SOME UNDERGEE BUT PRO KEYBOARDISTS IN GHANA

I have always wanted to bring out hidden talents and expose the expertise of many keyboardists who are hidden from the spotlight either intentionally or because of the groups they are associated with. Some of you may know these keyboardists but they are not known by the majority. Look at the list below and let's fish them out.

1. Ransford Addae

Ransford Addae

Ransford is an old student of St. Peter's Senior High School. He was the organist of the school choir at that time and proved himself as an instrumental figure in changing the phase of music produced by the choir. He bought into the dreams of his predecessor, Kwabena Asante (now tenor part leader of VocalEssence Chorale) and implemented his (Kwabena) plans to make St. Peter's School Choir what it is today. He is now a member of the Tema Youth Choir.

2. Dominic Andrews

Dominic Andrews

According to research, Dominic began to play the keyboard when he was 10 years old. He is a former organist for the Korle Bu Youth Choir. He was chief organist of the school choir of Pope John Senior High School and Minor Seminary. He is now an organist with Dansoman Youth Choir.

3. Presley Joe Black

Presley Joe Black

Presley is an all-genre pianist; he mostly performs jazz and classical music. He is the CEO of the School of Piano and Keyboard Playing, SOPAKP, (a rather difficult acronym to pronounce. It's pronounced with a silent 'P' at the end). This initiative happens to be mostly online on WhatsApp groups. Through this medium, he has trained many pianists through his write ups and articles. He is a fan of Chopin and can play almost all of Chopin's etudes.

4. Elijah Gyasi

Elijah Gyasi

Elijah happens to be the award winner of the Ghana's Favourite Love Song Competition which was organised by Choral Music Ghana in February this year. He is a very brilliant pianist who graduated as a music student from the University of Education, Winneba. He is currently the music director and organist at the St. Bakhita Catholic Church.

5. Elikem Seake-Kwawu

Elikem Seake-Kwawu

ESK as he is commonly known as is a Mozart advocate and a student of Presley Joe Black. He is also a member of the Allegro classics. He is also a very brilliant pianist with a large repertoire of pieces at his fingertips. He has some compositions which includes his "Stay with me" which he composed to compete in the Ghana's Favourite Love Song Competition.

6. Seyram Yawo Afealete

Seyram Yawo Afealete

You thought she was only a violinist. Haha! The violin is only her second instrument. Her first love is the piano and she is a guru. She was an organist for the school choir when she was a student at Arch Bishop Porter Girls. She has been one of my motivations when it comes to piano music. She is a student at the University of Education, Winneba and currently a member of the Heavenly Jewels Choir and Orchestra and I'm sure they didn't know she is a pianist.

7. Constant Ahadzi

Constant Ahadzi

This is one pianist who dares to play what other pianists fear to play. Not much is known about him, but looking at some of his personal videos, I can testify that he is at the level of virtuosity.

8. Francis Yankey

Francis Yankey

Sorry I used your graduation pic Francis, but I did anyway. Dear reader, Francis is a keyboardist who can easily be undermined because of his extreme humble nature. Having studied under Eyeson and Kwame Appiah Jnr of Harmonious Chorale, he is very agile on the keys despite his big fingers. I'll call him Ghana Rachmaninoff or better still the Black Rachmaninoff. He is currently a keyboardist of Catholic Philharmonic Choir. Oh yeah, I failed to mention that he was also an organist of Pope John Senior High School Choir.

9. Prince Charles

Prince Charles

Allah Fresh Boy! This is another One-Man Orchestra who has succeeded in hiding himself from the spotlight. Choral Music Ghana got hold of one of his videos and shared it on their page. It was a video of him playing Michael Mieza's arrangement of "Daa mebor me sanku daa". It's funny how we saw the video but his face wasn't clear.

10. Emefa Anku

Emefa Anku

Here is a serious culprit who has been in hideout for so long. She is an old student of St. Roses Senior High and was also the choir's organist. When I was in SHS, I watched her play Newlove Annan's "But They That Wait" in a grand classical style. She has also performed with the Symphonic Kings Choir and finally gone into hiding again.

Anas names, shames and jails but I name, expose and popularize. If your name didn't appear in this list, it is because my eye hasn't caught you or you are already in the spolight and also, there is a part two. I will find you and name you. I urge every reader to share this article. If you know any keyboardist, let's name him or her and expose them. I have also place a hyper link on the names under the pictures. Click on it to see the profiles of these keyboardists who want to hide. The Black Handel. Face The Music.