Sir Emeka Nwokedi in green jacket receiving his evergreen award at the event.
Story by Dili Utomi.
It was a night of glitz and glamour and the rendition of great choral music as the first edition of the Nigerian Choral Music Awards took place at the main hall of the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island on Saturday.
The event was put together by a team of choral music lovers who have had decades of experience engaging in this rudimental genre of music. The occasion being the first edition saw the evening starting somewhat slowly with a red carpet part being hosted by the delectable Sarah Agboola while the event proper gained traction as the guests trooped in.
Pastor Albert, representative of Arch. Daniel Okoh, president of CAN receiving the award on behalf of his principal.
An industry heavyweight, Sir Emeka Nwokedi was physically present at the event to receive an award and to also spice up the evening. The main event was hosted by Ezekiel Adedoyin and Sarah Agboola. The Nigerian National Anthem was renditioned by a collection of singers with the entire audience engaging in the Hallelujah chant as composed by George Frideric Handel, the atmosphere of the evening changed to a more participatory mode.
Bar. Michael, a representative of Sir Jude Nnam receiving the award on behalf of his principal.
The chairman of the Nigerian Choral Music Award is Venerable Festus Ajayi, he made the opening presentation as he detailed the inspiration behind the idea of this novel musical award. He highlighted the importance of choral music in the development of the human person and prayed that the project will enjoy the envisaged success and also make the desired positive impacts in the lives of people.
A cross section of the audience.
There were several solo and collective performances as the event unfolded and while the awards proper were announced. The different award categories and their winners are:
Mixed choir – New Wine.
Single voice choir – Notre dame girls choir gboko.
Choral Album – The Emiralds perfect expression.
Next rated choir – The Messiah Chorale.
Rising Star – Aderoh Benedict Oshoke.
Single voice solo – Nonso Ugwu.
Best costumed choir – Donaldian Ensemble Enterprise Imo State.
Best Choral music video – The Emiralds perfect expression.
Choral Director of the year – Oladapo Okunmuyide.
School choir category – ASF choir Lagos chapter .
Church choir – Ave Maria Clegg.
Children Orchestra – All Souls Church children Orchestra .
Best Organist – Oladapo Okunmuyide.
Best Pianist – Shofolahun Emmanuel.
Choir of the year – Starz ensemble Nigeria.
Best Orchestra group – Premier Symphony orchestra.
Composer of the year – Furubel Aborlo.
Sir Emeka Nwokedi presenting an award to one of the winning choral ensembles.
SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARDS
Nigerian Choral Music Awards for global participation – Bacmac choir
Nigerian Choral Music Awards for assorted honours – August Chorale Abuja
Nigerian Choral Music Awards for Choral concert of the year – Opera Imo 4 the Kings diary by Imo city Chorale
Nigerian Choral Music Awards for international concert hosting – (ECOWAS Music Festival) by Promised land international Chorale
Best native performance – Donaldian Ensemble Enterprise Imo State.
Award of Monumental Achievement On Choral Music Composition (Mr David Aina)
Evergreen Award of Excellence in Choral Music (Sir Emeka Nwokedi, Sir Jude Nnam)
Giants of Industry Award (Archbishop Daniel Okoh, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) president) Rt Rev Dr James Olusola Odedeji. Anglican Bishop of the Diocese of Lagos West, Sir Olu Okeowo.
Members of the NCMA management team in a group photograph on the stage after the event.
Some of the award winners expressed delight in the fact of the recognition of their contributions to the development of choral music and promise to continue along this path in order that a great legacy of musical development may be left for posterity and as Sir Emeka Nwokedi puts it, “choral music helps in the total development of the human person, it enobles and calms you down and the society may have little or no violence when you listen to or engage in choral music”.
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