Of Strings and Rattling Gongs: the Story of MUSON
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Of Strings And Rattling Gongs: The Story Of MUSON he inspiration for the foundation first time anyone had broached the The formal establishment and success of MUSON came from Mr. subject with him. of MUSON are due mainly to its T Akintola Williams, OFR. It Chairman, Mr Akintola Willaims, who began with his approach on 26th May, Based on the foregoing and after did all the spade work to enable the 1983 to Sir Mervyn Brown, KCMG, establishing a temporary secretariat in steering committee to agree on the name who was British High Commissioner his residence, Mr Akintola Williams by of the Society, its objectives, structure, to Nigeria between 1979 and 1983 and mid-October, 1983 contacted Chief Ayo secretariat, administration and short and who with Lady Brown had helped to Rosiji, Patron, Mr. Louis Mbanefo, long- term plans. Subsequently, the stimulate awareness and appreciation Vice-Chairman, Mrs. Francesca membership of the steering committee of classical music from their arrival in Emmanuel and others on a proposal to was enlarged for it to draw up the Nigeria in 1979. The High constitution, register the Society, Commissioner and his wife who are identity artistes, and work out a proficient with musical instruments programme of performances. organised musical soirees and concerts in which music lovers and performers After MUSON was registered under both in Nigeria and from foreign the Land (Perpetual Succession) Act, countries participated at regular Cap. 98, a twelve-member Board of intervals at the High Commissioner's Trustees was appointed to replace the residence and other venues in Lagos. steering committee. Other embassies, notably the Italian and the then West German missions, The logo for the Society, which was were also encouraged to organise adopted in January, 1984, was designed similar events with internationally by Mr Duncan McKellar, an architect acclaimed classical music performers and artiste born and bred in Mombasa, who delighted a fast growing group of Kenya and very much influenced by enthusiasts. form a musical group. With Sir Mervyn' s indigenous African art. Mr. McKellar assurance to solicit the support of artistes had then been in Nigeria for nearly ten Mr. Akintola Williams's approach to and other interests in Europe, the Goethe years as a practising architect. The logo Sir Mervyn was in the form of a request Institut of Germany and the Istituto. depicts three African musical to assist in organising a group of artistes Italiano Cultura of Italy, both of whom instruments which he portrayed in 'a and friends to form a society for had been prominent in the promotion of style traditional Nigerian and in a circle classical music performers and classical music in Nigeria, the stage was or wheel always turning and eternal'. supporters. He felt that such a group set for the establishment of a musical He also designed the permanent would include people like himself who society in Lagos. programme cover for MUSON 'though appreciating good music, concerts. neither played any musical instrument On 25th October, 1983 a steering nor could sing!' Sir Mervyn confirmed committee of the musical group met to Inaugural Concert his preparedness to help organise such map out the strategy for such a society. The inaugural concert of the Society a group and went further to record his And so the Musical Society of Nigeria - took place on the 24th and 25th of appreciation of the initiative being the MUSON-was born! February, 1984, at the Metropolitan 24 Club, Victoria Island, Lagos. The Chief made to the Lagos State Government in Guests of Honour at the two School of Music May, 1985. Approval was finally performances respectively were Chief At a meeting held on the 4th of granted, and the state government, in (Dr) M. A. Majekodunmi , C.F.R, November, 1986, the Board of Trustees addition, granted the Society certain K.C.M.G., the then president of the set up a committee to make special concessions on ground rents and Metropolitan Club, and Sir Mervyn recommendations for the establishment on the fees for the processing of the Brown, K.C.M.G., O.B.E. now the of a School of Music which will building plans. former British High Commissioner in eventually develop into an Academy of Nigeria, who came specially for the Music. The Committee made Structure concert at the invitation of the Society. recommendations on the school The Conference Hall Building, air- Eleven artistes, comprising Nigerians curriculum, staffing, and the temporary conditioned as are all the buildings in and expatriates, presented a repertoire location of the school. the MUSON Centre, has on the first of baroque Italian and English pieces. Recommendations were also made on floor an auditorium which sits one German leider, opera, classical and the funding of the school. The School thousand while the second floor houses traditional Nigerian music. Since that was established and has been actively two Function Rooms each of which can first concert, MUSON has arranged an functioning, teaching in temporary accommodate about two hundred people average of six concerts every year. In accommodation provided at Corona , and which can be partitioned into these ten years of MUSON's existence, Schools in Victoria Island and Apapa smaller rooms. The auditorium is this musical provision has been made since February 1989, and has been suitable for hiring out for annual and possible through the voluntary examining since November, 1991..The extra-ordinary general meetings of small contributions of the cream of local School now has a staff of seven, and to medium-size companies, for artistes, and international guest artistes holds classes in violin, piano, recorder, conferences, symposia, trade and other of renown sponsored by various flute, trumpet and voice, at various grade types of exhibitions, official receptions organisations. levels. So far over 500 candidates have and social functions. It is most ideal for been examined at various grades. In popularmusic concerts, and forclassical Schools Competition addition, the School has a programme music concerts on occasions when die In pursuance of one of the objectives of of weekend and vacation courses for Recital Hall is considered inadequate the Society, which is the promotion of teachers to update their knowledge and (until such time as the larger Concert the education of children in the improve their practical skills in their Hall envisaged for Phase II is built). performance and theory of music, the chosen instruments. There is a stage capable of Society started organising annual accommodating a medium size orchestra musical competitions for schools. The Site of seventy to eighty instrumentalists, first competition took place in King's In furtherance of the objectives of the two Green Rooms for the use of artistes, College, Lagos, in 1986 and fifteen Society, the Board of Trustees as far and two Buffet bars with pantries. schools, mainly from Lagos State and back as early 1984 started looking for Ibadan, took part. The different land for MUSON building in suitable The Music School, in the building categories for this first competition were locations in Lagos. Out of several adjacent to the Conference hall, provides Vocal Solo, Instrumental Solo, possibilities on Lagos Island and at permanent and purpose-built Instrumental Ensemble and Choral, and Ikoyi, the piece of land that was chosen accommodation for students, who there were three age categories: eight as most suitable by the Society was previously have been receiving their years and under, twelve years, and fifteen located at Onikan area of Lagos Island instruction in temporary to eighteen years. Prizes awarded were opposite the National Museum. An accommodation at the Corona Schools cash and certificates for first, second application for a grant of the land was in Apapa and Victoria Island. IGRI and third places, and performance" certificates for all participants. Since then, competitions have been held annually and the effort has been In pursuance of one of the oijecUves of the Society, tufcch is rewarding as budding talents are being the promotion of the education of children in the performance identified and encouraged to develop themselves further. Two of such talents and theory of music, the Society started organising annual are now studying abroad, in Clare musical competitions for schools. College, Cambridge and Conservatoire Nationale Superieur de Musique, Paris. :••••••• •.