This is the story about how Aurora Music Teachers Association reached half way around the world and provided a gifted young Nigerian student with a cello of his very own. As told by Grace Christus – a marvelous composer and pianist and long time AMTA member.
I’ve written only one piece for cello. It was because my daughter requested only an unaccompanied cello as music for her outdoor wedding. I titled it “The Dragon and the Phoenix”, a traditional motive for Chinese weddings. To my delight a British cellist, Michael Keven Jones, volunteered to look at it, perform it at a music festival in Spain, and record it through HR Recordings. That right there makes a great story, at least as far as I’m concerned!
But it became much more.
That was how I met Chibuike Victor, a young man, 18 years old, in Nigeria. After seeing a post of “The Dragon and the Phoenix” being played by Michael Kevin Jones on Facebook, Chibuike took it upon himself to learn the piece on a borrowed school cello. He posted himself playing a short excerpt (see photo) on Facebook Cellists. He’s obviously a very talented and motivated young man. When I introduced myself to him in the comments, I told him that I hoped someday very soon he would be able to own his own cello.
Michael Kevin Jones and I colluded to find a way to make this possible. Michael located a cello for sale in a music store close to where Chibuike lives. We reserved the instrument and determined to find a way to purchase it for Chibuike.
When I informed AMTA’s president Jerome Gilmer of our hopes, he generously suggested that this would be an admirable project for our organization to undertake. It didn’t take long, about a month, and on Dec. 17 Chibuike Victor received his early Christmas present. I got this email from him:
“Am so happy, Ma’am. I received my cello! God bless you. Thank you so much for Everything. U really did more than a favor for me. Thanks to all those who contributed to my Award. I love you, Ma’am.”
Here’s a link to the recording he sent of the entire Dragon and the Phoenix: He has since undertaken the challenge of learning parts of a Bach Cello Suite.
AMTA is proud to have nurtured a young musician half way around the world!
