Muson Centre

Muson Centre
Background
Location: Onikan, Lagos Island
Lagos, Nigeria
Type Performing-arts center
Established: 1983
Divisions:
  • Muson Choir
  • Muson School of Music
  • Muson Symphony Orchestra
  • Muson Festival
Performances:
  • orchestra
  • opera
  • drama
  • musical
  • chorale
  • lecture
  • concerts
  • events
  • participatory
Also Called: Musical Society of Nigeria
Information
Website: www.muson.org
coordinates 6°27′18″N 3°25′29″W / 6.4548791°N 3.4245984°W / 6.4548791; -3.4245984Coordinates: 6°27′18″N 3°25′29″W / 6.4548791°N 3.4245984°W / 6.4548791; -3.4245984

MUSON Centre, (Musical Society of Nigeria) is a repository of Music, Arts and Culture site and the most prestigious and exclusive performance hall in Lagos. The multipurpose civic auditorium is located in the heart of Lagos Island, situated conspicuously between the National Museum, the City Mall, the Onikan Stadium and the former official residence of the Nigeria’s Governors-Generals and adjacent to Tafawa Balewa Square.

History

Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON) was established in 1983 in the site of the former “Love Garden” (prior to the unveiling the centre’s facilities by Prince Charles in 1995). MUSON was founded as a result of the commitment and dedication of some distinguished Nigerians and expatriates to stimulate the love and awareness of the richness of classical music in Nigerians, especially Lagosians. The need for musical training and instruction spurred the establishment of the Muson School of Music in 1989.[1] Muson represents the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) in Nigeria and offers ABRSM theory and practical examinations. Muson regularly organizes concerts of both Nigerian and Western genres.[2] The MUSON choir commenced performances in 1995 while the MUSON Symphony orchestra, Nigeria’s only professional Symphony Orchestra at the time, commenced performances in 2005. They perform regularly at the annual MUSON Festival and during the Society’s concert season.[1][3][4] The MUSON Choir and the MUSON Symphony Orchestra are also invited to perform outside MUSON.[3][5][6]

Divisions

The MUSON School of Music

The MUSON School of Music, founded in 1989 by the Musical Society of Nigeria and accredited by the Federal Government of Nigeria, is a comprehensive institution of music. It is Nigeria’s premier Classical Music conservatoire for all age groups.

The institution is performance-based with its diversity of study options in the area of performance, a world-class team of professional instructors, visiting artists for master classes and state-of-the-art facilities for effective learning, housed in an efficient purpose-built structure. The School tutors towards artistic excellence.

There are two major programmes at the School of Music, both of which emphasize the mastery of performance skills in any chosen field – singing or playing of any instrument - accompanied by general musicianship:

The Basic School: This is a student-centred, one-on-one music programme with a very flexible lesson plan and schedule designed specially for the convenience of both the student and the teacher.

Irrespective of level of experience regarding the chosen field/instrument of study, performance skills can be improved through the Basic School's intensive program.

The focus is on the learner's voice or instrument with the aim of impacting learned skills on the Nigerian and the global community.

There are three major categories of training in the Basic School:

The Diploma School: The MUSON School of Music was granted permission by the Federal Ministry of Education in 2002 to award Diplomas in Music. The Diploma programme is a two-year, full-time post-secondary course which started in September 2006 with 21 students.

The course is also performance-based. But, unlike the Basic School programme, it is an extensive one that requires each student to perform in chamber music ensembles, solo recitals and concerts during the year. It offers advanced training in music performance and general musicianship, including music technology, analysis, harmony and minor instruments.

GOAL: Muson's goal is to produce well rounded, thoroughly educated musicians who would qualify for direct entry as transfer students into the university for undergraduate music degrees.

Muson's syllabus is performance-based, in line with world class standards in order to produce graduates who are globally relevant and comparable to those of other reputable music conservatoires around the world.

Advanced training majors include:

The basic criteria of this programme is Intermediate category.

MTNF Involvement

Each of the 60 students (30 in each year group) of the MUSON Diploma School is on scholarship, covering full tuition and books. The scheme, which also provides a six-day travel allowance for the student, is courtesy of the MTN Foundation. It was put in place in 2006 in recognition of the high standard of the students.

References

  1. 1 2 Duro Oni (13 May 2010). Stage Lighting Design: The Nigerian Perspective. Society of Nigerian Theatre Artistes, Indiana University. ISBN 9789788065012.
  2. ↑ Godwin Sadoh (2007). The Organ Works of Fela Sowande: Cultural Perspectives. iUniverse. ISBN 9780595915958.
  3. 1 2 Paul Konye (2007). African Art Music: Political, Social, and Cultural Factors Behind Its Development and Practice in Nigeria. Edwin Mellen Press. ISBN 9780773452534.
  4. ↑ "Muson Symphony Orchestra performs in Grand Style". The Vanguard. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
  5. ↑ Ben Ezeamalu (September 19, 2014). "MUSON gets new artistic director as annual festival approaches". Premium Times.
  6. ↑ MUSON (Organization : Nigeria). Festival (January 21, 2010). The MUSON Festival. Indiana University.

"Muson". 

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