Emotive valentine experience at MTNF – MUSON Alumni concert

It was a night filled with soulful love songs and scintillating dance performances at the Shell Recital Hall of MUSON Centre Onike, Lagos as the alumni from the MTN Foundation Muson Scholarship programme re-enacted the celebration of love. The concert under the aegis of MTNF-Muson Alunmi was the fifth in the series, and kicked off the commemoration of this year’s Saint Valentine’s Day.

The performances were diverse in nature as the scholars showed uncommon dexterity, switching from one music genre to another. The event kicked off with the rendition of Nightingale, an ensemble by the jazz music great, Yanni, and performed by Irede Adegoke.

Her performance set the tone for what was described as a wonderful evening. She made way for Salome Nmesoma, a 2014 graduate of the MUSON School of Music, who performed Disney Moments Medley, by Alan Meken. Up next was Osewa David Olawale, who performed Cobhams Asuquo’s hit song Empty. He received intermittent rapturous applause for his singing ability and for the way his dancers buttressed the lyrics of the song.

The song tells the story of an adorable woman who recognizes the importance of the partner in her life and constantly reiterating that importance while also telling the partner she would be nothing (Empty) without him. The dancers made a dance drama out of the song.

The female dancer (Nneka) is seen trying to show affection to the male dancer (Koray) but her friendliness is rejected but she kept begging him to take her until the male dancer reluctantly accepts her but at that point she was tired and fed up of his previous rejections, hence, she rejects him by shoving him and walking out on him. The action got the audience on their feet clapping for the wonderful rendition.

Then came Imoleayo Balogun, a saxophonist, who performed a rendition he titled Joint Love. Accompanied by trumpeters, drummers and bass players, who help add verve to the performance, highpoint of his performance was the instrumental rendition of Bobby Benson’s classic song Taxi Driver, which regaled the audience who chorused the song along with the instrumental rendition.

Commending the group for putting up a show comparable to the very best concerts, Director of the MUSON School of Music, Mrs. Marion Akpata, praised the performing artistes for maintaining the high standard of the school.She said, “We are very proud of our students for putting up a beautiful show once again. They have shown their creativity and they have consistently exceeded our expectations. It is not a surprise that they are achieving great things in life. Only a few weeks ago, Perpetual Atife, known as Perpie, organised a studio concert in preparation for the launch of her full studio album.

“We hope that someday, some of them will return to become executives of the MUSON School of Music. We are also grateful to the MTN Foundation for partnering with us to make this possible,” she added. The chairman, MTN Foundation, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi commended the quality of the performance, saying such display was a demonstration of the confidence the Foundation has in the talents of the students.

“We have witnessed yet again an astounding performance by the alumni. Each year has been an upgrade of the previous. What they do, they do very well and I am so happy that MTN Foundation shares in their success stories. MTN Foundation is proud to partner MUSON School of Music to sponsor students who have talent and flair for music but are unable to finance their education in the school. The Alumni has justified MTN’s investment in this initiative and that will spur us to do more,” he said.

MTN Corporate Services Executive, Tobechukwu Okigbo, explained that MTN Foundation entered into a partnership with MUSON in 2006 to assist brilliant but indigent students to fulfil their dreams of pursuing a career in music. As part of the partnership, the Foundation took full responsibility of sponsoring 220 students in the music school.

He further explained that MTN, through its corporate social investment arm, is investing in people and communities across Nigeria because it is by so doing that the wellbeing of the society can be sustained into the future. “MTN believes in adding value and impacting the lives of people living in our communities on a sustainable basis, and as a corporate entity, we are committed to the long term future of Nigeria,” he said. In addition to tuition, MTNF also provide book allowance and transportation stipend to facilitate movement of the students throughout the duration of the programme.