Support John to Study Music at Longy Conservatory

Fatima Anyekema is organizing this fundraiser.

Donation protected

Singing "Money, O!" by Head

My name is JOHN EROMOSELE ONOSOLEASE, I am a Nigerian baritone. I recently received an offer to study for a Graduate Performance Diploma at the Longy School of Music of Bard College, Boston, MA. I was given a scholarship of $28,000 on tuition (renewable every year for two years) and I now aim to raise $22,000 to cover the remaining part of my tuition, accommodation cost of travel and living expenses for a year by July 2021.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Longy School of Music of Bard College’s Graduate Performance Diploma is an intensive two-year program which focuses on training, performance and professional opportunities. The Curriculum is well suited for Performing artists who wants to get ahead in their arts.

BACKGROUND

I was born and brought up in Olodi-Apapa, Lagos, where I received my primary and secondary education. Growing up, music was not in the picture until after I lost both my parents to car accidents in 2004 and 2008. As an orphaned child, music became my safe space. Given the challenges I faced, including not being able to get a good education and financial support, I was determined and motivated by the fact that my parents wanted the best for me. My love for Opera and interest in classical music was established when I stumbled on a video of American baritone, Thomas Hampson singing ‘Largo Al Factotum'. I was in awe of what he could do with his voice and was burning with passion to replicate such feat.
Following my diploma in Computer Science in 2014, I joined the ChristianSings Foundation in 2015 where I learnt how to read music and improved my singing. The group offered me theory lessons which informed my decision to write graded exams in music. By 2017, I had written up to grade five and was qualified to apply for the MUSON Diploma Program. I applied and was offered full funding to study Vocal performance under the tutelage of Mr. Joseph Oparamanuike (an alumnus of the Royal College of Music, Scotland) for two years, fully funded by the MTN Foundation.
In my second year at the MUSON Diploma School, I was invited by the Director of the award-winning chorale, Musica Casa to participate in the 2018 World Choir Games, Tshwane, South Africa. The choir got two golden diplomas. I was also a member of the Lagos Archdiocesan Choir under the baton of Joseph Oparamanuike.
In 2019, I graduated from The MUSON Diploma School with a distinction in Vocal performance and received the Ayo Oni and Princess Banke awards for Highest Scoring graduate and Bel Canto Singer of the year respectively. I also became a member of the Comic Opera House (COH) in 2017 and have featured in some minor and major roles.

ROLES AND MAJOR WORKS

Ø La fille du Régiment - 2017 and 2018 (Chorus)
Ø La Bohème - 2018 (Street Vendor)
Ø Yeomen of the Guard - 2018 (Richard Chlomondeley)
Ø Don Giovanni - 2018 (Chorus)
Ø African Pot of Soup - 2018 (Zulu warrior)
Ø Opera Scenes - 2019 (Guglielmo)
Ø Il Barbiere di Siviglia - 2019 (Fiorello)
Ø Die Fledermaus - 2019 (Herr Frank)
Ø Guillaume Tell- André Grétry - 2019 (Le voyageur)
Ø Le nozze di Figaro - 2020 (Figaro-Understudy)
Ø The Crucifixion, John Stainer (Jesus)
Ø Stabat Mater, Rossini (Chorus)
Ø Ewa James with Vesta orchestra
Ø Igbeyawo the musical (Prince Osaremen)
Including a wide repertoire of arts songs, arias and African art songs.

QUALIFICATIONS
o   Diploma in Vocal Performance, Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON), 2019.
o   Diploma in Computer Science, Lagos State Polytechnic, 2014
o   Grade 8 Singing (ABRSM), 2019
o   Grade 7 Theory in Music (ABRSM), 2018
o   West African Secondary School Certificate Examination,2008.

I strongly believe that knowledge is only valid when shared and for this reason, I became a volunteer instructor at the ChristianSings Foundation as a way to give back to a community that nurtured this passion. I have also given free classes to help prepare students for graded exams and subsequently benefit from the MUSON/MTNF Music Diploma Program; a program that is fully funded by the MTN Foundation and has helped to transform the lives of many young musicians.

Kindly support to make my dream a reality and get me to Longy.
Any amount you donate will be well appreciated and will count towards reaching the goal.

I will also be very grateful if you share this campaign with your friends and on social media, this will help to increase the reach to a wider audience.

Thank you!

John and MUSON School graduating class of 2019