International Institute of Music, Speech, and Drama (Pvt) Ltd. headed by Shyama Perera presents the 26th annual Sri Lanka Festival of Music, Dance and Speech.

The Sri Lanka Festival of Music, Dance and Speech is a Festival Member of The British and International Federation of Festivals for Music, Dance and Speech, UK. This is the umbrella body for festivals of the performing arts in the UK and beyond.

There are over 300 festivals across the UK and Ireland which are affiliated to The  British  and International  Federation  of  Festivals.  There are also affiliated festivals organizations in Australia, Bermuda, Canada,  France,  Gibraltar,  Hong  Kong,  Ireland,  Italy,  New  Zealand,  Singapore,  Sri  Lanka,  Zambia  and  Zimbabwe. A festival provides many things:  the stimulus  of  preparing  for  a  public  occasion;  the  opportunity  to  hear  the  work  of  others;  and  the  chance  to  receive  verbal  and  written  educational  feedback  from  a  professional  adjudicator  someone  who  they  might  never  meet  in  any  other  way. Festivals bring forward the exceptionally gifted. Festivals also develop the educated  audiences  of  the  future  -  those  who  will  keep  the  arts  alive  in  years  to  come. The British and International Federation of Festivals has been  moving  ahead  through  the  encouragement  of  new  work. The  Federation  forms  a  unique  interface  between  the  amateur  and  professional  worlds  in  the  performing  arts.

The Adjudicators

Timothy McCarthy

Timothy studied Speech and Drama at the Cork School of Music; graduated from the National University of Ireland with an MA Degree in Drama and Theatre Studies and the Higher Diploma in Education; he holds the Post Graduate Certificate in Adjudicating. Timothy is an Adjudicator-Member, Hon. Adjudicators' Vice-President and former Vice-Chair of The British and International Federation of Festivals for Music, Dance and Speech. He is happy to adjudicate virtual/on-line Festivals. Since the pandemic he has gained a broad range of digital and online experience in both Festival adjudication and examinations.

Susan Mackay

For 10 years, Susan ran The Fylde Stage School teaching levels of RAD and ISTD dance and LAMDA Speech and Drama before graduating from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. Susan says her role as an adjudicator as a combination of bringing new ideas and approaches to text and performance as well as fresh encouragement to every participant. She feels that everyone should leave a festival with a sense of achievement.

John Norris

John has been involved in music education for over forty years as examiner adjudicator, teacher of piano, classical and theatre organ and multi keyboard. He founded the world’s first graded certificate examination for the multi-keyboard in 1974 and subsequently acted as chairman of examiners for the UK’s first graduate recital on that instrument at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. John is delighted to enjoy, once again, the performance from the many young musicians in Sri Lanka during this, his sixth visit to your wonderful country. He wishes all concerned to have a really enjoyable musical experience.

The upcoming summer festival is conducted by the International Institute of Music, Speech, and Drama (Pvt) Ltd, located at No. 62, Lauries Road, Colombo 04, Sri Lanka. For further information please contact the institute via email on: [email protected]