ROYAL ECHOES, a young, talented group from Ho in the Volta Region thrilled a near capacity crowd last Saturday at the Alliance Française with a series of tracks that encompass a variety of music genres.

Performing at the Alliance Française during the official launch of New Music Ghana 2010, an initiative by the Institute for Music and Development, the group dazzled with tunes laced with borborbor and other rhythms that drew cheers and applause.

The group, which took the third prize during the maiden edition of New Music Ghana, surprised the crowd with their poise and stagecraft as they gave renditions of tracks from their maiden album ‘Eternal Wisdom’.

Wind Afrique, which took home the top prize in the maiden edition of New Music Ghana, equally surprised the audience with intricate local percussion and horns while showcasing tracks from ‘Aaya’, a new album which will soon be launched in Accra.

Members of the group, who went on a tour of Zambia and participated in the Music Crossroads Festival in the city of Livingstone as part of the package for winning New Music Ghana 2009, took the audience on a mute trip to various parts of Africa through rhythms and beats.

Australia-based musician, Afro Moses later mounted the stage, and through constant dialogue he managed to involve the audience, who appeared to be having a good time.

In 2007 Afro Moses was awarded a Frater Award for excellence in school performances through the Department of Education for his work in Australian schools.

In 2000/2002, he was honoured as Ghana's Best International Music Ambassador and performed as part of Ghana's 50th Independence celebrations as well as charity-based shows to garner funds for orphans and other deprived kids.

New Music Ghana aims at encouraging young Ghanaian musicians to employ the use traditional musical resources to create a new synthesis that will be authentically Ghanaian, while encouraging them to learn to play instruments.

The programme is being sponsored by the Danish Centre for Culture and Development, Goethe-Institut and the Alliance Française in Accra, Kumasi and Cape Coast.

The Musicians Union of Ghana, Music Department; University of Cape Coast, and the Centre for National Cultures in Takoradi, Ho and Cape Coast are collaborating with the Institute for Music and Development.