Moonlight Echoes: A Celebration of Community, Storytelling, and Music

Growing up in a black and African community comes with an innate sense of connection and belonging. The fabric of our lives is woven together by shared histories, traditions, and experiences, creating a tapestry that feels more like an extended family than just a collection of individuals. In these communal settings, young and old gather under moonlight, and the starlit sky at the village square transformed into a vibrant hub of life. Children laugh and play, while the elders share time-honored stories, rich with lessons and wisdom.

Drawing inspiration from the rich traditions of storytelling and music that bind our earlier communities together, Moonlight Echoes is more than just an event; it’s a celebration of our shared humanity.

A Night of Artistic Expression

Set in an informal and engaging atmosphere, Moonlight Echoes invites participants of all ages to become active contributors to the evening. The concert features compositions by a diverse array of talented Black British, Black American, and African composers, showcasing a multitude of musical styles and cultural influences.

Fostering Peace and Connection

In a world that often feels divided, Moonlight Echoes serves as a reminder of the power of community and the importance of nurturing peace. This event aims to create a safe space where people from different backgrounds can come together to share, learn, and celebrate their differences while finding common ground. It is this collective spirit of harmony that can help us navigate the complexities of modern society.

Performing Artists

“Isobel Hughes is a mezzo-soprano from North London and recent graduate of the David Seligman Opera School at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Their recent roles include Hermia in the RWCMD’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Rosina in Cardiff Opera’s production of Il barbiere di Siviglia.”

Chikezie Chike-Michael started singing as a Tenor with the Church Choir at the age of Nine, under the tutelage of Joshua Sarpong and Amorelle Inanga. In those formative years, Chike became an exponent of the Tonic sol-fa notation.

Chike had a stint with German Studies,where he got the introduction to modern European languages which has been of great advantage for him to sing Opera Arias in their original languages with less worry. It was during this time that he also had extensive vocal training with Late Christopher Oyesiku, the foremost Nigerian Bass singer and choral director, who had studied at Guildhall Music College, England,in the 1950s.

Chike has a matured Bass-Baritone voice with much flair and dexterity, and is also a fine Choral director, vocal and singing instructor with emphasis on techniques, which he personally calls “Vocegogy.”

Chikezie has performed as a Soloist at numerous concerts in his native Nigeria and Europe. He has performed as Bass solo in Handel’s Messiah, Bass solo in Haydn’s Creation, Elijah in Mendelssohn’s Elijah and Bass solo excerpts from several other oratorios.

He has performed in few Operas, the latest being MIGRATIONS staged by the Welsh National Opera last year and as Boaz in RUTH staged and performed by Pegasus Opera in London,this year.

Chike obtained the Licentiate Diploma in Voice/Singing in 2010 and the Fellow Diploma in 2012, both from the Trinity College of Music, London.

Jude Olabanji began playing the cello at the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Headquarters Church in Nigeria. He then studied at the Musical Society of Nigeria Diploma School of Music on the MTN Foundation/MUSON Scholarship with Karen Patterson, Pa Godfrey Amoah, Thomas Kanitz, and Tunde Jegede.  

Jude’s versatility cuts across different musical genres which has seen him perform as a solo artist, in chamber ensembles, and orchestras cello section leader.Jude has shared the stage with Renowned Pianist, Rebeca Omordia, and regularly features at the African Concert Series. He is also a member of the NOK Orchestra led by Kora and Cello virtuoso, Tunde Jegede.       

Jude led the cello section of the MUSON Symphony Orchestra in over 50 performances until December, 2022.        Alongside music performance, Jude has great interests in Music Business and is currently studying for his Masters of Business Administration at York St John University (London Campus).

Arina Brovanova is a multi-instrumentalist and composer with extensive experience performing and recording with the piano and the cello. As a cellist, she has played with orchestras in Russia and the UK and participated in numerous recording sessions (including, in Abbey Road Studio 1) as a part of different ensembles. She is a co-founder and a musician of the London-based functional ensemble “Belle Quartet”

Ayo Ajayi is a Pianist, Composer and Music Director.

He is a strong exponent of African Music, he writes sacred and Art music in Yoruba language and other Nigerian languages. Ayo is a talented Music director with a career that has spanned more than thirty years of musical and artistic creations.

Ayo is the Artistic Director of Declassical Studio, an Organization that promotes African stories. This organization has been directly involved in the creation of over 100 musicals, folk operas, concerts, festivals, and other social and corporate events. Notable shows include Legends the Musical and OMG the Musical sponsored by MTN Foundation, Fela, Arrest the music, The Future is here for the Presidential Economic Business Environment Council, (PEBEC), Nigeria, Osamede and many others.

During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, he launched the Nigerian Art Music Project (NAM Project), a nonprofit organization dedicated to showcasing Nigerian art music to a global audience. NAM Project has curated and produced four virtual Concerts and created arguably the most extensive online collection of Nigerian Art Music Scores.

Ayo is currently the Music Director of St. Margaret’s Church in Barking. He was previously the Artistic Director of the MTN/MUSON Valentine Concerts for five seasons. He has also performed as an accompanist for the Laz Ekwueme Chorale, MUSON Choir, and Lagos City Chorale for many years.

Support the Movement

To bring this vision to life, we invite you to support Moonlight Echoes through donations that will assist in funding the remuneration of the performing ensemble. Your contributions will not only ensure that talented musicians can showcase their crafts but also help sustain the transformative power of storytelling within our communities.

Join us under the moonlight as we gather to celebrate unity, creativity, and the timeless power of stories. Together, let’s echo the voices of our ancestors and create a brighter, more harmonious future for generations to come.