The Choir and their Priests before a show.
By Dili Utomi.
The Diocese of Lagos West (DLW) choral competition is an annual event, which involves the 29 Archdeaconries and 275 parishes with the primary purpose of promoting classical music within the churches in the diocese. The DLW choral competition begins
with the preliminary stage where churches are free to register for categories of their choice such as the Premium category or the Standard category.
The Music director of BACMAC Choir, Mr Kelechi Agu, together with his team worked
tirelessly to ensure that the choir was ready to put up a great performance at the competition. It was indeed a worthy time spent in learning the technicalities of the
different pieces to be rendered.
The Bishop Ajayi Crowther Memorial Anglican Church (BACMAC) Choir being the leading church choir in the diocese and beyond took the center stage on Sunday, 11th of July 2021 at Bola Memorial Anglican Church, Ikeja, the venue for the Zone B of the Premium
category. Musical works of great composers were rendered such as Dr H. Walford Davies, Rev. L Flintoff, David Aina and James Varrick Armaaah.
The BACMAC Choir was grouped with St John’s Anglican Church Iju, Anglican Church Ori Okuta, St Jude’s Anglican Church Ojota, St Paul’s Anglican Church Somolu and
Christ Anglican Church Akute but only BACMAC Choir and St John Anglican Church Iju were present to compete in the Zone B premium preliminary stage of the competition.
The competition started at 4:07 pm with the opening prayer said by the coordinator followed immediately by the judges out the rules with emphasis on the areas that the choirs competing would be judged during their rendition. The BACMAC Choir was the first to mount the stage for their rendition. The rendition started with a hymn (Firmament by Dr. H. Watford Davies), a chant (Psalm 19, R. Woodward on D major and Rev. L Flintoff on F# minor), the indigenous anthem chosen by the organizers (Jesu Lo Jayo Lo
by Dr. David Aina) and a special anthem (My help comes from the Lord by James Brick Armaaah)
The closing formalities started by 5:20 with the judges giving some corrections and observations about the performances of the two choirs. The results were then announced, BACMAC Choir had a total score of 102/120 while St John’s Anglican Church Iju had
85/120. The preliminary stage of the DLW choral competition came to a successful end with BACMAC Choir emerging victorious. Both choirs qualified for the finals in September to be held at the Archbishop Vining Memorial Church Cathedral, Ikeja.
The elated choir sent messages ofappreciation to their Lord Bishop
( The Rt. Revd. Dr. James O. Odedeji) and their Vicar (Ven. Taiwo Olupitan) for their fatherly roles and wisdom at every point and for the support shown towards the choir which contributed immensely to the success attained by the choir.
Speaking to the press later, the choir through their Choir master said that the victory is a challenge to the choir and that the preparations for the finals are already on. “With God on our side, the aim is also to emerge victorious as the undisputed champion at the finals”. He concluded.
For more information, please call 08027590195, 08035721540 or email us @ greatalternativenigltd@gmail.com
