Adedayo Adejobi
The 21st MUSON Festival of the Arts, 2017 starts on the 18th of October with MusicQuest/Youth Concert. With several young musicians are constantly emerging in Nigeria, the annual MusicQuest is a way of showcasing and encouraging these talents. The youth concert is a competition that provides a platform of self-expression for these young budding artistes. This platform is also MUSON’s modest contribution to the national effort at discovering and nurturing of our youths. Wednesday, October 18 will flag off the final phase of this competition. There are three categories of Pianoforte, Voice and other Instruments. Apart from being a competition for attractive prizes, it is also a concert of very interesting musical selections. The MusicQuest is partly sponsored by Stanbic IBTC.
Its unique personality programme, My Kind of Music, is scheduled for Thursday, 19th October. As usual, guests will be taken on a musical journey through the memories, experiences and life philosophies of a member of the diplomatic community in Nigeria and a great friend of MUSON, Mr. Ingo Herbert, German Consul-General and three Nigerians who have distinguished themselves in their chosen areas of endeavour: Mrs. Opunimi Akinkugbe, CEO Bestman Games; former Banker, Mrs. Bolanle Austen-Peters, Lawyer and CEO BAP Productions and Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, Managing Partner SIAO and Pastor-in Charge, Trinity House.
This year’s Chevron Festival Drama is The Engagement written by Sefi Atta. It is about “a family at odds on the day of their daughter’s traditional engagement ceremony†It will be staged at the Agip Recital Hall on Saturday October 21 by the Jos Repertory Theatre, directed by Dr. Patrick-Jude Oteh. The Chevron Festival Drama has been sponsored since 2001 by Chevron Nigeria Limited.
The TOTAL Festival Gala Concert on Sunday, October 22 will feature the 45-man MUSON Symphony Orchestra, conducted by the virtuoso Visiting Conductor Walter-Michael Vollhardt and the 40-man MUSON Choir, conducted by its veteran Conductor, Sir Emeka Nwokedi in a combined performance that promises to live up to the reputation of the TOTAL Festival Gala Concerts. The TOTAL Festival Concert has been sponsored since 2002 by Total E&P Nigeria Ltd.
According to Chairman, Festival 2017 Planning Committee, Arch. Kitoyi Ibare-Akinsan “This year’s MUSON Day is scheduled for Wednesday, October 25. This event is a special members’ day, set aside to mark the founding of our Society. This celebration, featuring a concert followed by cocktails, also serves as an interactive forum for members, their friends and families. For the first time, this year’s programme will feature a special ceremony during which new members will be formally welcomed into the society. This year’s Jazz event is scheduled for Friday, 27th October. It will take the form of a Jazz Party organised in collaboration with the Winehouse Jazz Family. It will be an evening of Jazz music and partying to the music of the Winehouse Band, the MUSON School Jazz Band and guest artistes.’’ The 21st MUSON Festival will come to a close on Sunday 29th October with an enthralling performance of the Opera: La fille du Regiment by Donizetti, directed by Nigeria’s ace Opera Singer, Teacher and Director, Joseph Oparamanuike.
