The Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON) have illuminated the hearts of music enthusiasts during the Muson/Mandilas Christmas Concert held Sunday, December 3, 2023 at the prestigious Shell/ Zenith Bank Hall, Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos to resonate the spirit of the festive season.
Under the baton of the esteemed conductor, Sir Emeka Nwokedi, the MUSON Choir & Orchestra took center stage, captivating the audience with a mesmerizing performance.
The programme showcased a diverse repertoire that included stirring compositions by Joseph Martin, Lloyd Larson, John Rutter, Aderemi Olajide, and perennial favourite among evergreen Christmas carols, Sam Ojukwu.
The collective talents of the musicians, Oge Nweke, Stephen Nwosu, David Ihechukwu, Christian Onyeji, and the rest were all united in their dedication to musical excellence, painting an enchanting musical canvas.
The fusion of orchestral finesse and choral grandeur, coupled with the seasonal spirit, amplified the ambiance, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts of attendees.
The Shell Zenith Bank Hall reverberated with the spirit of unity and joy, mirroring the enchantment shared by both performers and the spellbound audience.
Reflecting on the event, one attendee Mrs Stephanie Waniko of the Nigerian Institute of Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR) enthused, “this concert is relaxing. It brings the spirit of Christmas to life. The year has been very challenging and for me coming to this concert is a way of reassurance that next year will be better.”
The Muson/Mandilas Christmas Concert, an annual testament to the Musical Society of Nigeria’s commitment to excellence, not only delighted the audience but also reinforced the organization’s status as a beacon of musical brilliance in Nigeria.
Chairman, Board of Trustees, Musical Society of Nigeria(MUSON), Mr. Louis Mbanefo (SAN) said, “the Christmas Concert has been an annual event since Muson was founded 40 years ago, every christmas, we have had our Christmas Concerts and this is one of the major events of the year.
“And in the last few years, the Mandilas Group offered to sponsor these concerts and the part of this excitement is that a part of the Mandilas Group has a choir which takes part in the concerts also, so that is how this has developed.”
With the thrills of the Christmas concert, the Chairman commented on the benefits of the event, saying “the attendees will take away the love of serious music and the inspiration to get their children to learn musical instruments and a greater understanding and enjoyment of music.”
Sir, Emeka Nwokedi, Director of the Muson Choir, said “from the reactions of people, I know that they enjoyed it tremendously. People looked forward to coming, as a matter of fact, we had to send some people back because of the hall, people who did not get tickets before, that will show you how popular this Concert, especially of our Christmas Concerts are.”
The Muson Choir Director commented on the Christmas Concert partnership between Muson and Mandilas.
He said, “it is a collaboration. Usually we do Christmas Concerts every year but in the past four years, Mandilas came in to support because Muson is like a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), we only get support from companies and establishments to support us, so in the past three years, Mandilas came in and they have been supporting us. They also have their choir which we are also grooming. So, it is a collaboration between us and Mandilas, they are doing the financing.”
Mandilas, Sales and Marketing General Manager, Mrs. Marie Therese Phido shared the significance of the Muson/Mandilas Christmas Concert, saying “this is a season of love, giving back to your community, showing it has been a good year and we are here to refresh and relax.”
