By Samuel Olamide Osifuye
In a breathtaking celebration of faith and music, the 60th edition of the Choir and Orchestra Festival at Christ Apostolic Church Love of God Zonal Headquarters, Lagos, held on Sunday, 10th November, 2024, resonated with the powerful theme of ‘Gratitude’, offering a spectacular evening of worship, music, and heartfelt expressions of thankfulness.
The festival kicked off with a mini concert showcasing the powerful talents within the choir. A semi-choir opened the event with a stirring rendition of ‘Ayo Igbala’ by Alfred Abimbola, followed by a soul-stirring solo performance by Tosin Osho, who beautifully interpreted ‘Mura S'ise’ by Alaba Akinselure. These performances set the stage for what would become a remarkable evening of musical celebration.
The concert proper featured an array of powerful songs, performed by the full choir, which included the classical ‘Gloria in Excelsis’ by W.A. Mozart, ‘Kabiyesi Oba’ by Dare Lawal, and ‘Gbogbo Aye E Gbe Jesu Ga’ by Elder Sunday Adenekan. Other highlights included ‘God Be Praised’ by T.D. Jakes, ‘I’m Winging My Way Back Home’ by J.B. Coats, and ‘Oluwa Iwo Lo Ti Nse Ibujoko Wa’ by Dr. Ayo Oluranti.
A standout moment of the night was the trumpet solo by Oluwamayowa Ogundipe, accompanied by Babatunde Tairu, who played ‘Olorun To Da Awon Oke’ by Niran Obasa. The orchestra’s powerful arrangement and the choir’s harmonies brought every song to life, invoking a deep sense of reverence and awe.
The festival also marked a significant milestone for the Choirmaster, Elder Sunday Adenekan, who took a moment to reflect on the history of the choir and the festival. "The choir festival began in 1964," Elder Adenekan shared, noting that this year’s celebration held extra significance for him as it also marked his 40th year as a chorister. He went on to challenge a common stereotype, saying, "Contrary to the cliché that choirs are made up of tough and stubborn people, our choir is made up of dedicated, responsible individuals, including first-class graduates in fields like computer science." He also highlighted the choir’s spiritual focus, proudly adding, "Among the 10 new intakes, six are members of the household of faith, which reflects our commitment to nurturing spiritually grounded musicians."
Another highlight of the evening was Pastor Rotimi Olusheye’s sermon on ‘Gratitude’. Drawing from Colossians 3:15-17, Pastor Olusheye spoke powerfully about the link between peace, joy, and gratitude. He emphasized that true peace, especially the peace that comes from God, is foundational to a heart of gratitude.
“Peace precedes joy, and joy precedes gratitude,” Pastor Olusheye explained. He noted that while worldly peace is often fragile and contingent on external circumstances, the peace of God is unshakable, providing the foundation for genuine joy and thankfulness.
Using biblical examples such as Job, who maintained his peace and joy despite losing everything, and Paul and Silas, who sang in prison because of the peace they found in Christ, Pastor Olusheye encouraged the congregation to embrace a heart of gratitude, no matter the challenges they face.
"Gratitude is not about what you have, but about seeing the reason to thank God in all things," he said. He urged believers to cultivate a perspective of gratitude, acknowledging God’s faithfulness even in difficult circumstances. Pastor Olusheye’s personal testimony of gratitude, sharing how he had lived without a salary for over twenty years yet experienced God's abundant blessings, further reinforced his message.
The festival was also marked by expressions of appreciation through presentation of awards to those that have stood by the choir over the years. One of the recipients of the awards is the Music Director of CAC Nigeria & Overseas, Elder Bidemi Oyesanya (SAN).
Assistant Choirmaster Segun Shoyinka took the opportunity to thank everyone for their generous contributions, both moral and financial, that ensured the success of the festival.
The presence of dignitaries such as the Director of Music, CAC Nigeria and Overseas, Elder Bidemi Oyesanya (SAN) and the Superintendent of CAC Love of God Zone, Pastor P.I. Afolabi, lent an air of prestige to the event. Also in attendance were the Akinyele Regional Choirmaster, Elder Sesan Taiwo; Assistant Pearce Regional Choirmaster, Elder Charles Amudipe; and Assistant Akinyele Regional Choirmaster, Elder Segun Akinloye, among many others.
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