Celebrating intersection of German, Nigerian music

For guests at the Harmony Across Cultures (HAC) 2024 Concert, it was a memorable experience as students from the British International School LAGOS & Corona Secondary School Agbara performed alongside the Vesta Orchestra Lagos, serenading the guests with soul-lifting Nigerian and German classical tunes.

Some of the songs rendered were from great composers such as, Wolfgang Mozart, Victor Uwaifo, Seun Owoaje and Franz Schubert.

Others were, Johann Pachelbel, Godwin Sadoh, Samuel Akpabot and Gabriel Adedeji.

In his remarks, Principal British International School Lagos, Kevin Donnelly, said every culture has an array of things, using dance, arts and food.

To Donnelly, ‘this evening, we are celebrating what we have in common and what we have in common is the desire and appreciation of music. Every school must ensure their children get the best opportunity.”

Similarly, Director Goethe Institut Nigeria, Nadine Siegert, noted music has the ability to break barriers, foster creativity and inspire hope.

Saying the institute goes beyond teaching German, she added, ‘we believe we can share something about the Nigerian and German cultures. HAC Concert brings together the two schools to celebrate the rich culture of Nigerian and German classical/art music.’

CEO Vesta Orchestra and Opera Foundation, Rosalyn Aninyei, recalled the Orchestra was founded in 2017 to provide a performance stage and opportunities for the highly talented young performing arts professionals in the country.

With support of committed colleagues, Aninyei added the foundation had grown over the years from performing “Classical Wednesdays” Concert Series to presenting an “AfriClassical Concert Series” at which art and highlife music by African composers is performed alongside European classical music.

In a most exciting development, she disclosed some members of the Vesta Foundation now teach After School Music to 120 JSS1 students at five Government Colleges in Ikoyi.

She highlighted objectives of the programme as, helping students reimagine their future through music; preparing them for the Association of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) exams; holding competitions to further cement the progress made at exams; encouraging particularly gifted student and to establish a ‘Lagos State Public Schools Band’, to give the children exposure and a goal.

In collaboration with Carnegie Hall, New York, she disclosed Vesta Orchestra and Opera Foundation is participating in Link Up “The Orchestra Moves”, a music education programme provided by Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute (WMI), during the 2024–2025 season and beyond.

She added the nearly 150 students participating in the Link Up curriculum will attend a culminating concert in June 2025 at the Alliance Française Mike Adenuga Centre, Ikoyi Lagos, where they will sing and play the recorder or the violin with the orchestra from their seats.

Aninyei said this programme is targetted at students from low income households, whose only chance of getting out of their circumstances would depend on extra-curricular activities such as music, theatre, sports and literature.

In his closing remarks, Principal Corona Secondary School, Agbara, Innocent Oaikhena, said, “when schools come together, it shows how we are able to transcend boundaries. We have our own roles to play in building shared understanding and humanity. Tonight’s event will inspire your minds to enrich our community.”