At MUSON, Fresh Acts Take The Stage

by Agozino Agozino

For adherents of good classical music, continuity is key, thus, their belief that there is the need to hone the creative skills of the younger generation and initiate them into its nuances. It is in line with this philosophy that the Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON), Onikan, Lagos, and MTN foundation runs a Diploma school where youngsters, interested in classical music as a career, are trained to realise their dreams and ensure continuity.
This year’s edition of their graduation, in which the students had the opportunity to display their skills in a one-day performance, in fulfillment of the requirement for the award of Diploma in Music was held recently in Lagos.
The event, held in the Agip Recital Hall of MUSON Centre, Onikan, was tagged, Students’ Recital, the atmosphere was peaceful as the young students, including Oladimeji Ibukun Adelaja, Trumpet; Emmanuel Adetunji, Tenor; Temitope Gift Adepoju, Soprano Saxophone and others showcased their prowess in musical vocalization, stage art and instrumental rendition. The event was the fourth graduation since initiated.

The aim of the MTN/ MUSON School of Music is to equip its students with creative thinking techniques and the detailed background of classical music. The students are exposed to music appreciation, how to play different instruments, soprano performances and other aspects of music.
For the staff and students, the recital was not only a good performance, but one that lived up to expectations.
“The essence of these presentations is because the School of Music believes that as leaders of tomorrow, our students need to be properly equipped with skills and what classical music is all about,” said Lt. Enesi Salawu (rtd.), a trumpet and percussion teacher and one of the principal organisers of the recital. Salawu’s words were verified in the sterling performances rendered by the students.
First, came the performance of Mozart’s Un’aura Amorosa, J. Haydn’s Sailor Song, Franze Schubert’s Die Lerch by Oladimeji Ibukun Adelaja with Tosin Ajayi on piano, which thrilled the audience, with Adelaja’s vocal and his dexterity with the trumpet.
Others pieces rendered by Dionysus Weber’s Variation in Fby Temitope Gift Adepoju, with Bright Kpalap on piano, Emmanuel Adetunji’s tenor performances in James Rae’s Sonatina and Duke Ellington’s Take the ‘A’ Train lightened the hall. After his performance, Adelaja beheld his audience with an expression of joy.

Explaining the significance of the concert, Director, MUSON School of Music, Mrs. Marion Akpata, said the philosophy behind the event was to see how music, if properly inculcated in students, can become a veritable tool for creativity. Akpata informed that MUSON School of Music was working in this direction; because it believes in the saying “the young shall grow.” Unlike other programmes, the importance of the Diploma Recital is to give the students the opportunity to share what they have learnt with the audience. We believe that a programme like this has the capacity of inspiring young students for the future. According to her, the programme was purposely designed to induct them with creative minds. “At the MUSON School of Music, we believe that every child is a star”, she added. Akpata also noted that the school did not just embark on the programme by chance, but it was part of its commitment towards developing holistic education”.
For Emeka Nwokedi, a veteran music conductor and one of the organisers, the programme could not have come at a better time. Nwokedi, a renowned choir master and member of the Lagos Musical Society of Nigeria, (MUSON), said the programme offers youngsters the opportunity, as practicing music students, to control the audience. On the nature of this year’s presentations, he said that many of the participating students were of different types. “We believe that this programme would have helped them to develop sound music appreciation. The purpose is to expose them to the joy and fun of creative music thinking, especially, as it relates to music. We believe that some of them will grow better through this inspiration. To awaken the potentials in young students requires that we expose them to this type of programme. It will bring out their potentials; significantly, this is what you see in other parts of the world.”
Nwokedi advised families to expose their young ones to creativity through music, believing that this would go a long way in helping the child in future.
Published in Daily Times, Oct 15 2015