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| Cross section of members of high table during MUSON Centre's press conference held on Wednesday, October 8, 2014 |
ADA DIKE
As
preparations for the 18th annual Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON) festival reaches
an advanced stage, its organizers have urged the public to attend and enjoy
variety of events arranged for them.
Tagged: “Coming
of age”, this year’s festival, according to its organizers, will showcase the
significant progress the MUSON has made since its inception in 1983.
Explaining
why this year’s theme was titled, “Coming of Age”, the General Manager/Chief
Executive Officer of the centre, Gboyega Banjo, said at a press conference held
at Mobil Block, MUSON Centre, last Wednesday, that there is a convention,
particularly in western society to associate 18 with age when adolescents are
generally no longer considered minors and are granted the full rights and
responsibilities of an adult.
“A young
person’s transition from childhood to adulthood is therefore referred to as a
“coming of age”. In the same way, we make the claim that 18th year of our
Festival does mark a “coming of age” said Banjo.
He
emphasised that this claim is further buttressed by the strides that the MUSON
has made in other areas of its core activities since it was founded in 1983
especially, in promotion of arts.
“Concerts
have matured in frequency and quality. They are now held more frequently and
are incrementally of higher quality and increasingly feature outstanding Nigerian
artistes.”
He also
revealed that establishment of the MUSON Symphony Orchestra in 2005 was part of
the outstanding success they have recorded. “The MUSON Orchestra, together with
the MUSON Choir, have since become platforms for training and grooming
promising young artistes for performance on their instruments at the highest
level.
“The
orchestra’s establishment has also contributed to the frequency and improved
quality of the concerts organized by MUSON. Above all, MUSON’s School of Music,
founded in 1989 as a modest effort at providing training for children
interested in playing musical instruments has now contributed significantly to
the pool of teachers in public and private music schools in Nigeria and form an
increasing proportion of players in the MUSON Choir and MUSON Symphony Orchestra
and other choirs and orchestras now springing up in key Nigerian cities,” the
General Manager added.
After
reviewing the above-mentioned developments, he however, reiterated that the
Festival Planning Committee decided that the 18th year of the MUSON
Festival is an appropriate occasion to announce MUSON’s Coming of Age.
In the same
vein, the Chairman, 2014 Festival Planning Committee, Kitoyi Ibare-Akinsan, hinted
that the Festival will begin on October 16 with “My Kind of Music”, one of the
festival’s favourites, also known as the personality programme where select
cast of eminent Nigerians, provide a rare glimpse of the persona to an invited
audience. “Against the backdrop of their favourite music, they discuss their
preference and how they relate to aspects of their lives, personal beliefs,
philosophies and more. This year’s star-studded cast include the former
Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku; Scion of the
Awolowo family and former Nigerian Ambassador, Dr. (Mrs.) Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu;
former University of Ibadan Vice Chancellor, Emeritus Professor Ayo Banjo and
former Federal Minister of Housing, Lands and Urban Development, Chief Mrs.
Mobalaji Osomo.”
Some of the festival’s highlights include
drama. Jagua Nana – the Musical, Cyprian Ekwensi’s novel produced and directed
by Wole Oguntokun holds on Saturday, October 18.
There will
be Visual Arts Exhibition at this year’s festival programme opening ceremony on
Sunday, October 19 and run until Wednesday, October 22.
Similarly,
Classical Concert, featuring the MUSON Symphony Orchestra will be conducted by
MUSON’s new Artistic Director, Tunde Jegede on October 19.
Daily
Newswatch also gathered that the Orchestra will perform Rhapsody in Blue by
George Gershwin and other works by popular international and Nigerian
composers.
On Monday,
October 20, the Society of the Performing Arts in Nigeria (SPAN), focusing
on Ballet, Hip Hop, Jazz, Contemporary and Latin, will hold a dance workshop
and concert from 2.00 p.m.
The annual
talent competition for Youths, “Musiquest’, featuring the best candidates from
the earlier stages of the competition in a concert is scheduled for Thursday,
October 23.
Akinsan also said that Jazz Night comes up on Friday,
October 24, and it is designed to showcase two young promising Nigerian Jazz
artistes. Also, MUSON alumnus, Imoleayo Balogun and his Big Band will perform
Jazz music “blended with African philosophy” at the opening of the jazz night.
The traditional Gala Choral Concert taking place
on Sunday, October 26 has two parts - “Pop Choral Music”, which will
feature the works of Andrew Lloyd Weber, E di Capuo, and Andre Van Der Merwe
while Nigerian Choral Music, will
feature the works of Laz Ekwueme, David Aina and Ayo Bankole, among
others.
During the
questions and answers session, many issues were raised including people
thinking that MUSON is elitists’ organization. Many respondents namely: Banjo, Director,
MUSON School of Music, Mrs. Marion Apata, Sir Emeka Nwokedi and others
explained that MUSON is not an elitist organization and stressed that it was
founded so that Nigerian youths will appreciate classical music.
They
maintained that students from Mushin, Surulere and other areas in Lagos
normally come to MUSON to learn. “We have about 62 students and if you look at
their backgrounds, you will find out that they are ordinary people.”
They urge
all and sundry to join hands to make the centre more vibrant.
Sponsorship, according to them has been their major challenge as many
corporate organizations prefer to sponsor football matches.
They showed appreciation to their sponsors, donors, partners and
supporters who have stood by them from ‘childhood to adolescence’ and implored
other corporate bodies to support them in future as they face daunting future
challenges, embark on further improvements of their concerts, the gradual
transformation of their School of Music into a Conservatory and continued
nurturing of the MUSON Choir and the MUSON Symphony Orchestra to make them among
the best in Africa
“We thank all our teeming patrons who continue to support us by
attending and enjoying our concerts and other events all year round and during
annual Festivals.”
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| Cross section of gentlemen of the press |
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| A Cross Section of Artists from the Renegade Theatre |
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| Ashionye Raccah, lead actress in jagua Nana's Daughter |
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