Khemadasa, British conductor Colin Jagger will lead a performance of Khemadasa’s “New Year Symphony” at Malalasekara Hall, Nalanda College, Colombo, on January 25.

The concert, which also features a selection of the musician’s other works, is set to honour his legacy. The show is presented by Khemadasa Foundation and guest artists together with Sri Lanka Navy Orchestra.

Colin Jagger, whose career spans both the United Kingdom and the United States, is set to make his debut conducting an orchestra in Asia. Jagger began his musical journey with a degree in music from Manchester University in the UK, followed by a Master’s Degree in Orchestral Conducting from the College-Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati, USA.

His career includes a variety of assistant conductor roles with conservatory orchestras, as well as a tenure with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. In 1999, he relocated to the UK, where he served as Director of Music at the University of Portsmouth until 2021. Since then, he has pursued freelance work while also guest conducting various orchestras, including the Gottingen Symphony Orchestra in 2014.

Premasiri Khemadasa

In an interview with the Sunday Island, Jagger expressed his excitement about the upcoming performance in Colombo. “I am really looking forward to traveling to Sri Lanka. My wife Maricar and I will arrive on January 20, and then we’ll rehearse in preparation for the concert on January 25,” he said.

“I am already somewhat familiar with the music of Gayathri (Khemadasa’s daughter), having performed one of her pieces in Portsmouth, and so the prospect of preparing a piece by Premasiri Khemadasa for performance in Colombo is a very exciting one.”

He added, “I am extremely honoured and excited to be involved in the performance of “New Year Symphony” on January 25. Until now, my musical experience has been bound up in the European tradition, so it has been fascinating to study the music of Sri Lanka’s most famous composer. I’ve never had the opportunity to work with an orchestra in Asia before, and I know I will learn a lot from them. I hope they will also learn something from me – this sharing of cultural experience is very important and brings the peoples of the world closer together.”

Jagger’s previous encounter with the music of the Khemadasas came through a performance of Gayathri Khemadasa’s work in Portsmouth. “We were very fortunate in Portsmouth to be able to perform a piece by Gayathri Khemadasa, and having really enjoyed her music, I am now enjoying the music of Khemadasa senior,” he remarked.

The upcoming concert in Colombo is set to be a momentous occasion, not only for Sri Lankan audiences but also for Jagger, as it marks a milestone in his career—a convergence of Western musical tradition with the vibrant soundscapes of Sri Lanka.