Classical ‘Love Notes’ at MUSON MTNF Valentine concert - From Business Day Online

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Classical ‘Love Notes’ at MUSON MTNF Valentine concert

It was sounds of music at AGIP Hall, MUSON Centre on February 13, 2016 as the alumni of the MTN Foundation Music Society of Nigeria spread ‘Love Notes’ in the atmosphere while thrilling guests at the MTNF Valentine concert.

The well-attended concert started off with a beautiful introductory performance and featured diverse musicals comprising; solo presentation, duets, dance-drama, instrumentals, group performances among others. The setting for the performance was beautiful; perfect lighting with the right effects complemented by almost perfect sound and acoustics.

The concert showed that you cannot beat live performances; it was thrilling and exciting as performers did their but so with gusto and expertise; lilting voices, right keys and pitch, they brought on the whole nine yards!!

Lead performer for the night Perpetual Atife, a recording and performing musician, raised the roof with her world-class performance, which was received with standing ovation by the audience.

Dressed in shimmering knee-length gold dress with gold high heeled sandals, she was a sight to behold, as she artfully played her saxophone. Indeed you can tell she is a master at it.
Among the alumni performers were Irede Carlyn Adegoke, Soprano and Violinist; Anumba Linda Nwanneka; Imoleayo Balogun, renowned international Jazz saxophonist, vocalist and music educator; and Olamide Timothy, Music director of the Limpopo Youth Orchestra, South Africa.

I particularly enjoyed the classical rendition of ‘Mad Over You’ by Run Town and re-enactment of the ‘Elephant Medley’ from the musical Moulin Rouge (an award winning musical). The mimetic performance of P Square’s ‘Ifunanya’ and ‘Bank Alert’ were interesting to watch.

Indeed, there was no dull moment as the stage management was on point; almost all performances were brief but very enjoyable and all of them well-attired in interesting costumes. The applause which followed every performance showed that the teeming audience appreciated the live performance. There were no long speeches all through the evening, apart from short interludes during which some dignitaries present were introduced.

“Muson had impacted greatly in the Nigerian music and music education in general,” noted Marion Akpata, director, MUSON School of Music, while giving her vote of thanks. Akpata thanked the sponsors, MTN Foundation, and also praised the inventiveness of the music artistes for maintaining the high standard of the school, adding that the ultimate goal of the school was to bring back good music to the society.

“Good music has a place in the lives of our children; spreading of music is our mission,” she said.

MTN Foundation entered into a partnership with MUSON in 2007 to assist brilliant but indigent students fulfill their dreams of pursuing a career in music. As part of the partnership, the Foundation took full responsibility of sponsoring students in the music school.

Last year, 2016 MTNF took the bull by the horn by supporting the Valentine concert for the first time since its inception. According to Nonny Ugboma, executive secretary, MTNF; “The MTNF will continue to set the pace and make it a tradition to sponsor the concert annually, knowing that the sky is the beginning for the musical scholars of MUSON.”

The Foundation has spent over N18 billion on various initiatives in 550 projects across all the states in Nigeria. MTN Foundation since its partnership with MUSON in 2007 has sponsored over 200 students who have a flair and passion for music, to acquire a MUSON diploma in music as part of the Foundation’s sustainability effort in grooming musical talents in Nigeria. The alumni of the school have become masters and stars in the music industry and many among them have participated in musical competitions locally and globally