#Addaquay

[choralmusicghana]

The First Acquaah-Harrison Memorial Lecture Held Online

The first Kweku Acquaah-Harrison Memorial Lecture came off on the 15th of February on Zoom. The lecture was put together by the family of the late organist, whose legacy they hope to keep alive with annual lectures and initiatives that promote his ideas.

The lecture was attended by members of the musical community, and saw guests Rev. Dr. Newlove Annan and Prof. Sekyi-Baidoo speak on the place of the organ in church music, and on the life of the pedagogue respectively.

The effort to sponsor a series of lectures in his name was inspired by a similar project the late Acquaah-Harrison intended to begin just before his 80th birthday. He passed away less than a week before his first lecture at the Music Department at the University of Education, Winneba, on church music with a strong focus on the organ. 

Some of the issues he had hoped to address surrounded challenges keyboardists faced when transitioning to the organ, which demanded a more idiomatic approach. The Memorial Lectures are meant to fulfill his ambition of inspiring Ghanaian organists and promoting a “right way” of performing on the instrument.

Mr. Acquaah-Harrison was also instrumental in the founding of Music Haven, a popular music school and organ seller in Accra. An unfinished book the late organist was working on remains in the hands of his family, who are working towards an eventual publication. 

The Acquaah-Harrison family has also instituted a Best Conductor award for the annual conference of the association of Ghanaian Methodist Church Choirs (GHAMECC).

[thomasaddaquay-blog]

Thomas Addaquay: Big Plans

Thomas Addaquay is an entrepreneur, an author and a philanthropist with years of experience and big plans for his future endeavors. He graduated from Luther College in 1999 with his Bachelor’s degree in Economics – with a concentration on Computer Science – and he’s since been gaining experience to aid his professional success. He worked as a Knowledge Engineer with WebTone Technologies, where his work was focused on artificial intelligence engines, before shifting his focus to real estate. Soon, he became interested in sustainability and began searching for ways to help.

[sheilasimons85]

About Psychiatric Nurses

Contents

Psychiatric care process.psychiatric mental

Psychiatric mental health nurse

Independent advanced practice nurse (apn).psychiatric

Try expanding your search for Psychiatrists in 78730 to a larger area (e.g. click the plus sign or 78730+.) About Psychiatrists, meds and Psychiatric Nurses. A Psychiatrist in 78730 is a qualified.Psychiatric Nursing is for Licensed Nurses to ask questions about mental/emotional illness and disorders as they relate to patient care. Come here to ask questions about patient behaviors, treatment options, medication, non-medical interventions, and the ways Nurses can help improve the lives of this challenged and challenging population.CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) – Authorities have arrested a man accused of assaulting a nurse at the Medical University of South Carolina’s Psychiatry facility. Travis Woodward has been charged with.Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioners provide specialized treatment to people in need of mental health care.One increasingly popular nursing specialty is psychiatric mental health nursing. While many mental health patients seek treatment from a psychologist, psychiatrist, or mental health counselor, nurses often play a vital role in the psychiatric care process.psychiatric mental health nursing is a specialty within nursing. Psychiatric mental health registered nurses work with individuals, families, groups, and.

This video, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iq4t5imH810, can also be seen at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClipHHKfLhVZP-rZIjp6JiQ.Psychiatric mental health nursing is a specialty within nursing. Psychiatric mental health registered nurses work with individuals, families, groups, and.Audrey Addaquay-Corey is board certified in psychiatric mental health nurse Practitioner and is a member of the American Psychiatric Association and the American Psychiatric Nurses Association. She.It offers dementia and psychiatric care, as well as general nursing care. Madam Ang said: "I am relieved and assured that my children and I will be able to receive the nursing home care we require.ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS-WEEKDAY OR SATURDAY APPOINTMENTS. As a Nurse Practitioner in a Mental Health Practice, I understand the decision to seek treatment is often complex, just like our lives. You may.Transitioning from being a student to practicing as a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse (PMHN) is a big step. We sat down with Valeria Dworkowitz, DNP, RN, PMHNP-BC, a psychiatric nurse in Old Bridge, N.J. who practices at an outpatient setting that offers programs for adolescents and adults, to learn more about her first year as an independent advanced practice nurse (apn).psychiatric mental health nursing is a specialty within nursing. Psychiatric mental health registered nurses work with individuals, families, groups, and.

The post About Psychiatric Nurses appeared first on matthewgarrett biz.

[greenxprize-blog]

What Is Social Responsible Investing

Financial investments are primarily done with the expectation of achieving a profit. Yes, money still drives the main investment portfolio decisions and yet it isn’t the sole criteria any longer. People are conscious of the changes happening all around and care enough to invest in projects and things that make a positive impact. These investors aim to contribute their little bit in plans that will lead to global, social, environmental and even governance advancements.

Social Responsible Investing – What Is It?

Social Responsible Investing or SRI is also known as Sustainable Responsible Investing. It can be described as a discipline or school of thought that firmly believes in impact investing for social good. Hence, it means not investing in companies and products that are harming the environment are socially corrupting or addictive in nature. All in all, SRI is all about socially conscious investments.

Who Are SRI Investors?

SRI investors are people like you and me. Additionally, they also include venture capitalists, religious institutions, foundations, hospitals and medical schools etc. The only thing that differentiates these people from others is their personal decision to give back some to the society.

Goals of SRI

There are two main goals of Social Responsible Investing. One is obviously financial gain and the other social impact.

Financial Gain – this one is a no-brainer, an investor in any field wants better returns. When it comes to SRI, the return might not be high but sufficient to soothe the conscious. It is not necessary that a socially responsible investment will always give poor returns. Hence, the investor needs to assess the monetary outlook of the proposed investment.

Social Impact – go-green projects, clean technology, community development funds etc., are some examples of SRI that have a notable social impact. The idea is to create a better social and environmental set-up which will automatically benefit all and reduce dependence on anyone and anything.

How to Accomplish Social Responsible Investing

Invest In Companies That Have Social Values – investors need to be more aware of the fact that they invest in those companies that give importance to values. These values may be associated with the uplifting the society or environmental protection or green technology etc. Ideally, before investing it is necessary to understand what values guide the operations of the company. Once satisfied that they are indeed working in conjunction with their advertised beliefs you can study the financial side of things.

Community Investing – this is an extremely fast-growing sector. Herein, the capital of the investors is intended for those communities which are still served by conservative financial lending institutions. Community investing allows for low-interest loans for investment capital and at the same time provides significant group benefits that incorporate housing, healthcare, education and much more.

Shareholders Influencing Corporate Decisions – shareholders have the right and moral responsibility to positively influence corporate decisions which could otherwise have a damaging impact on, both, the environment and the society. The idea is to pressure the board into improving their policies and practices for a better and safer future. Shareholders can influence corporate decisions through voting, attracting media attention, raising awareness in the masses etc.

Performance of SRI Funds

Sustainable and socially responsible investing includes a wide and developing range of products and assets. It includes not just investment in stock or public equity but also cash and other forms of alternative investments. Just like any other investor an SRI investor also wants the highest possible return as such they look for a stock option that is going to yield the maximum profit.

Off late, the companies are also changing their policies and work environment to focus on changes that would have a lasting impact on the society. Reduce, reuse and recycle was earlier the most common way of showcasing their responsibility towards the environment. But now, “Go-Green” is the new mantra. Not only that, but they too do not advertise or associate themselves with products that are harmful to the environment.

Coming back to the question of fund performance, it has been seen through numerous research studies that those companies who shoulder their corporate and social responsibility are in fact sound investments. There exists a positive correlation between Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance or ESG and the commercial financial performance. Therefore, it can be rightly summarized that a good fund manager can indeed get you exceptionally good returns by investing in stocks, assets, and programs that satisfy the SRI criteria.

Future of SRI

Slowly and steadily, the awareness for a better future is rising amongst one and all. Mostly, people try to emulate what others are doing. Hence, when one begins it starts a ripple effect with far-reaching effects. As consciousness about SRI increases, more and more people will be driven towards it. And as more people get attracted towards it, every business, big or small, will have to make changes to make way for a new, ethical and moral way of conducting business.

After all, it is not possible to climb on others back to reach the top. Together as one if we move forward, we can improve not only the living standard of the society as a whole but also make our planet a safer place for the future generations.

Final Thoughts

SRI investing options and strategies are many and varied. But since, it is still a relatively developing concept; there are very few takers for it. Nonetheless, the rising awareness amongst the masses for investment in socially responsible options is gaining momentum. This change of mindsets is making it difficult for any company to overlook their social responsibility. Hence, business values are changing and undergoing reformation. Green global communities like Green X Prize are setting the stage for socially conscious change. They are encouraging people to share their ideas which will benefit communities and generate profits for corporate, public, and private investors. The future is bright and every person is aiming to make it even better. SRI is ensuring that money grows for all in a responsible manner without harming either the society or the environment. All in all, Changes are happening for the good of everyone. A happy society will make way for the prosperity of all.

By,

Thomas Addaquay

Source: Social Responsible Investing

[netbuzzafrica]

Photos: Nana Asaase, Six Strings, Lekzy Steals Classics & Comedy Show

Photos: Nana Asaase, Six Strings, Lekzy Steals Classics & Comedy Show

Ghana’s biggest comedy acts made an appearance at the 2016 edition of the Classics and Comedy event which came off last  Saturday. August 13. Big names that were billed to make an appearance at the event included KSM, DKB, Foster Romanus and Ajeezay. The  comedy show with a blend of classical music, guitar performance and poetry came off at the Accra International Conference Center (AICC) with…

[choralmusicghana]

Celestial Evangel Choir brings The Messiah to Kumasi

In the orchestral world, George Frideric Handel’s Messiah is a perennial favourite. In the 2014-2015 season alone, 13 out of the 22 largest American orchestras performed the oratorio 38 times.

The oratorio premiered in 1742 when the German-born Handel was the preeminent composer in his adopted home - the United Kingdom. Handel’s name drew such a crowd that the audience at the Messiah’s Dublin premiere was advised to leave their hoop skirts and swords at home for fear of overcrowding.

As much as the performance of The Messiah has become a tradition, many modern audiences might not know how it came to be and how it grew to dominate the orchestral calendar.

There is little doubt about Handel's own fondness for his work. His annual benefit concerts for his favorite charity—London's Foundling Hospital, a home for abandoned and orphaned children—always included Messiah. And, in 1759, when he was blind and in failing health, he insisted on attending an April 6th performance of Messiah at the Theatre Royal in Covent Garden. Eight days later, the great composer died at home.

Handel's reputation—and that of his best-known composition—only continues to grow. Mozart paid Handel the supreme compliment of re-orchestrating Messiah in 1789.  He insisted that any alterations to Handel's score should not be interpreted as an effort to improve the music. "Handel knows better than any of us, what will make an effect," Mozart said. "When he chooses, he strikes like a thunderbolt."(SMITHSONIAN MAGAZINE)

Many choirs worldwide have this oratorio as part of their repertoire. In Ghana, Harmonious Chorale, The University Choir - KNUST, The Philharmonic Choir - Tema, and others have all performed this oratorio in full. This year, Celestial Evangel Choir from Kumasi joins that number.

Among the highlights to look forward to in the upcoming performance are the presence of star soloists like Molly Brown from the Koforidua Youth Choir, Anna Carol Addaquay and Kennedy Dankwa of Harmonious Chorale.

In keeping with the tradition inadvertently kicked off by Handel in 18th century Ireland, Celestial Evangel Choir will donate a portion of the ticket sales to their ongoing cause to support children suffering from cancer.

This concert is also the first ticketed event organised by the choir, which engages primarily in charitable work targeted at grave health issues. The performance comes as the latest act in the choirs fight against childhood cancer in Ghana and around the world.

[choralmusicghana]

President Lauds Ephraim Amu in 60th Anniversary Speech

In his speech to mark Ghana’s 60th year of independence, the president, HE Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, paid homage to several Ghanaian luminaries whose work towards defining Ghanaian nationalism still binds the country’s diverse ethnicities and religious/social backgrounds today.

In the face of rapid global change, with major movements to integrate the world into Western homogeneity, Nana Addo’s speech was a rallying appeal to our nationalist sentiment, which has been on a high since his successful election to office in December last year.

Among those he paid homage to were past and living musicians who remain the most adored personalities in Ghana’s art music space.

Below is the section of his speech that speaks to the role of pioneering artists in making Ghana a nation proud of itself.

I pay homage to Ephraim Amu, Tata Amu as he was fondly called. He was the composer of what easily passes as our unofficial National Anthem, Yen Ara Asaase Ni.  Is there a Ghanaian among us today who can sing or hear that song, in whichever language, without being moved?

Ephraim Amu stood alone, most of the time, against what he saw as cultural domination. You did not have to wear a European-cut suit to be a scholar, you could wear a fugu, kente and above all, a locally woven fabric, and still be an educated person, he argued. He insisted you did not have to eat foreign foods because you were a scholar, and he insisted our music was as interesting and sophisticated as any around the world. Those were radical ideas for the time.

I pay homage to Philip Gbeho, the composer of our National Anthem, and to Theodosia Okoh, the designer of our national flag. I pay homage to Kofi Antubam, the artist who first put Ghanaian art on the map. I pay homage to Saka Acquaye, the poet, writer, sculptor and musician, who wrote the first African folklore, The Lost Fisherman.  I pay tribute to J.A. Braimah, the Gonja scholar and statesman who wrote insightful publications about the Gonja people.

I pay homage to Apaloo, the poet who immortalised the philosophy and music of the Ewe language. I pay homage to E.T. Mensah, King Bruce, Jerry Hansen and the others who popularised highlife, which has become an enduring identity of Ghanaian music. I pay tribute to the great musicologist, J.H. Nketia, who is the great authority on African music.

Amu’s major contribution to the country’s musical offerings, Yen Ara Asaase Ni, was performed yesterday at Newlove Annan’s book launch. The event itself, filled with nationalist sentiment, was an impressive precursor to today’s celebration. 

Young Ghanaian musicians, whose work is closely following the path of their forebears, include James Varrick Armaah, whose Oye has also become a de facto national celebratory song.

The role of music in defining what it means to be a Ghanaian may reach unprecedented levels of acceptance and social influence in the coming years as Ghanaian choral and orchestral ensembles take center-stage in our national dialog.

We saw a proliferation of patriotism in the run up to the presidential election last year. Ghanaian choral music has forged a strong identity and has become an exportable commodity, thanks to the effort of musicians like Armaah, Newlove Annan and Kenn Kafui. 

Following Akuffo-Addo’s speech were traditional chants from the gathered armed forces. Their expression, devoid of the pomp and stiffness of our European colonisers, said a lot about what it means to be a Ghanaian today.

Choral Music Ghana wishes all of us a happy diamond jubilee. 

God bless our Homeland, Ghana!

[choralmusicghana]

THE RETURN CONCERT with MARGARET FERGUSON

Margaret Ferguson, the celebrated UK-based Ghanaian soprano soloist returned to the country of her birth for a concert with the National Symphony Orchestra. It was her first such public performance in Ghana in 27 years.

Margaret was joined on stage by singers from Harmonious Chorale and Seasonal House, including Kennedy Dankwa and Franklyn Gyimah.

The Bitonic Singers, a choir Margaret founded in the year 2000 during her time in Ghana also joined the concert, with a performance of Newlove Annan's sacred anthem "But They That Wait". 

Newlove's famous setting of those timeless verses from the Book of Isaiah was first recorded by Margaret at the University of Ghana between 15 - 17 years ago. Her recording, which helped popularise the piece, includes a small change of the singer's own invention, not found in the composer's original score, but has since been commonly sung.

The repertoire for the night included music from European composers like Puccini, Rossini, Verdi, Bizet, and Victor Herbert. African compositions were not left out. Margaret performed "Onipa b3 ye bi" by J. H. K. Nketia, "Ahw3yie" by Hector Amonoo and "Mma moakoma entutu" by Alfred Patrick Addaquay. 

Etornam Agbodza-Gbekle, the nine-year-old daughter of principal trumpeter Patrick Agbodza-Gbekle joined the concert with a performance of Bernstein's "I Feel Pretty" and JS Bach's "O Little One Sweet".

In performance with his sister was Mr. Edwin Ferguson, a pianist with the Afro Maestros Orchestral Ensemble and lecturer at the University of Education, Winneba. 

In spite of the significance of Margaret Ferguson, the concert failed to draw in the anticipated patronage from the general public. The scanty audience, however, proved to be a devoted one and transformed what may have turned out to be a grand occasion into a rather intimate family affair.

[thomasaddaquay-blog]

Thomas Addaquay of Atlanta, Georgia: Dedicated Philanthropist

Thomas Addaquay of Atlanta, Georgia, knows that giving back is one of the most important steps that successful business owners can take to truly help their communities become safer and healthier. Thomas Addaquay founded Green X Prize with the idea of connecting like-minded professionals dedicated to innovation and sustainability, and aspiring entrepreneurs are welcome to submit their ideas with the chance of winning a $10,000 prize. Originally from Ghana, Addaquay moved to the United States to attend Luther College in Iowa, where he completed his undergraduate degree in economics.

[thomasaddaquay-blog]

Thomas Addaquay: Supporter of Ecological-Based Thinking

Thomas Addaquay is a philanthropist who founded Green X Prize, a forum for independent thinkers ready to challenge the status quo through groundbreaking advances in sustainable products and services. Thomas Addaquay explains that ecological-based thinking requires individuals to examine the world around them by seeing everything in context and utilizing ecological-based thinking for sustainability allows individuals to understand how a single change in a community can create endless ripples, which leads to better relationships across the world.

Also checkout: https://medium.com/@thomasaddaquay/thomas-addaquay-entrepreneur-author-and-philanthropist-b6026deb8a4c

[thomasaddaquay-blog]

Thomas Addaquay of Atlanta, Georgia: Three Ways to Practice Sustainability Every Day

Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Thomas Addaquay is dedicated to helping others practice sustainability in meaningful ways each day, taking into account even the simplest steps such as the following:

• Invest your time and energy in a community garden, growing your own food and offering urban areas a green space that will help offset carbon emissions. 

• Change out all the light bulbs in your house for energy efficient ones. While they are initially more expensive, they last much longer than traditional lightbulbs and end up saving you money in the end as well as reduce landfill waste.

• Rather than driving to work every day, walk if you can, and either bike or carpool for longer distances. This is one of the most important ways we can reduce our carbon footprints, as transportation emissions add up over time and become incredibly costly for the planet.

Thomas Addaquay is an entrepreneur dedicated to building green living spaces.

[choralmusicghana]

Remembering JG Koomson: Pt 2

George Mensah Essilfie remembers JG Koomson, a close friend a collaborator in life, whose memory will be kept alive by the community he leaves behind. 

It was no wonder that the Kumasi diocese (GHAMECC)  approached myself and JG to supervise, arrange selected hymn repertoire and play the keyboard for their first CD production. 

JG and myself assiduously prepared for this task. We wrote descants and varied harmonies for this project and shared ideas together. These enriched our musicalities. 

Later, JG sent his son,  Abeku, to me for piano instruction because he(JG) was then living and working in Accra . Abeku came with his best friend,  "Papa Mensah" at the time and that was Patrick Addaquaye, now a Ghanaian music celebrity. Abeku now resides in Columbus and often recounts those times when we meet. 

I went to see JG at Kasoa when I visited Ghana in 2011. We had lunch,  dinner, visited Mr. Kras Arthur together,  spent time talking about our families, careers and current trends in choral music both in the USA and Ghana. I didn't have the chance to visit him when I came to Ghana for my 'Otomfo' concert  in 2015 because he was out of town but we had a lengthy talk over the phone.  He was happy his son Abeku, in the USA lived in the same city as me and entrusted him to my care. I promised him I would take good care of him. Since then we have talked several times over the phone.

 JG was very enthused about a compilation of some of his recent songs. I encouraged him to do so because I knew the quality of works JG has been blessed with by the almighty God. 

JG has moved on but his works will forever stay with us till Christ returns but I believe the angels are welcoming him with the beautiful works God gave to us through him (JG). 

I talked to him some few weeks ago and he told me his health was improving.  I could tell the joy in his voice but we serve a God who knows what is best for us even though we sometimes feel or think otherwise.  The Lord has need of him more than we do. Heaven is rejoicing for our brother,  friend and colleague JG while we in our earthly stance as humans,  grieve.  Oh,  if we could for a moment pause to ask ourselves,  "our purpose in life?".....we would thank the Lord for JG's life on earth.  He was created to  serve the Lord through music and this he diligently did.  

John G. Koomson served as organist for several Methodist congregations and taught several choirs including Bantama Ebebezer Methodist,  Kumasi and Good Shepherd Methodist,  Accra.  He also nurtured several young musicians in keyboard and composition skills.  

His passion for the academia propelled him to further his education up to the masters level at the  University of Legon and subsequently lecture at the Music department of The Methodist university, Ghana. 

JG published a set of African piano pieces.  He was an ardent hymn tunes composer and some of his songs were included in the "Methodist Praise", a compilation by GHAMECC and published in 2008. He was part of the editorial team for this compilation which included songs and hymns from various Ghanaian Choral composers. JG also self published some of his compositions.  

JG was honored in 2010 by SALM in conjuction with The Harmonious Chorale.  His songs were featured at an exclusive concert by the Harmonious Chorale and other choirs.  

The histories of Church music and choral music in Ghana would not be complete without the mention of JG's contribution. JG revisited in his music,  the stylistic characteristics of the celebrated veteran composer,  Alfred Entsuah Mensah (1906 -1976) and in so doing found his own voice. 

The stylistic features - to state a few include lavish use of chromaticism. In a varied harmony to Nzeh's tune  "What a friend we have in Jesus", one can find evidence of the use of chromaticism in his music, the use of dominant sevenths (V7) to establish pressured continuity, and syncopation as in Jazzy melodies and rhythms. 

The family of JG has lost a great  son,  brother,  husband and father. Ghana has lost a great musician, musicians have lost a great brother abd colleague,  choral music enthusiasts have lost a great man who brought comfort and joy to their music souls. 

Rest in perfect peace,  JG. You will forever remain in our hearts. 

[greenxprize-blog]

Seeking the Next Greatest Generation

Consider this your invitation to become part of an extraordinary movement transcending the bitter political divide and united in shared purpose blind to color, party and religion. We reach out not just to the young, but young of heart and young in spirit. To inspire hope with human, accessible solutions, not partisan rhetoric, and armed with a plan to do it.

The famed journalist Tom Brokaw is best remembered for his brilliant book The Greatest Generation; a chronicle of ‘ordinary people’ born in the early 20th Century. They were our grandparents and great-grandparents, living through world wars, depression and profound cultural change. Their perseverance, sacrifice and industriousness is an enduring example of intuitive faith in a greater good that sparked unprecedented industrial and technological progress bettering lives for all and, best of all, doing it inclusively and without prejudice.

Their selflessness won hard-fought freedom and opportunity for all of us that followed, but it can be fairly said we’ve bungled the treasure they meant as our legacy Today, the cost coming due is seen in the dark clouds threatening the habitability of our planet. Politics aside, life-altering climate change poses an ominous threat to future prosperity for the next generations; the millennials, post-millennials; their children and grand-children.

Surely that Greatest Generation expected better stewardship from us. And we owe the next Greatest Generation more than an apology for our short-sightedness and denial. We owe them tools to overcome all that and more. We see this as urgent, and not optional.

Because the next war is already raging, silently, all around us.

Marked not by political coups or by violent military campaigns, but by an assault on Mother Nature, and by a deep and dark political blindness to environmental annihilation.

Victory must be transformative; challenging and reimagining ill-fated, outdated paradigms as the Greatest Generation did over half a century ago. Requiring new strategies and rules of engagement, new technologies and software advances that redefine, raise the bar and usher in a new era of possibilities and sustainable social solutions. A future where people, not governments, solve problems as they liberate and protect the planet we all call home.

A battle fought in the hearts and minds of the capable and educated young people of the world, because they are the next Greatest Generation. Victorious not from bullets and bombs, but ingenuity, bravery, perseverance, sacrifice and devotion to our communities.

Introducing the Green X Prize

A global platform that challenges and rewards innovative thinkers for their ideas, products or sustainable solutions that promote wellness in their communities and more. Thinking beyond conventional, beyond the fossil-fuel economy, beyond existing technology and beyond what is and beyond even what might be to what can be.

Our objectives are lofty yet also obtainable, and they encourage creative innovation with purpose. We seek viable solutions going beyond governments and politics, independent of their funding, but are both financially profitable and environmentally sustainable.

Their innovations are voted on by the Green X Prize community members themselves.

Inspiring Invention Without Limits

We don’t pre-define problems or have pre-conceived expectations for these solutions. Instead, Green X Prize participants propose the sustainable system, product, technology or software innovation that answers the need they have identified, whether in their own neighborhood or halfway around the world.

We live in an age when a bucket of ice raised millions for a good cause within days. Our dream is for you to be that one person with one idea that changes the world, perhaps with only a Click. Today, technological innovation truly makes the impossible, possible.

The future is in your hands, we aim to provide a platform to inspire and reward as you claim your place in the Next Greatest Generation.

By,

Thomas Addaquay

Green X Prize www.greenxprize.com

Source: https://www.greenxprize.com/think-green-article/Seeking-the-Next-Greatest-Generation

[choralmusicghana]

Why was Addaquay’s Performance at Ebony’s Funeral Cut Short?

Alfred Patrick Addaquay’s solo performance of the Hallelujah Chorus was cut short by the MC at the funeral celebration of late Ghanaian star Ebony Reigns. 

In the light of the increasing influence this genre of music is making in contemporary Ghanaian society, a number of fans of the pianist and general appreciators of Ghanaian art music found this apparent slight distasteful. 

We spoke to the pianist to find out what exactly happened that morning, and why. Alfred himself did not display any animosity concerning that episode. The MC’s interruption was only to help Alfred, whose performance at the funeral was being overshadowed by noise from the crowd at the State House.

The occasion was one of great public interest, and those gathered had other priorities than to listen to good music or contemplate their own mortality. Those in charge at the funeral celebration felt it necessary to cut short his performance because of the growing disorder and the eagerness of everyone to move on to other things.

From this perspective, the interruption might seem justified. However, we’re still disappointed with the lack of respect shown to the musician, first by the MC, and secondly by those gathered to satisfy their morbid curiosity. The entire basis of etiquette at classical performances is respect: for one’s self, fellow members of the audience and the performer and their art. As part of the social commentary criticising the public’s response to the death of Ebony, we find that this unfortunate set of events fits well into the patterns of behaviour we should abhor.

The argument may be made that this was no “concert performance”, and as such, expectations of the audience should not be so high. Nonetheless, we find the occasion required more decency than was generally shown.

Regardless of what happened (and was not allowed to happen in full), what is more important was that the passing of this young, inspiring artiste brought together several people from diverse musical backgrounds. We can only hope that solidarity does not wane in the aftermath of this event.

[choralmusicghana]

Addaquay’s Fantastic Tenor

Aside being a composer, music director and charismatic keyboardist, Alfred Patrick Addaquay is an amazing tenor. Here are two live performances from the popular musician:

The first, We Praise Thy Name O Lord is taken from his oratorio Laudateur Christus, which was premiered last year in Accra. The oratorio, which finds inspiration for its subject, overall structure and thematic ideas from the great Christian baroque oratorios is Alfred’s largest scale composition.

This chorus stands out as one of the more popular anthems from this work, and has been performed by a few choirs in the country.

The duet is a rewritten arrangement of the original chorus, and was performed with Marie of Bel Canto Chorus.

The second performance is of Capua’s O Sole Mio. Here, Addaquay shows off his virtuosic talent as a tenor, while accompanying himself on the keyboard.

For those of you who saw clips from the maestro’s wedding, this was the same love song he serenaded his new wife to at the ceremony. Off course, he left the congregation stunned!

[choralmusicghana]

EDITORIAL: A Year Old

This calls for a bit of celebration: this month, Choral Music Ghana is a year old!

We'd like to thank you for being with us on our journey exploring the choral music scene in Ghana and bringing the best in whatever small way we can to you. We’ll take a look at some of the highlights of our first year, in anticipation of some of the critically acclaimed events we’re expecting to entertain us this year.

2015 was exceptional in the events it had; we saw Patrick Addaquay's remake and premier of his Baroque-styled oratorio Laudater Christus. For me it heralded the emergence of  Bel Canto Chorus as a major choral ensemble in Ghana, and reasserted Addaquay as one of Ghana's leading contemporary pianists, and certainly the most active and popular. I was saddened by the fact that it did not make as large as impact as it deserved. Laudater Christus is after all, the only major oratorio Ghana can boast of.

Classical Laughs, the classical music and comedy series started by Extreme Productions, a production house founded by a member of Harmonious Chorale to promote classical musicians and soloists was unique in its departure from the largely sacred repertoire of most concerts and performers. Most people forget serious art music is an independent form. Just as we saw culturally relevant works performed at the University of Ghana Music Department, it's good to realise people appreciate the breadth of experience serious art music can express. Perhaps in the near future we will see a growth in choral music of the secular form.

Harmonious Chorale’s “Evening with the Masters” towed a similar line by exploring besides the sacred, several culturally relevant secular choral works of Sam Asare-Bediako. Though mostly Christian, other themes explored included morality, sanitation and a return to the social values necessary to community building. This initiative is led by their ever gracious patron Rev. Joyce Aryee to expose the composers of our favourite Ghanaian songs. With a good concert in Accra and repeat in Kumasi, Harmonious Chorale left us eager for whose work they will showcase for this year.

As is expected, several albums were released by some of our favourite choral ensembles. We will go into our favourite picks of last year in a feature article later this month. Each pick is a unique work worthy of mention.

This year, we look forward to more of these, including favourite serial events such as Gramophone Ghana’s Fellowship of Songs, the second Classical Laughs and what wonders Armaah and his Harmonious Chorale will bless us with.

It was great to be a part of these events, to see choral music make such strides. It’s also been a wonderful year of bringing you the best in Ghanaian choral and classical music. Here's to more awesomeness to come!

Editor-in-Chief,

Choral Music Ghana.