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Chath Silva | |
|---|---|
 Silva at Knox Community Arts Centre in Melbourne, 31st May 2025 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Chathura Saranga Silva Colombo, Sri Lanka |
| Origin | Melbourne, Nationality: Australian |
| Genres | Classical music, Contemporary classical |
| Occupations | Classical guitarist, Recording artist, Medical doctor |
| Instrument | Classical guitar |
| Years active | Musician: 2004-present. Medical doctor: 2012-present. |
| Labels | Distrokid |
| Member of | Australasian College of Tropical Medicine (ACTM) |
Chath Silva, formally known as Chathura Saranga Silva, is an Australian classical guitarist, recording artist, and medical doctor.[1][2][3]
Early life
Chath was born in Colombo, Sri Lanka, to parents Ranjith Silva, a civil engineer, and Rohini Weerakoon, a childcare worker.[1][4]
He lived and grew up mostly in Birchip, a rural town in the Mallee region of Victoria, Australia.[2][4] He received his first guitar lessons at Birchip P-12 School from Robyn Ferrier,[1][3][5] a music teacher and community leader who served two terms from 2000 to 2008 as mayor for the Buloke Shire Council.[6][7][8] 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,[1][4] and former member of the ARIA award-winning Australian Guitar Quartet, Saffire.[9] 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.[4][10]
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.[1][11][12] 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'.[4][13]
He has also given live performances on ABC Radio, Western Victoria.[1][4][14]
Medical career
Chath is a medical doctor (MBBS) who also trained abroad at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine in the UK.[3][4] During this period, he also performed publicly in collaboration with fellow physicians as a guitar quintet named ‘Plasmodium 5 Axe’.[15]
He become a Fellow of the Australasian College of Tropical Medicine (ACTM) [1][3] before pursuing higher medical studies by graduating with a Master of Medicine[2][4] in Infection and Immunity from The University of Sydney[3][4]
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.[1][4]
His professional concert performances have been described as "enchanting" and of "technical brilliance and heartfelt expression" by The Buloke Times.[2][3][16]
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.[2][4]
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.[1][4]
Discography
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Complete Preludes (Cello Suites) |
|
| Evocation |
|
| Clair de Lune |
|
| Fantasia on Themes from Verdi's 'La Traviata' |
|
| Caprice No. 24 |
|
| BWV 1007 Prelude |
|
| Aires Andaluces |
|
| Primavera Porteña |
|
| A La Albéniz |
|
| God of the Northern Forest |
|
| BWV 1008 Prelude |
|
| Preludio No.1 (from Suite à Antiga) |
|
| Gymnopédie No. 1 |
|
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Chathura Silva's Medicine and Music: Birchip Fosters Eminent Career". The Buloke Times. 2025-06-20. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
- ^ a b c d e "An Enchanting Performance". The Buloke Times. 2025-07-08. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
- ^ a b c d e f "An enchanting performance I Australian Rural & Regional News". arr.news/. 2025-07-08. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Chathura Silva's medicine and music: Birchip fosters eminent career I Australian Rural & Regional News". arr.news/. 2025-06-20. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
- ^ admin. "Home". Birchip P-12 School. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
- ^ Batters, Janine (2024-02-26). "Life memberships for BCG quartet". Birchip Cropping Group. Retrieved 2025-09-21.
- ^ Council, Buloke Shire. "Previous Councillors". www.buloke.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 2025-09-21.
- ^ "'Heart and soul' of BCG honoured - The Weekly Advertiser". www.theweeklyadvertiser.com.au. Retrieved 2025-09-21.
- ^ ARIA (2020-04-30). Saffire wins Best Classical Album | 2003 ARIA Awards. Retrieved 2025-08-24 – via YouTube.
- ^ "About Us". Virtual School Victoria. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
- ^ Innes, Belinda (2017-03-06). "Greeting great new friends and experiences". www.mudgeeguardian.com.au. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
- ^ "Our organisation". www.midwestern.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
- ^ "Amplify (formerly FReeZA)". The Push. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
- ^ "ABC Wimmera". ABC Wimmera. 2025-08-24. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
- ^ "Metallica – nothing else matters". LSTM. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
- ^ "Classical Guitar Concert - Chath Silva". The Fold: Your Guide to Everything Regional Australia. Retrieved 2025-09-20.
External links
- https://open.spotify.com/artist/0Mxh2Ln7aqdO7sqQ4xWL5a
- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAtEkMmVyxmsrekNv4ekSxg
