MUSON Celebrates 17 Years of Classical Music Excellence 

Iyke Bede

For the 17th consecutive year, the Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON) has maintained its position as the preferred choice for music scholars pursuing the classical path. Since 2006, its scholarship programme in partnership with the MTN Foundation (MTNF) has seen the graduation of over 457 scholars. Last week, 29 new graduates joined, bringing the total to an impressive 486.

To mark the two-year journey embarked on by students of the Diploma School of Music, a two-day ceremony was organised to celebrate their transition from the school to the professional world.

“To ensure a smooth transition, we implemented a comprehensive reorientation programme, reflecting the evolving landscape of the institution,” Director, MUSON/MTNF School of Music, Princess Banke Ademola highlighted some of the advancements attained at the school.

The graduation ceremony, which was well attended by the school’s board of trustees, select members of the MTNF, friends and family of the graduating students, and members of the media, paraded and extolled high-achieving students through awards.

The students were encouraged by MTNF’s executive secretary, Odunayo Sanya, imploring them to be steadfast in their careers.

“MUSON is like a diamond in the rough. And every year, we push out people out there to the world. The journey has been long, for 17 years, and I think it’s just gotten stronger over the years through our support,” Sanya noted.

Preceding the graduation ceremony was a night of spectacle punctuated with impeccable vocal performances by the voice majors and the precise synergy of the instrumentalists, as they put on their last show, proving they had ground their teeth against the grain as students of the music citadel.

The evening performances opened with Antonio Valvidi’s ‘Concerto in D Major’ by a saxophone quintet, enchanting the audience with its human-like timbre, but it was the witty performance of ‘Italian Polka’ that drew cheers and laughter from the audience, as each of the two animated piano players battled it out, sharing one half of the grand piano.With each rearrangement of the stage, a new set of performers was welcomed, who followed a ritual of gently tapping the microphone, tuning the strings, giving out a cough or two, and proceeding to give a nod of approval to their peers.

In due time, the voice majors were given the chance to showcase their vocal prowess, buoyed by the complementary tunes from the vocalists.

One such vocalist to emerge earlier in the night was Godsave Tamara, a baritone singer who gave a bright rendition of Jean Paul-Ègide’s ‘Plaisir d’amour.’ Adding a dose of femininity, Mariagoretti Nnadi, a mezzo-soprano, took the entire Agip Recital hall to high heavens riding on her vibrant red ball gown. She had delivered W.A Mozart’s ‘Smanie Implacibili’.

As is tradition, each year performances are split between classical songs and contemporary/folk songs. The latter part provided the audience with a sort of freedom to sing along and dance. Beautifully dressed in a bride’s attire, Soprano Damilola Bentil embodied the vibrant owambe culture—usually dotted with various styles of head tie— with her performance of ‘Gele,’ originally performed by Nigerian singer and songwriter Teniola Makanaki.

Another noteworthy solo performance was the well-choreographed, energetic interpretation of Angelique Kidjo’s ‘Maama Afrika’ by the vivacious Opemipo Olarenwa. Jessica Ihekwere delivered the night’s quiet storm with her unique twist on Asa’s ‘Eye Adaba’, accompanied by an orchestra.

The night was not smooth sailing, yet the vocalists and instrumentalists persevered to deliver high-quality music. The palpable chaos in their harmony ranged from hurried page flipping to synchronising their movements, standing, and bowing in unison under pressure, all before our eyes.

That night foreshadowed many more to come. Amidst the chaos, they clung to Ademola’s words: “Let music continue to be the spark that ignites your passion and empowers you to illuminate the world. Let the burn be slow and steady, not explosive, because the world needs your light for a long time.”