GHYOUTH CHOIR CHORAL FESTIVAL | RESOURCE PERSON FOR CHORAL WORKSHOP/SEMINAR

Prof. Johann Yaw Sekyi-Baidoo

He was born to Mr, John Kofi Baidoo of Abura Dunkwa and Mrs Comfort Amponsaah Baidoo from Kintampo, who are turning 89 and 79 respectively this year. He was born as the only male among three sisters. He has enjoyed a very strong and warm life as a child in his family, and he can credit much of his little success to this beautiful family, and his failures to his headstrong items to linger away from its ideals and motivations.

He attended elementary schools in Gomoa Odina-Oguaa, Twifo Mampoma (Central Region) and Kintampo and Nkoranza (BA), and had his secondary education at Kintampo and Tema Secondary School where he completed his sixth form. He had University education at University of Cape Coast and University of Ghana.

He started his working life after university in 1989 when he taught in the Sunyani Secondary School. He also started teaching at the University of Education, Winneba from 1993 on part time and full time in 1996. He has been the head of department on three occasions and three times as Dean. He is a professor of English.

He has published in several international and local journals and has attended conferences both home and abroad. He has also served on visiting professorial fellowship both in Ghana and the USA, and he belongs to several international academic associations based in England, Australia, New Zealand, USA, the Philippines, Canada etc. in Linguistics, Onomastics and Humour

His musical journey started when he was very young .His dad, who could read solfa notations and teach simple hymns bought a small xylophonic instrument and a piccolo for him when he was very young. Growing up, he always admired the Kintampo Wesley Church Choir when the family went there in 1994. His eldest sister, was in the choir so followed the music of the choir and learnt a lot of them. The motivation came when his cousin and namesake came to stay with them in Nkoranza in 1975. Mununkum Sekyi (Kumasi) had been deeper in music, and he shared his songs with them. He could teach simple songs and wrote several of them. In 1980, he joined the choir at Nkoranza, and consequently in 1981 he had the opportunity to attend the GHAMECC conference in Koforidua. That was the watershed.

He met great musicians and composers – the Bilsons, Tsemafos, Herbert Sams, Ebow Taylors….and he swore to himself to be a musician, and God heard the yearnings of his heart!

At Tema, he had the golden opportunity of being adopted by Mr. E. H. Eshun FVCM, then choirmaster-organist of the St. Paul Methodist Church, who availed his piano to him. Temasco was close to his Community 5 home, so he escaped there whenever possible to practice on the piano.
He is generally a self-taught musician i.e solfa reading, staff reading, organ playing, conducting, composing and arranging. But he surely had been guided by several and mentored by some.

His mentors as a composer include Mr. A. E. Amankwah, Ebow Taylor and Tsemafo-Arthur. His colleagues Sam Asare-Bediako, Mensah Essilfie, Kras Arthur are among those who influenced him most.

He has done about 500 pieces including hymn tunes, descant settings, chants, highlifes, blues, reggaes, other popular pieces and anthems of different levels of complexity and texture with varied themes. The biggest drive in his songs is to communicate to God, and he does whatever he can to ensure this in his melody, harmony, rhythm and lyrics.
His communication to God and to man is as real and vibrant as possible.

He believes in the centrality of human emotions to human existence and to Christianity, and he tries to activate the relevant emotions in his songs.

He does not write as an artist, but as a Christian standing before his God or with his fellow humans, on his knees and with hands lifted to his God or with arms around the shoulders of his fellow humans. It is important for all who sing his pieces to try and see the appropriate emotions and represent them in body and in mind and soul.

He has also spoken variedly on topics like Choral management, Choral pedagogy, performance, communication and interpretation

He is currently National Chairman of Ghana Association of Methodist Church Choirs with jurisdiction in Ghana, North America and Europe. He has served since 1996 as a National Officer, and he happens to be the first to have mounted the Chairmanship from the Director of Music line.
He is married to Ama Badwe, and I has two children, Ewurasi and Nana Yaw, and he is expecting another soon.
‪#‎GHYouthChoirChoralFestival‬

*September 21, 2016
*College of Physicians & Surgeons, Accra
*12:00Noon-8:00Pm

Activities
-Choral Awards
-Choral Performances
-Workshops/Seminars
-Exhibitions
-And Many more

Tickets
Regular Ghc: 30.00
VIP Ghc: 50.00

●Call Now for Ticket Reservations 0543563091 | 0245695681 | 0543616858 0544330714 | 0249886553

BE THERE!!!!!!!!