Renowned Musician honoured

Mr Sackey at the Organ with Young Choral on stage

A concert was recently organised in honour of Mr. Raphael Anthony Sackey, a renowned Composer, Director of Music Haven and Music Educationist, to celebrate his contribution to the enrichment of music in liturgical celebrations in the Catholic Church and many Churches for the past 40 years.

The Concert dubbed: Celebration Time, and staged at the Assembly Hall of the Our Lady of Mercy Senior High School at Tema, Community 2, attracted over 10 Choirs from various Churches within the Tema Metropolis, as well as hundreds of music lovers.

The occasion coincided with the 5^th Anniversary of the formation of Young Chorale, an inter-denominational choir at Tema, which organised the event.

According to Mr. George Kwame Edzie, Founder and Director of group, the concert was to celebrate Mr. Sackey, who he described as sharing in the philosophy and passion of the music ministry.

The Yong Chorale, and Mrs. Alice P. Sackey (wife of the celebrant) presented citations to Mr. Sackey for all his immeasurable contributions to the animation and growth of music as well as the training of other musicians in the art of music.

There were piano recitals by Mr. Sackey and three of his students at the ceremony, which drew loud applause from the audiences.

Earlier, Messrs. Kweku Haizeil; Augustine Sobeng and Joseph Maxwell Ossei-Little, also took turns to display their talents at the Three Manuel Electronic Organ to play a collection of tunes in honour of Mr. Sackey.

Among the collections played included Back Prelude (BWV553) and Tuba Tune by C.S. Lang; Fugue in G-Major and Fugue in G-Minor by J.S. Bach (BWV 578), as well as the Festive Trumpet Tune by David German and Trumpet Voluntary by Jeremiah Clarke.

Similarly, St. Johns Choir and the St. Joseph the Worker Choir at the St. Joseph the Worker Parish, Tema Community 8; with the Jubilee Youth Choir, and the Good Shepherd Choir from the Good Shepherd Parish Tema, Com. 2 were in attendance.

The Heaven Jewels Singing Band; Star of the Sea Choir from Takoradi were among a lot of Choirs who performed lively repertoires of songs at the function.

Mr. Sackey later played the organ to accompany the performance staged by the Young Chorale, under the baton of Mr. Edzie, to sing selected G.F. Handel pieces comprising And the Glory, And He Shall Purify and His York is Easy to the admiration of the gathering.

Born in a family of musicians in the 60’s at Sekondi in the Western Region, Mr. Sackey developed love for music, after he was introduced to the piano by his mother (late Mrs. Cecilia Sackey) at age 8. By age 12, Mr Sackey was already a full-fledged organist performing during Mass and other functions.

He has by far taught and worked with over a dozen Choirs and singing band in the Western, and Greater Accra (Tema Metropolis) Regions for more than 40 years.

Mr. Sackey, a product of the St. Mary’s Minor Seminary and Secondary School, Apowa, attended Takoradi Polytechnic, then Institute of Professional Studies and the University of Ghana. He holds an M. Phil. in Music and is a Cambridge University International Examiner in Music and International Baccalaureate Diploma Examination Moderator in Music.

With the honour of preparing hundreds of students for external Music examination over the years, the celebrant, who is currently a Doctoral Student in Business Administration, hinted of plans to establish school to promote the study of sacred music in the Church and society at large.

He believes that music, which enlivens liturgical celebrations and edifies the soul should be encouraged and stimulated in our daily lives.   

In recognition of Mr. Sackey’s enormous contributions to music in the liturgy, Pope Benedict IV honoured him with a Papal Award on 25^th December 2008, which then Archbishop Leon B. Kalenga presented to him in May 2010.

Among dignitaries at the function was Very Rev. Fr. Dr. John K. Louis, a former Administrator of the Holy Spirit Cathedral, Adabraka, who said the opening prayer.

Mr Sackey with the citation flanked by Mr. Edzie and others.