How Celestial Evangel Choir hosted biggest choral show last Sunday

Compiled by Alfred Adams Randall Kempton standing before the CEC

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When the stage was set, the keyboards tuned, and the singers more than ready for the biggest choral show to hit Kumasi last Sunday, the Celestial Evangel Choir-Ghana (CECG) hosted the world renowned musician, composer and conductor, Dr. Randall Kempton.

Considering the skill and calibre of Dr. Randall Kempton in musicianship and composition, all roads led to the venue of the show, where six singing groups were on stage performing alongside the host choir, CECG, thrilled the audience to spectacular pieces of choral music.

The night was dubbed 'Choral Show 2016”, and the venue, the Great Hall of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).

It was a night when each of the singing groups performed to impress, particularly, the audience, considering the calibre of personalities, including musicians, who sat to watch the show, considered to pass as Ghana's biggest choral show ever.

The event, held by the CECG, was in collaboration with the Manhyia Palace, which was celebrating the 17th Anniversary of the enstoolment of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.

Due to this, the Manhyia Palace was heavily represented at the event, which saw Otumfuo Osei Tutu II gracing it.

The event organisers had said each of the performing singing groups was going to perform three compositions, including one by Dr. Randall Kempton.

A total of 18 choral pieces were performed at the event, which lasted over two hours.

The singing groups included the Kumasi Diocesan Methodist Singing Band, Vocal Essence Chorale, Catholic Philharmonic Youth Choir, Euphonic DVC, The University Choir, and GHAMSU Choir, KNUST, among others.

The KNUST Choir, for instance, performed Oman Ghana, Dzidzom, and ended with a Dr. Randall piece titled 'How Will They Know With Cheerful Voice'.

The host choir also performed ‘Abide with Me,’ ‘Love Divine,’ ‘Agya Abofo’, and ended with another Dr. Randall rearrangement, titled 'For The Beauty of The Earth'.

Three keyboards, plus a church organ, were tuned for the choral show, where Albert Adusei Dua, a final year Medical Student of the KNUST,who celebrated his birthday on the day of the show, sat as the leading keyboardist.

Augustine Kweku Sobeng and Francis Adu-Boakye were the two keyboardists to put finishing touches to the performances.

Present at the ceremony was Professor Johann Yaw Sekyi Baidoe, a composer and Chairman of the Association of the Methodist Church Choirs (Ghamecc), who introduced the host choir to the stage.

Dr. Randall Kempton, who arrived a week before for the show, was decorated with a local kente cloth by Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.

Dr. Kempton conducted his compositions, which were performed by the six singing groups.

One important thing is that Dr. Randall held a music workshop a day to the big show for musicians, keyboardist and directors of music, where he lectured them on music, conducting and composition.

The music workshop was free of charge, and this writer can report that all music directors of the Association of Methodist Church Choirs (GHAMECC) registered for the workshop.

Others from singing groups and church choirs also registered to participate in the music workshop.

Dr. Randall
Dr. Randall has been teaching choral and vocal music at Brigham Young University, Idaho, since 1999.

He currently serves as Director of Choral Activities and Conductor of the Collegiate Singers.

He is an arranger, guest conductor and adjudicator for choral festivals.

Randall is a personal friend to Albert Adusei-Dua, a keyboardist, composer and founding member of the CECG.