Stepping onto the shores of Australia almost a decade ago as an overwhelmed international student from Sri Lanka, all I had known and heard about this massive landmass down under was the cricket, Neighbours, kangaroos and John Howard.

It was strange landing here on the 30th day of January with the sun streaming down even at 8.45pm. It made me realise just how different the world I had just stepped into was, and how radically I had just changed my future. Being an international student in Australia brought its own challenges as much as it did its wonderful opportunities and experiences of a lifetime. Deakin University was my home academically and the reason I moved at the age of 19 to pursue my studies in International Relations and Media Communications. Whilst there are many wonderful human beings and communities that made me feel at home in a land that was quite foreign culturally and socially, this is the story of my musical journey over almost a decade in Australia.

It is said that music is the language of the universe, encompassing all of human existence. My dear Grandfather now past was an exuberant classical music lover: he even shampooed and cleaned his vinyl records once a month! He also let me, at the tender age of 4 or 5, listen to classical music with him on his CD Walkman! He was very proud that I showed early signs of interest in this genre of music. Although from the typical perspective of Gen Y, saw this style of music as somewhat aged and tried to keep it on the down low, but he continued to inspire me to know and love it regardless. Through that influence choir became my outlet – my hobby, sport and past time, and it is the only extra-curricular activity which I can now proudly say has stood the test of time.

From heartily singing ‘Waltzing Matilda’ in my nursery choir at age 4, not knowing I was going to end up in the country that used it as its pseudo national anthem, I went on to being a boy soprano, then a tenor and choir leader of my high school choir. Following my arrival in Australia, my singing had to take a back seat due to financial constraints and simply living the sometimes lonely international student life. However, while on student exchange, I had the opportunity to join the Stony Brook Symphony Choir in New York. Back in Australia, I then later joined CHIME (Choral institute Melbourne).

In December of 2007 I was introduced to the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Choir. I have to be honest and say that at first I was amazed to even pass my audition, let alone be able to contribute to Australia’s oldest existing classical organisation.

My first rehearsal was quite overwhelming as I was one of the youngest members around at the time. Within minutes of the rehearsal starting, though, I was taken back in time to when I was training to sing ‘For unto us a child is born’ as a soprano at a national choral competition in Sri Lanka. Here I was in Melbourne more than a decade later, learning the tenor line of the same chorus! It was a milestone in my choral career.

My very first performance with the RMP was the world record breaking 157^th consecutive performance of Handel’s Messiah at the Melbourne Town Hall. To my great surprise and delight, my dear parents, who I hadn’t seen for around two years, had flown in from Sri Lanka especially for the performance. Unbeknown to me they had even been generously supported by a letter from Maestro Wailes (Conductor and Music Director) to assist with the approval of their Visas.

This was just the beginning of an amazing musical journey. Since then there have been wonderful national events; such as braving the cold rain and temperatures to stand side by side with the wonderful servicemen and women during ANZAC day dawn services; to feeling the sorrow and sadness of the victims of Black Saturday. The more festive occasions such as the Prime Minister’s Olympic Dinner and the Melbourne Cup, add an extra sense of accomplishment. Even my folks and Grandma wouldn’t miss watching the live broadcast on the Australia Network of “the race that stops a nation”.

Together with the wonderful Aria nights and the Carols at St Paul’s Cathedral, the RMP provides an inspiring environment of classical music making par-excellence. All these events have not only been musically enriching but sparked lifelong friendships which have created a sense of belonging and love for a land that I have begun to call home.

I was privileged to have been given the opportunity to give back to the RMP, by offering my time as the Society’s first non-Caucasian Secretary. I am also probably one of its youngest secretaries.

Music, regardless what form it takes, binds souls, cultures and people from all walks of life and nations. This is just a preamble of my story which will have many more chapters in the years to come…