The Queen of Peace Catholic Church Choir put up one of their best performances in recent years to beat stiff opposition from five other choirs to be crowned the 2007 Choral Champions in a competition held at the Queen of Peace Catholic Church at Madina near Accra.

The biennial choral competition, which was under the distinguished patronage of the Commissioner of Value Added Tax Service (VAT), Mr. Anthony Minlah, saw the Queen of Peace Choir shrugging off opposition from St. Bernadette Choir, Madina, St. Francis Assisi Choir from Ashaley Botwe, St. Mark Choir from Ashongman Estates and Holy Rosary from Adenta.

The choirs were called in order after the balloting of the singing arrangement and had to sing two compulsory songs and one optional song.

Each choir was judged on how best the choirmaster could interpret musical notes, taking into consideration technicalities of the scripts, artistic performance, skill exhibition and level of professionalism.

After two hours of gruelling performance coupled with exhilarating entertainment, the Chief Judge, Rev. Bro. Pious Agyemang (SVD), a musicologist and the director of SVD Liturgy, Music and Cultural Ministry and Chairman of the National Catholic Music Commission, adjudged the Queen of Peace Catholic Church Choir the overall champions, dethroning the reigning champions, St. Mark Choir to 2nd place.

The choirmaster of the winning choir, Emmanuel Newlove Ahiavi was also adjudged the Best Choirmaster and Best Conductor. The 1st runner-up, St. Mark choir, took the Best Organised Choir award.

The 2nd runner-up went to St. Francis of Assisi, while St. Bernadette, St. Barnabas and Holy Rosary placed 4th, 5th and 6th respectively.

At the show to add flavour to the competition was the sensational Ebony Heritage Africa from the Buduburam Refugee Camp, one of the best acapella groups in town.

An assistant parish priest of the Queen of Peace Catholic Church, Madina, Rev. Fr. Amedee Guy stated that the show was to bring Catholic choirs together to embrace one faith.

He said the biennial competition was introduced to create a platform for the choirs to showcase their singing ability as well as evangelise and entertain both Catholics and non-Catholics.

Fr. Amedee urged the choristers to learn from one another, especially in sharing what they do not have with one another.

Mr. Minlah, who chaired the function, urged the choristers to let their faith and song ministration reflect in their lives since any negative attitude on their part could discourage a non-believer from converting to Christianity and for that matter Catholicism.

He advised them to be disciplined in their endeavours, adding that without discipline they could not perform.

He was later assisted by Fr. Amedee to present a giant trophy to the President of the Queen of Peace Choir, Mrs. Lucy Dzandu.

Present at the function were the acting Parish Priest of the Queen of Peace Catholic Church, Rev. Fr. Daniel Louh and patrons of the various choirs.

The judge was supported by Kweku Yeboah, Music Director of Word Miracle Church International, a member of the National Symphony Orchestra and a tutor at the Labone SDA School and Raphael Anthony Sackey, Director of Music at the Tema-Battor Deanery of the Catholic Church who is also a Music tutor at the Tema International School and Director of Tony?s School of Music in Tema.

Source:Wisdom Peter Awuku, Daily Guide