Venue: Shell Nigeria Hall
Time: 6.00pm
CHORAL CONCERT PROGRAMME
PART 1
POP CHORAL MUSIC
1.Love changes everything -- A.L.Weber -- from “Aspects of Love”
2. Yesterday Paul McCartney
3.Oceans Away -- Elton John & Bernie Taupin -Arrg: Goran Bejstan
4. La Cucaracha Arr. Goran Bejstam
5. Fantasy M.White/V.White/E del Bario-- Arr. Goran Bejstan
6. Abba Medley
- Water loo
- Mama mia
- Does your mother know
- Dancing queen
- Thank you for the music
7. My Song Eriks Esenvalds
8. We are the world Arr. Jens Pfretzschner
The MUSON Choir-- Conducted by Sir Emeka Nwokedi
INTERVAL
PART 2
POP CHORAL (AFRICANA) & ALLELUIA (POP STYLE)
1. Alleluia Chim le Arr. C.N Osinigwe
2. Asiko Laye King Sunny Ade
3. Abanije Arr. Emeka Nwokedi
4. Omo Pupa Arr. Emeka Nwokedi
5. The Wedding Song Fela Sowande
6. Shosholoza (Trad. South Africa) Arr. Andre Van Der Merwe
7. Lagos Baby Fela Anikulapo Kuti
8. Eko David Aina
9. Hallelujah G. F. Handel Arr. M.O. Jackson/M. Warren/ M. Kibble
Accompanists: Ayo Ajayi (Piano)
Tosin Ajayi (Keyboard)
Tosin Oluwadare (Alto Sax)
Uwana Etuk (Trumpet)
Nomnso Diali (Lead Guitar)
Nelson Taiwo (Bass Guitar)
Sunday Oroghor
Tunde Solomon
The MUSON Choir -- Conducted by Sir Emeka Nwokedi
PROFILES:
SIR EMEKA NWOKEDI
Sir Emeka Nwokedi studied Music at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and has been very active in the practice of this art form since graduation in the early 1980’s. He has been an instructor at the Nigerian Army School of Music, Ojo, Lagos; a broadcaster in the Music section of Voice of Nigeria and Radio Nigeria, Lagos; a lecturer in Music at the Lagos State College of Education, Ijanikin; Organist and Choirmaster in various churches, notably St. Barth's Anglican Church, Aguda Lagos, Tinubu Methodist Church, Lagos and
All Saints Anglican Church, Surulere, Lagos (where he is currently the Director of Music and Organist). He has also been the Director of Music at Orpheus Company Limited, a leading music company in Nigeria.
In 1988, Sir Emeka, with the late Senator Lere Adesina, established the Lagos City Chorale; a group that has been in the forefront of excellence in choral music in Nigeria. Till date, he has been its Conductor and Music Director with extensive performances all over Nigeria and beyond. Under his direction, the choir participated in the 7th World Choir Games in Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.A. from 2nd July – 14th July, 2012.
They won three silver medals for Nigeria in three different champions’ competitions.
In 1992, at the official invitation of the duo of Mr. Akintola Williams, then Chairman of MUSON and his vice and former Chairman of the Artistes & Programmes Committee, Louis Mbanefo, Emeka joined MUSON and became a member of the Artistes & Programmes Committee. In this capacity, he has constantly auditioned, recruited and trained a number of young musicians that perform in MUSON and other concerts. Under the direction of the Artistes & Programmes Committee, he established a permanent MUSON Choir in 1994.
Sir Emeka has had the privilege of participating in music festivals, seminars and workshops in England and the United States of America. In 1999, at the invitation of the British Choral Institute directed by Dr. Wales and under the sponsorship of the British Council, he had an extensive musical tour in England. He was a guest at such institutions as the Royal Albert Hall; the Royal College of Music; King's College, Cambridge; the Royal Academy of Music; St. Paul's Cathedral and Westminster Abbey, among others. His musicianship was thoroughly enhanced by attending several rehearsals and concerts of prominent groups like the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, and the British Youth Orchestra.
Emeka has been a consultant to many institutions and has trained many young people to attain high standards in musical performances. He currently consults for Shell Nigeria and is the coordinator of the Shell Choral Competition for Secondary Schools in Nigeria (which he organizes under the auspices of MUSON). His choral workshops are attended by over 2000 secondary school students yearly.
At the establishment of the Diploma programme of the MUSON School of Music in 2006, Sir Emeka Nwokedi became one of the three pioneering staff alongside Mrs. Marion Akpata and Mrs. Edna Soyannwo. He teaches vocal studies, conducting, African music and directs the Diploma School Choir (which had two well-received performance tours of China in 2010). He is also the Diocesan Organist and Choirmaster of the Anglican Diocese of Lagos Mainland. In recognition of his immense contributions to the development of Church music in Nigeria, he was honoured with an investiture of the Knight of St. Christopher in the Anglican Communion. In addition, he recently got elected to the membership of the World Choir Council.
Emeka is married to Afy and they are blessed with four children.
THE MUSON CHOIR
The MUSON Choir was established as a permanent group in 1995 when Mrs. Francesca Emmanuel and Sir Emeka Nwokedi, two members of the MUSON Artistes Committee, were charged with the responsibility of grooming a Choir for the Society.
Over the years, the Choir hosts and performs at various MUSON programmes which include the Passiontide and Christmas concerts. The choir’s performance of Choral Concert used to be the grand finale of the annual MUSON Festival of Arts.
On the MUSON stage in 2011, the Choir pioneered and produced “The Pirates of Penzance”, a full English opera by Arthur Sullivan and W. S. Gilbert. The Choir also played a major role in the three-time production of Mozart’s opera “The Magic Flute” with the MUSON Symphony Orchestra.
The Choir also performs regularly at the annual Christmas concerts of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company SNEPCO. In December 2013, it was invited by the Ikoyi Club 1938’s to lead the singing of all the hymns and carols at the club’s Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols.
Its repertoire ranges from African contemporary choral music to works by great music masters including popular cantatas and oratorios.
The Choir accepts invitation to perform at concerts, weddings, birthday celebrations, service of songs, funerals and other social and religious occasions.
