IRS Wins Choral Competition

All work and no play they say,makes Jack a dull boy.That is why probably, in some work places, choirs have been formed to once in a while relieve workers of their tedious work routine.

Last week Thursday,some of these choirs gathered at the Arts Centre in Accra to participate in the 18th Pappoe Thompson Choral Competition and also to usher in Ghan’s 48th independence anniversary celebration.

With interesting names such as The Voices of Lotto, GHAPOHA Choir,Highways Advocate, IRS Choir, Audit Choir, Municipal Voices of TMA, Treasury Staff Choir, Fire Vibration, Solid Singers of PFC, Noble Voices of P.W.D and The Aphos Choir of Accra Psychiatric Hospital, they all sang impressively with only one agenda: to take away the first prize of ¢1.5 million and a trophy.

As expected of each choir, they sang the competition song, Aha Mi Gbe na,a patriotic song composed by the late Pappoe Thompson as well as one of his other compositions.
Each group, as if prearranged, in their introduction tunes, sang songs that described the nature of their work in their various organisations and a pledge to serve the nation.

Voices of Lotto for instance, stepped on stage with an opening song that continuously urged people to stake lotto to become instant millionaires.

In the same vein,the Fire Vibration, in their stage opener assured the audience of their dedication to serve the nation in the event of a fire outbreak.

From the various compositions of the late Pappoe Thompson, the competitors sang Sane Ye Jen, which spoke of the injustices of this world,Yoo Kpakpa which also touchingly described a virtuous woman as more precious than diamond.

Others sang Otawo Ni Ehi, Kwe Mo Mi Mama, and Mi Ye Nanyo Ko.

Apart from GHAPOHA Choir who appeared on stage in lovely two-piece kente traditional wear and assorted traditional beads to match,most of the competitors who turned up wore special wax prints depicting the logos of their various organisations.

The performances of these choirs were judged by Mr Atsu Atsiatorme,Head of the Music Department of GBC, Mr G.W. Addo,a Lecturer at the University College of Education Winneba,and Mr Edwin Asante Okoto, an SDA choir master.

Their judgement was based on the blending of voices, expressions, which they said should depict the message of the song as well as diction,appearance and presentation.

It came as no surprise when at the end of the competition, the IRS Choir emerged first.

They first appeared on stage in a unique formation with placards that read: “For good drinking water, pay your income tax”and another that read “Tax reviews bring development.

Pay your taxes”. As they sang, there were cheers from the crowd and dead silence as the audience listened with rapt attention to the passion in their voices.

They took away ¢1.5 million,a trophy and a certificate of participation.The second prize went to the Noble Voices of P.W.D. and for their prize they were given an amount of ¢1 million and a certificate for participation,while Fire Vibration were given an amount of ¢500,000 and a certificate for participation.

All the other competitors also received certificates of participation and consolation prizes.

In ashort address, the director of the Arts Center Mr Alex Sefah-Twerefour, said this time they decided to celebrate the day not as a festival as they did in previous years but as a competition to raise the standard of performance of the choirs and to generate more excitement for the programme.

Source: Evelyn Loh, Graphic Showbiz