It is July, that time of the year when grandaunts of the MUSON School of Music exhibit their mastery of musical instruments and vocal renditions. It was a time to demonstrate to the guests some of the dexterous skills grandaunts have acquired after undergoing a rigorous training in music for the past two years. This time, it was spectacularly different from past years as MTN Foundation had prepared a surprise package for the grandaunts and audience by bringing Praiz popularly called Nigeria’s John Legend to rev up the music concert.
The venue, Agip Recital Hall, MUSON centre, was swamped by music lovers and friends and relatives of the graduating students. The hall was filled to capacity with enthusiastic guests. Those who could not find seats in the hall jostled to get a feel of the performance from the aisles and the entrances.
The musical concert itself is a tradition started by the first graduating set of the beneficiaries of the Foundation’s music scholarship. The MTN Foundation scholarship to the students covers their tuition and text books, transportation, among others.
The show came to life with the performance of Chukwunomnso Diali whose specialization in Voice and Guitar at the music school. He performed Smile originally put together by a famous English actor, comedian and filmmaker Charlie Chaplin for his feature movie Modern Times. The lyrics, based on lines and themes from the film, the singer is telling the listener to cheer up and that there is always a brighter tomorrow, just as long as they smile. Chukwunomnso could not have chosen a better song as the very next morning he won the MTN Foundation’s award for overall best student at the graduation ceremony to his own amazement. Indeed, Chukwunomnso will be smiling for a long time to come. His performance on the night brought him intermittent applause from the audience as he sang like Barry White in the frame of Michael Jackson.
Next up were Salome Ogbuani and Tolulope Onakpoya who were both voice major in the music school. Their rendition, “Lovely Night” was originally composed by Jacques Offenbach, a German-born French Composer admired for his outstanding operas and colourful music which had powerful influence on latter day composers of the operetta genre, particularly Johann Strauss, Jr. and Arthur Sullivan. The audience was spellbound not just by the vocals, but also by the near perfect rendition of the lyrics of the song.
Yet another outstanding performance was that of Ademola Adekeye who performed “Arrival of the Queen of Sheba”, by G.F. Handel. His performance was nothing short of international standard and it had all the attributes of a member of the renowned London Philharmonic Orchestra. Ademola came through to the audience like the great Jazz Musician – Yanni. He got some members of the audience waving their hands side-to-side. Some even wanted Ademola to continue but his rendition came to an end but not without a rapturous applause from the audience who understood the effort that was put into the performance.
Indeed the graduating students were buoyed to give the audience a memorable evening. The Doll Aria rendition by Lydia Adeshina is another spectacular performance. The Doll Aria is a doll song wherein the singer periodically runs down and needs to be wound up before she can continue to perform. With costume like that of a doll, Lydia thrilled the audience making them laugh their hearts out.
The lights went out on the stage to usher the audience into a new performance. When the lights came back on, the person on stage did not appear like one that would perform. As if she knew what the audience were thinking she introduced herself as the Executive Secretary of MTN Foundation and said: “I am not going to sing; Don’t be afraid I am only here to introduce a special person to you”. It turned out that the special person was Praiz runner up in MTN’s Project Fame a music reality TV competition for youths who desire to pursue a career in Music. Praiz delivered two renditions to the amazement of the audience who may have thought that he would not be able to perform with a pianist. Praiz showed his dexterity in singing alternating baritone for tenor and vice versa at will. His vocal rendition of the ballad Stay originally sung by Rihanna and Mikky Ekko showed how much he has matured as a music performer. He was also very quick to counsel the
music grandaunts telling them that success in music requires patience, hard work and strong belief in God. He also told them to shun pomposity and unnecessary ego.
The highpoint of the musical concert was when the Chamber Orchestra which comprises the graduating students and other students performed a number in honour of MTN Foundation. The orchestra was conducted by renowned voice instructor and conductor, Sir Emeka Nwokedi.
The number was entitled MTN Song composed by Tolulope Onakpoya and Chukwunomnso Dialli. The song was done with smiles on their faces exuding their heartfelt gratitude towards MTN Foundation for giving them the opportunity to attend the prestigious MUSON School of Music.
Chairman, MTN Foundation, Ambassador Hamzat Ahmadu in his remarks said; “Music is an integral part of Nigerian culture and it has power to unite our people just like football does. In addition to funding the activities of the Foundation, MTN Nigeria is an active supporter and promoter of the music and entertainment industry. Through the MTN Callertunez service for example, MTN has become the biggest distributor of music content in Nigeria. Callertunez has helped to reduce the impact of piracy by providing our artistes with credible means of monetizing their content. Dear students, there is plenty of room for the growth and opportunity in the music business and we look forward to watching some of you grow to become superstars.”
The MTNF/MUSON project commenced in 2006, when the Foundation was approached by the music school to assist some students of modest means who might not be able to pay the fees needed to run the diploma programme. According to Ambassador Hamzat Ahmadu, MTN Foundation surprised the institution by providing scholarships to all the students. To date, a total of 189 students have graduated from the music school in a seven year period. The grandaunts have gone ahead to prove their mettle in their chosen areas of specialization.
The MUSON School of Music was created in 1989 under the directorship of Mr. James Adekunle. The school offered part-time basic courses and training in the theory and practice of music. It gave practical lessons in Voice, Piano, Organ, Double Bass, Recorder and Trumpet and also conducted practical examinations twice a year. With the success it recorded and the high standard it maintained, it introduced a full-time Diploma course in 2006.
Director of the MUSON School of Music Mrs. Marion Akpata says that “Music demands all skills from fields like engineering, law and medicine, among others. It starts from being able to read textbooks with accurate and precise comprehension to Music reading with all its symbols and terms, which must be mastered at the early stages of study and performing from memory with style and accuracy. Our trained musicians must understand the math behind musical rhythms and the science behind the production of a musical sound both instrumentally and vocally”.
She added that “In addition to the training, there must be a God-given talent. That talent, according to her, can neither be taught nor can it be subject to exam malpractices, but could be nurtured and developed. She said the students also need to have the passion to develop and share the talent”.
Another set of students who are beneficiaries of MTN Foundation’s sponsorship are expected to graduate next year.
Okoruwa works at XLR8, a communications management consultancy.
Harry Okoruwa
