Alfred Patrick Addaquay (born 17 September 1985) is a Ghanaian classical/art keyboardist,

composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and Defi ...

, arranger, conductor, choral director and singer. He is a product of the

Mfantsipim School Mfantsipim is an all-boys boarding secondary school in Cape Coast, Ghana, established by the Methodist Church in 1876 to foster intellectual, moral, and spiritual growth on the then Gold Coast. Its founding name was Wesleyan High School and ...

and the University of Cape Coast. He has several compositions to his name and performed his first oratorio, titled "Laudateur Christus", an African Cantata named Afe Nsakrae, a Ghanaian Sonata kyekyekule, a Concerto titled "Sanku Concerto" and many more The oratorio was the first of its kind in Ghana.

Early life and education

Alfred Patrick Addaquay was born in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. He was enrolled at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology primary school. He started learning to play the piano at an early age and continued all through his primary education. Addaquay's music skills was first came to the fore from 1994 when he played for several Ghanaian choral groups. He was admitted to the elite

in the year 2001,

Cape Coast Cape Coast is a city, fishing port, and the capital of Cape Coast Metropolitan District and Central Region of Ghana. It is one of the country's most historic cities, a World Heritage Site, home to the Cape Coast Castle, with the Gulf of Guinea ...

. Upon being admitted to Mfantsipim School, a new set of audience became aware of his music skills and he was appointed the school's junior organist in form one and later became the school's principal organist. From 2001 to 2004 he really entertained students and teachers of the school with his music talent in such a way that he was always a topic to discuss by students, parents and old boys of the school. He was mentored by Peter Lyte Koomson, a music tutor at the school. Whilst at Mfantsipim School, he received several music prizes and was awarded the discovery of the year 2002 by the school. He was the first recipient of the award. In 2003, he received the "Initiative & Drive" award for his keyboard performances. After graduation from Mfantsipim in 2004, Addaquay gained admission to the University of Cape Coast. He graduated in 2009 with a Bachelor of Music degree. He enrolled at the same university and pursued a Master of Philosophy in Music theory and composition. He continued with his PhD (in music theory and Composition) and successfully completed in March 2020.

Music career

Addaquay composed his first oratorio, comprising 32

classical music Classical music generally refers to the art music of the Western world, considered to be distinct from Western folk music or popular music traditions. It is sometimes distinguished as Western classical music, as the term "classical music" also ...

pieces, in 2006, at the age of 20; it was called "Laudate". The two-hour oratorio, performed before an audience at the University of Cape Coast Auditorium, was the first of its kind in Ghana in 2005. His compositions include a

cantata A cantata (; ; literally "sung", past participle feminine singular of the Italian verb ''cantare'', "to sing") is a vocal composition with an instrumental accompaniment, typically in several movements, often involving a choir. The meaning of ...

titled "Afe Nsakrae". In 2016, Addaquay revised his first oratorio and called it the ''Laudatur Christus'' and performed it in front of a live audience at Covenant Family Chapel in Accra. Included among the audience during the performance was Ghana's president

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo ( ; born 29 March 1944) is a Ghanaian politician who has served as the president of Ghana since 7 January 2017. In 2020, he was re-elected for his second term, which will end on 6 January 2025. Akufo-Addo previously ...

. As well as playing his own compositions, he plays pieces from both local and foreign composers during his performances. He has also partnered with corporate institutions to entertain Ghanaians and other nationals at various concerts.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Addaquay, Alfred P. 1985 births Living people Ghanaian pianists Ghanaian composers Mfantsipim School alumni University of Cape Coast alumni People from Kumasi People from Ashanti Region 21st-century pianists