George Mensah Essilfie

George Mensah Essilfie is an ICONIC GHANAIAN COMPOSER from Ghana, West Africa. He started composing at the age of 9. In 1994, he won the ' World Peace Prayer Society songwriting contest organized by World Peace Prayer Society in conjunction with the UN. In 1996, under the auspices of the British Council, Ghana, he was invited by the British Choral institute to attend the Easter music school for Music educators in the U.K. He holds degrees in Music Education (UCE, Ghana) and Church Music (Lutheran Thelogical Seminary, Bexley - Columbus, OH.)  His songs have been used for several music competitions in Ghana and performed at the Verdi Music festival in Berlin, Germany. He founded the Winneba Youth Choir, Ghana (an award winning choir in Ghana) and also became the music director for the Osagyefo Theatre company, Luton, UK.

His digital creations with West African symbols were exhibited at the McConell Arts Center in Worthington, OH. USA in Feb. 2011 as part of the Black History month activities and received excellent reviews . He is currently the Music Director for The Association of Ghana Methodist Church Choirs in North America comprising The USA and Canada. His interests include West African sacred choral composition, folk songs, military cadences, holistic music and Computer Music and with  Computer Aided Art creations . He resides in Columbus, OH USA.

The human voice an incredibly beautiful and expressive instrument, and when multiple voices are unified in tone and purpose a powerful statement is realized. No wonder people have always wanted to sing in a communal context-a desire apparently stemming from a deeply rooted human instinct. Consequently, choral performance has often been related historically to human rituals and ceremonies, especially rites of a religious nature. This Historical Dictionary of Choral Music examines choral music and practice in the Western world from the Medieval era to the 21st century, focusing mostly on familiar figures like Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, and Britten.

But its scope is considerably broader, and it includes all sorts of music-religious, secular, and popular-from sources throughout the world. It contains a chronology, an introduction, a bibliography, and more than 1,000 cross-referenced dictionary entries on important composers, genres, conductors, institutions, styles, and technical terms of choral music.

TESANO BAPTIST CHURCH ACCRA GHANA AS PART OF THEIR 40TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS PRESENT CHORAL MUSIC CONCERT WITH GEORGE MENSAH ESSILFIE AN ICONIC GHANAIAN COMPOSER BASE IN THE USA ON SUNDAY AUGUST 9TH 2015 AT TESANO BAPTIST CHURCH ACCRA 

TIME 3:30 PM  RATE: GH20.

PERFORMING CHOIRS: 

TESANO BAPTIST CHOIR, HARMONIOUS CHORALE, WESLEYAN SYMPHONIC CHOIR, WINNEBA YOUTH CHOIR,  ACCRA YOUTH CHOIR AND AFRICAN YOUTH CHOIR.

 

WESLEYAN SYMPHONIC CHOIR

Wesleyan: Holy Faith

The Choir’s objective; Providing a platform for the Education and Development of Youth in Ghana through Choral Music.

Wesleyan Symphonic Choir, an inter-denominational choir was co-founded by Mr. Andrews Ernest Acquah who is the leader and the director of the choir, and Mr. Francis O. Sasu as a principal organist at Awoshie a suburb of Accra on October 15, 2006.

On the 12^th September, 2008 the choir was incorporated and registered as a non-profit making association with the objective of providing platform for the education and development of youth in Accra and various parts of the country.

The choir currently has active members from various churches and from the various part of the country. As our objective depicts the choir’s mission is the propagating of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ through music.

Over the years, the Wesleyan Symphonic Choir has been ministering lot of authentic Ghanaian choral high-life amongst a wide repertoire ranging from hymns, anthems, classical and other sacred choral at music. Venue’s including National Theatre, British Council, Mensvic Grand Hotel, Sun Lodge Hotel, Ghana Arm Forces Senior Staff College, various churches in Accra and various towns in the country as well.

The choir can now boast of a branch at Sekondi-Takoradi which was formed on Sunday 20^th October, 2014 in consultation with the founder and president, Mr. Andrews Ernest Acquah with twelve pioneering members and currently over 30 members. Mr. Eugene Osae was appointed the co-ordinator for the Sekondi-Takoradi branch and through him the choir has witnessed a tremendous increase in membership. The idea of the Sekondi-Takoradi branch formation was that the choir had members in Sekondi-Takoradi who cannot make it to the choir’s rehearsals most of the time due to the distance.

The new born Sekondi-Takoradi branch had their first performance with their mother (Accra) branch on the 22^nd December, 2014 at the Choir’s Annual Christmas Concert at Rev. Ernest Bruce Memorial Methodist Church Accra.

 

Last but not the least; the choir was able to organize a concert dubbed “9 HYMNS AND THEIR MEANINGS” in collaboration with Rev. Joseph Ato Brown held on 30^th May, 2015 at the Choir’s Annual Program at Bethel Methodist Church Takoradi. The Sekondi-Takoradi Branch can now boast of 30 members mostly from the Methodist, church and also others from the Catholic Church, Pentecost, and SDA

.

The able assisted Directors of music Jefferey Amponsah-Mensah and Richard Neequaye Kotey, organists: Isamel Kwoffie, Andrew Mbeah Baiden Jun. Maxwell little Osei Emmanuel Agyepong Isaac Obeng Pratt and Augustine Eshun. Programs co-ordinator Felix Dzokoto.

CD PRODUCTION:

We have three albums: 1. CHOOSE YOU THIS DAY: compositions by Newlove Annan and George Mensah Essilfie. 2. NYAME YE: Composition by Newlove Annan worships songs and highlife. 3. “HYMNS AND THEIR MEANINGS” stories narrated by Rt. Rev. Joseph Ato Brown performed by Wesleyan Symphonic Choir. We are currently preparing to launch a new album of Danceable Tunes composed by George Mensah Essilfie titled ON THE LAST DAY hopefully early next year 2016.

 WESLEYAN SYMPHONIC CHOIR VIDEO AND AUDIO MUSIC

REGULAR PROGRAMS INCLUDE:

Engagements, weddings, funerals, birthday parties and other ceremonial functions.

CHRISTMAS CONCERTS AND VENUES:

The choir holds Christmas concerts annually (that is, every year).Venues include:British Council, Mensvic Grand Hotel, Rev. Ernest Bruce Memorial Methodist Church, 37 Methodist Presby and many more.

EASTER CONCERTS AND VENUES:

The choir also organizes Easter concerts annually to entertain its well wishes every year and some venues include: Sunlodge Hotel, Ghana Army Forces School College –Teshie, Atomic Methodist Church and many more.

 
 

REHEARSAL SCHEDULE:

Both Accra and Sekondi-Takoradi branches rehearses on every Friday at 19:00 to 21:00 GMT. .i.e. 7pm to 9pm and then third or last Friday of every month is All-Night rehearsals. Addition to this rehearsals pattern, Wednesdays and Sundays after church service are added if the choir has a major program ahead.

NOTABLE FUNCTIONS ATTENDED AND PLACES VISITED BY THE CHOIR:

The choir attended West Africa Millennium Challenge Women’s Conference at Abokobi Presby Women Centre in 2008. Also attended Former President His Excellence John Agyekum Kuffour’s nephew engagements at his residence and continued with the wedding ceremony at University of Ghana Campus.

The choir ministered at the final funeral rite and thanksgiving mass of the late George Emmanuel Kuffour brother of Former President H. E. John Agyekum Kuffour at St. Ann’s Anglican Church – Kumasi in the year 2012 and again for His Excellency’s  sister’s final funeral rite in Kumasi also in the year 2014.