The Choral Music Ghana Podcast

Kwaku and Jesse dive into the world of propriety, good behaviour and the dos and don'ts of classical music concert culture! They discuss widely accepted norms - and some that don't sound too obvious - through hilarious anecdotes from their experiences as concert goers in Accra. Listen now!

Kwaku and Jesse take a look back at some of the highlights of the last year. This episode touches on these exciting events and occurrences: International Music Concert with the University of Wisconsin-Superior Music Dept, the NSO & the Holy Spirit Cathedral Choir Constant recital series I Kalabashie Concert: Songs of Akotam Hope Alive Concert Afro Classical Nights 5th Anniversary Boatemaa's Recital at the Ghana Club Lordina Records With Quartet from Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Pilot of Christmas at the Cathedral Party round the Piano

We're in a new year at Afro Classical Nights, and our 10th episode takes a look at what is coming up at the October show. This show presents (possibly) the highest percentage of new faces in one event, with music from Fred Onovwerosuoke and Leopold Mozart, and performances by our first Mother-Daughter duo!

August is our anniversary month! This month, we celebrate 5 years of driving classical music performance in Accra, and inspiring a generation of performers and audiences!

In this episode, Jesse and Kwaku reviewed the Kalabashi Concert, the first major event from Sing AfriChoral, and the Songs of Akotam musical, written and composed by George Mensah Essilfie. Songs of Akotam was performed by The Harmonious Chorale Ghana, with direction from professors Johnson Edu and Samuel Arko Mensah, and music direction by James Varrick Armaah. You can find our written review, along with the full cast and other participating acts on our website, https://www.choralmusicghana.com/review/2023/06/15/review-kalabashi-concert-songs-of-akotam/ .

Jesse and Kwaku look at the life and music of George Mensah Essilfie, his upcoming Kalabashi Concert and the Songs of Akotam musical which will be staged during the concert, in a production featuring Harmonious Chorale Ghana. The musical is directed by Dr Johnson Edu of the University of Education, Winneba and Samuel Arko Mensah. Songs of Akotam is fairy-tale like play set in a fictional village. It promises comedy and diverse music as well as an all-important life lesson on the power of the arts to transform the world.

Welcome to the Afro Classical Nights Preview Show! In this episode, Kwaku and Jesse look forward to a string of amazing performances of music from persons not usually on the repertoire: Gabriel Fauré and Arnold Schoenberg included! There's also going to be some kete drumming by Joel Opare, and good old fashioned Mozart and Schubert. We ask the all-important question: can we get an arpeggione to Accra by Friday? 😅 There's a lot to look forward to at the next Afro Classical Nights. We hope you'll join us!

Kwaku and Jesse return after a long break to discuss Constant Ahadzivia's first public recital at the Ghana Club. Constant is a concert pianist whose dedication to classical music sets him apart on the local scene. He was a student of Dr Kyoung Ok Kim from the University of Ghana, as well as Kenneth Kafui. Constant has performed with the likes of Omo Bello, a Nigerian soloist, as well as numerous choirs and individuals in Ghana. He is also the main accompanist at Afro Classical Nights. Among the pieces he performed were Schubert's Sonata no. 19 d.958 in C minor, Kafui's Pentanata I and the first movement of Beethoven's Waldstein Sonata no.21 in C major.

There's a lot to look forward to in this month's edition of Afro Classical Nights. Highlights of our February event include our first percussion soloist, Joel Opare, performing one improvisatory work and Boakye-Frempong's "Drum on Djembe, Drum on Piano". There's also the usual smattering of baroque works, from first-time soloist Roy Aboagye-Djan, a medical doctor and bass singer with Eighth Sonnet. Julius Richardson returns to the show with a Dvořák, and so do our favourite string ensemble, the Ruotolo String Quartet. Take a listen as we anticipate another successful night of sublime and challenging music at the Ghana Club!

On Sunday the 8th of January, 2023, members of the Music Department of the University of Wisconsin-Superior (USA) performed with the Holy Spirit Cathedral Choir in Accra, and Ghana's National Symphony Orchestra. The performance was part of their "UW-Superior Ghana Tour 2023", which also saw them visit the University of Cape Coast for another performance. Kwaku and Jesse were in attendance, and they share their candid thoughts on what turned out to be a very interesting event. Listen now!

Last year was fun! In this episode Kwaku and Jesse go over the events that caught their eye, and some more. We relive our favourite moments of the past 12 months with some fun and insightful analysis of performances, album releases and all the excitement around serious music in Accra and Ghana! Read our review of George Dor's concert here: https://bit.ly/3pegmHx 1:00 - Young Composers' Concert & Newlove Annan's Birthday 05:18 - Kwaku Boakye-Fremong's Stabat Mater 11:53 - Enrique Bagaría's performance in Ghana 15:40 - George Dor's Concert at the National Theatre 24:14 - Afro Classical Nights Recitals 26:58 - Harmonious Chorale's 15th Anniversary Concert 33:15 - Feliz Navidad '22 36:26 - Eighth Sonnet's Album "In Dulci Jubilo" 40:26 - Afropopera Antholog I & II 43:50 - The Musical Theatre Concert with the Indigen Group 46:25 - Gifts for Christ Concert 48:54 - A Courageous Piano Tuner Saves the Day! 51:10 - Accra Chamber Orchestra at Kempinski Hotel

Welcome to the Choral Music Ghana podcast! We're back with the first episode of our new show: the Afro Classical Nights Preview Show, where we discuss previous and upcoming ACN events with the team. On the panel today was Kwaku Boakye-Frempong, music director of the event, and Reynolds Quarshie, our videographer. We look back at the October event which featured the Ruotolo String Quartet in recital, and look forward to this month's "Christmas" edition, featuring 8th Sonnet, and several others stars returning to the stage. Listen now!