ON THE NIGER SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS MELT SOULS WITH CLASSICAL MUSIC AT ANNUAL COMPETITION

(By Alex Uzoigwe and Michael Nwankwo)

    The atmosphere at the Basilica of St Andrew's, Onitsha, was rather of a rapturous description today, Thursday, November 16, 2023 when secondary school students of the Diocese on the Niger mesmerized their audience with soulful renditions reminiscing, in part, some classical works of Beethoven, Sebastian Batch, Mozart and others as they marked their annual music competition.
   The competition which was generally held to be some degrees ahead of the one of 2022 in various aspects was participated by 15 out of about 56 secondary schools of the diocese which had earlier scaled the huddle before the present.
      Grouped in three categories,  the schools, in all, rendered four songs each among which were Abụ 151, a chant; Abụ Ọma 26, the University on the Niger Anthem, and  Te-deum Laudamus in "C".
   Although as at the time of this report when the result of the contest was being collated, there were conflicting indications about which school would be the year's champion.
  While some fingered one of the schools off the Onitsha-Owerri Road or another within the Nnewi axis to be the probable winner, others in their assessments had an eye on one school within the Onitsha urban.
   Many dignitaries from government, education departments, commerce and industry and tens of teachers and parents from within the diocese and beyond thronged the venue to witness the competition.
   Three judges who presided the competition were the Diocesan Choirmaster, and All Saints' Cathedral Music Director, Associate Professor, Lady Ngọzi Okonkwo who was the lead-judge, Sir C. J. Okeke, second and Sir Ag. Nwokolo, third judge. 
  Among other personalities at the event were  the Diocesan Education Secretary, Ven Nwachukwu Okeke, Vicar of St Andrew's Basilica, venue of the competition, Ven Dan Uche, the Archdeacon of the Oba Archdeaconry, Ven Dave Udoezika, the Diocesan Music Director, Sir Ifeanyi Ezeugo, the Coordinator of the music contest, Sir Emma Nwokolo, priests, teachers and music instructors of the shools.
      Comprehensive result of the competition will be published in our subsequent report.

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