Actualités of Monday, 18 March 2013

Source: Cameroon Tribune

'Cantemus' Encourages Education Through Songs

The renowned classical music choir offered a charity concert to support UNICEF's actions.

Children of school going ages who are privileged with access to education have a popular song. It goes thus: "School is a good thing, learning is a good thing. I come to school to learn, I come to school to learn. I shall know ABC, I shall know one to 10. Thank you Mama, thank you Papa!" However, many others around the world do not benefit from this "grace".

Such is the case in war stricken zones, or areas where the socio-cultural setting becomes a hindrance to the acquisition of knowledge by little ones, for fear of acculturation. Throughout the years, efforts have been put in place at individual, local, national and international levels for the respect and defence of children's right. Such is the objective of the United Nations' Children Education Fund (UNICEF) which is bent on leaving no stone unturned in accomplishing its goal of education for all children, who are tomorrow's leaders.

It is in this light that the internationally acclaimed choir "Cantemus du Diapason," organised a charity concert in Douala. Regrouping classical music lovers on Thursday March 7 evening, the objective was to collect funds to support UNICEF's initiative in offering education to the less privileged. A repertoire of 23 carefully selected songs divided into two parts of 11 and 12 were performed. Time during which the audience was held spellbound, carefully following the melodious rhythms, while expressing their appreciation by hand claps at the end of each performance. This was in solo, dou, trio, quartor and group interpretation of songs by renowned classical musicians like Amadeus Mozart, Francesco Sartori, Franz Schubert, Guiseppe Verdi, Webberl Hard, amongst others.

It would be noted that compared to "Cantemus du Diapason's last concert in October 2012, the evening had a series of surprises for the public. The very first was the inclusion of violin and guitar during the stage performance, while the last concert had only a piano. Another key element was the presence of a guest artist, Jean-Pierre Tose, who contextualised the concert's theme of love in two musical interpretations; as well as the concept's promoter, Marta Wilgosz, mounting the stage, to the amazement of those present. Lastly, the classical pattern was broken by the inclusion of songs by contemporary musicians like Whitney Houston (of blessed memory), Celine Dion and Garou, whose "Adieu" track marked the end of the worthwhile musical experience.