The 34th Pappoe Thompson Chorale Music Festival is slated for Thursday, March 5, at the Center for National Culture (Arts Center) in Accra.
The festival, aimed at honouring an illustrious composer and educationist, Mr. Emmanuel Pappoe Thompson with a collection of his chorale music, would also serve as a precursor for the 63rd Independence Day Celebrations the following day.
According to the organisers, 10 choirs within in Accra will converge at the Art Center to entertain patrons with soothing genres of chorale music to usher in the Independence Day celebrations.
Choirs expected to perform on the day include, FireVibrators (GNFS), GHAPOHA Choir, Treasury Staff Choir, Unity Ensemble and Finance Choir.
The rest are, Freeman Memorial Methodist Choir, NADMO Choir and Bank of Ghana Choir.
Head Artiste and Programmes at the Art Center, Mr Joseph George Lamptey, said the performance of indigenous chorale music would also help foster unity and patriotism among Ghanaians.
The programme which started in 1987,he said, has brought together industrial choirsacross the capital to celebrate the works of Pappoe Thompson in order to promote indigenous arts of the Greater Accra region.
“The late Pappoe Thompson had very great works to his credit including writing the lyrics of the national anthem though the music was composed by Dr Philip Gbehoand must be celebrated,” he stated.
Chorale music,he said, was one genre that could be used in several forms as most of the performing arts including drama could be inserted into it to communicate to society.
He acknowledged the Ghana National Fire Service Choir, the GHAPOHA Choir and the Treasury Choir for the decision to be part of the programme since its inception 34 years ago.
Mr Lamptey said, next year’s event would be a competition which would involve a lot of choirs that would perform a particular song.
“We need to promote the genre so that it is not perceived as something for old people but could actually be a strong brand for the country,” he stressed.
He encouraged Ghanaians to remain patriotic to such indigenous works, urging all music lovers to throng to the Art Center for the event, while expressing their appreciation to the family of the late Pappoe Thompson and the Director of the Art Center, Mrs Alice Alima Kala for their support.
