Chath Silva, formally known as Chathura Saranga Silva, is an Australian classical guitarist, recording artist, and medical doctor.
Early life Chath was born in Colombo, Sri Lanka, to parents Ranjith Silva, a civil engineer, and Rohini Weerakoon, a childcare worker.
He lived and grew up mostly in Birchip, a rural town in the Mallee region of Victoria, Australia. He received his first guitar lessons at Birchip P-12 School from Robyn Ferrier, a music teacher and community leader who served two terms from 2000 to 2008 as mayor for the Buloke Shire Council. Chath was also classically trained by guitarist and iconic figure, Antony Field, now formally known as ‘Mx Tonié Field’, who at the time, was Head of the Classical Guitar Department at the Victorian College of the Arts, and former member of the ARIA award-winning Australian Guitar Quartet, Saffire. Due to scarce resources in rural and remote Victoria, Chath continued to learn music theory via a Victorian Distance Education scheme based in Thornbury, Victoria, now formally known as Virtual School Victoria.
At 15 years of age, after an invitation from the Manager of Rylstone Shire Council, Chath gave his formal debut recital at the Rotary International in the presence of the Governor of New South Wales. At the age of 16, he won second prize for playing Isaac Albeniz's virtuoso piece Asturias (Leyenda) at the Push Start Music Competition, known today as 'Amplify'.
He has also given live performances on ABC Radio, Western Victoria.
Medical career Chath is a medical doctor (MBBS) who also trained abroad at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine in the UK. During this period, he also performed publicly in collaboration with fellow physicians as a guitar quintet named ‘Plasmodium 5 Axe’.
He become a Fellow of the Australasian College of Tropical Medicine (ACTM) before pursuing higher medical studies by graduating with a Master of Medicine in Infection and Immunity from The University of Sydney
Return to music As a medical student in Australia, he was invited to perform for hospital patients, and also as a medical doctor in work settings as part of a staff Well-Being Program.
His professional concert performances have been described as "enchanting" and of "technical brilliance and heartfelt expression" by The Buloke Times.
He also performs charity concerts, including returning to his home town, whereby proceeds from ticket sales are donated directly to Birchip P-12 School, to be used in their Music Program to educate children.
Throughout his medical career, he also continued to produce numerous solo classical guitar recordings, which are now available to the public on various online music-streaming platforms.
Discography TitleDetailsComplete Preludes (Cello Suites) Released: May 2023 Label: DistroKid Format: Online streamingEvocation Released: January 2021 Label: Distrokid Format: Online streamingClair de Lune Released: September 2019 Label: Distrokid Format: Online streamingFantasia on Themes from Verdi's 'La Traviata' Released: November 2018 Label: Distrokid Format: Online streamingCaprice No. 24 Released: May 2018 Label: Distrokid Format: Online streamingBWV 1007 Prelude Released: November 2018 Label: Distrokid Format: Online streamingAires Andaluces Released: December 2017 Label: Distrokid Format: Online streamingPrimavera Porteña Released: July 2016 License: Creative Commons Format: Online streaming, digital downloadA La Albéniz Released: November 2013 License: Creative Commons Format: Online streaming, digital downloadGod of the Northern Forest Released: October 2013 License: Creative Commons Format: Online streaming, digital downloadBWV 1008 Prelude Released: August 2013 License: Creative Commons Format: Online streaming, digital downloadPreludio No.1 (from Suite à Antiga) Released: July 2010 License: Creative Commons Format: Online streaming, digital downloadGymnopédie No. 1 Released: July 2010 License: Creative Commons Format: Online streaming, digital download
References
External links https://open.spotify.com/artist/0Mxh2Ln7aqdO7sqQ4xWL5a https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAtEkMmVyxmsrekNv4ekSxg