Bille musical association 2019 fiesta
Winners emerged in all the categories of music competition organised by the Bille Musical Association (BMA) on Sunday, December 29, 2019 during its annual fiesta for 2019. The event held at The St. Mary’s Cathedral Christ Army Church (GBC) Bille Kingdom in Degema Local Government Area, Rivers State.
In the first category, there was a singing competition between the competing church choirs of Bille Kingdom. The first position went to St. Jude’s Anglican Archdeaconry, while the second position went to St. Silas’ Pro-Cathedral CACN and the third position went to New Covenant CAC, with the fourth position taken by the host church, St. Mary’s Cathedral Christ Army Church (GBC), all in Bille Kingdom.
In the second category, there was an accompaniment competition on organ playing between sons and daughters of Bille. Here, the first position went to C.G Gabriel Standford; the second position went to C.G. Choice Alalibo; third position went to C.G. Christopher Taminotonye while the fourth position went to C.G. Kiente Fenibo.
In the third category, there was a solo competition between interested and talented youths of Bille Kingdom. Here, the first position went to C.G. Taminosaki Garrick; second position went to C.G. Christopher Taminotonye; third position went to C.G. Fayefori Ngo Herbert, and the fourth position went to C.G. Noel C. Bregbo. The oldest organist in Bille, as at 2019, C.G. Bubelebira Amadiki, was honoured and all the winners in all the categories received gifts in cash and in kind. In all, the competition was encouraging. We are grateful to God, the sponsors and participants.
I believe that the annual music fiesta, organised by the complete gentlemen of Bille Kingdom, is a laudable venture. For now, many have gone through different schools of thought, where they studied music and other related disciplines, with their training on organ playing and other musical instruments. It was not like this in the past. I can make reference to past organists and choirmasters of Bille, who had made names from past generation to the present. Notable amongst them were the late Rt. Rev S.W. Herbert and Albert Frimenjibo, including Engr. Bubelebira Amadiki, Chief [Dr.] I. D. Minapakama, Mr. Isinimibo Herbert, Mr. Emi West and others too numerous to mention. We have graduates and post-graduates scholars in musicology, which has become an encouragement to all and sundry.
Singing during the fiesta was considered in two ways. Firstly by the non-denominational mass choir, and secondly by the individual church choirs. The mass choir performance, at its own level, was regarded higher than that of the individual church choirs generally speaking. The rating lies on an average of 65 per cent and 75 per cent for the mass choir performance, while it lies between 50 and 60 per cent for the individual church choirs that participated. This is because the level of training and concentration given to the mass choir by the team of choirmasters and organists is by far bigger than that given to the individual church choirs by their respective choirmasters and organists. Again, selection into the non-denominational mass choir was based on the individual’s mastery of the pieces [The Messiah By G.F. Handel part (1)] chosen for the event. Hence, many were called but few chosen. • His Lordship, Rt. Revd. Adokiye H. Fenibo, Diocesan Bishop, Christ Army Church St. Mary’s Cathedral (GBC) Rivers Diocese. 08080574518-[08021987053] adokiye.fenibo@yahoo.com
I recommend that more training be given to the individual church choirs to boast the performance of the mass choir in future.This kind of competitions, when sustained, will continue to improve the standard of singing and choir performances of various church choirs in Bille. I also know that finance is one hindrance to the continuance of this competition. Therefore, I am calling on the sponsors to continue in their sponsorship and appeal for more sponsors for the sustenance of the fiesta in the areas of trophies, gifts and cash donations.
• His Lordship, Rt. Revd. Adokiye H. Fenibo, Diocesan Bishop, Christ Army Church St. Mary’s Cathedral (GBC) Rivers Diocese. 08080574518-[08021987053] adokiye.fenibo@yahoo.com
