The workshop which took place today 3rd September 2021, was attended by about 65 participants from all the parishes in the Diocese.
Rev. Fr. Jesse Amedzi delivered a talk on 'Tools needed to empower choirmasters to revamp the weak and defunct choirs in the Parishes'. Using the Brainstorming method, the Facilitator helped the Audience to, first of all, come out with identified causes of the weakness and dormancy in choirs.
These, among others, were identified:
*Inadequate Choirmasters
*Inadequate support/ remuneration for Choirmasters at the Diocesan and Parish levels
*Reluctance of Men and the youth to join choirs in the various stations
*Inadequate sacrifice and discipline among existing choristers
*Financial burden on smaller parishes making it difficult to support choirmasters
*Changing times and disinterestedness of the current age for spiritual activities
*Indiscipline among choirmasters
*Inadequate recognition and encouragement of some choirs by some Priests
The Speaker recommended that choirs and choirmasters should have a VISION in line with the church's Vision of saving Souls as an intrinsic motivation for their duties.
Participants also identified appreciation and remuneration of Choirmasters and Choristers, empowering the Diocesan Music Directorate with the necessary logistics and tools, regular training of/for choirmasters, as some necessary actions to revamp outstation choirs.
Mr. Richard Amrago (Ho Municipal Education Office Coordinator for Culture and Music), who delivered a talk on 'Skills and Competencies of the 21st Century Church Music Director', recommended that Choirmasters should use modern technological gadgets to augment their music praxis. For him, the Music Director is to control and harmonize every sound that is produced during the liturgy, including the music accompaniment, and fixing of PA systems etc. He further urged the participants to make themselves available and distinguish between Liturgical music and pop music.
Mr. Pius Peni, the Special Guest, commended the efforts of the members of the current Music Commission as far as the development of Liturgical Music in the Diocese is concerned.
The Diocesan Chaplain encouraged the Participants to endeavour to put into practice all they came to learn. He also intimated that such plans as establishing Music Training Schools in each Deanery as near future plans of the Directorate.
I thank the Bishop, all Parish Priests and Parish Choir Chaplains for their support towards a successful workshop.