|
The New Zealander tenor, Kolitha (Koli) Jayatunge, studied Quantity Surveying at Massey University (Bachelor of Construction - Quantity Surveying Major: 2000-2004). He started singing in 2006 as a chorister at Wellington’s St Paul’s Cathedral and the Orpheus Choir of Wellington. In the following year, he became a member of the New Zealand Opera Chorus until 2012. In 2013, he Jayatunge moved to Hamilton and currently sings with the Hamilton Civic Choir, St Peter’s Cathedral Choir, and Baroque Chamber Group Vox Baroque. In 2015, he began his role as conductor for the Cathedral Singers of St Peter’s Cathedral in Hamilton, and this year he will debut as Musical Director for Cantando Choir.
In 2016, Kolitha Jayatunge completed his Post-Graduate Diploma in Music with Distinction at the University of Waikato (2015-2016), under the tutelage of Dame Malvina Major. During his study, he debuted his character tenor role of Don Basilio in the University’s production of W.A. Mozart's opera Le Nozze di Figaro.
Kolitha Jayatunge is also a regular chorister and soloist at the St Peter’s Cathedral Cantata Vespers and for the Baroque Chamber Group Vox Baroque under director Dr Rachael Griffiths-Hughes. This year (2020), his Auckland debut as soloist with early music ensemble Affetto and distinguished baroque specialists featured George Frideric Handel's Gloria in Excelsis Deo. His repertoire includes G.F. Handel's Chandos Anthems and a collection of cantatas by J.S. Bach, Benda, Christoph Graupner, Monteverdi, Heinrich Schütz, Gottfried Heinrich Stölzel, and Georg Philipp Telemann.
Kolitha Jayatunge is also widely known in local operatic societies, and has enjoyed principal roles with the Te Awamutu Light Operatic Society in their productions of The Mikado and The King and I.
Recent solo engagements include Haydn's Nelson Mass, J.S. Bach's Missa brevis in G minor BWV 235, Felix Mendelssohn's Elijah, G.F. Handel's Messiah, Haydn's Mass in Time of War, Ralph Vaughan Williams' Christmas Fantasia, and J.S. Bach's Mass in B minor BWV 232. He is currently based in the Waikato and works at ILine Construction (since November 2023). |
