In continuation of our Featured Musician series, we are pleased to feature an experienced musician who over the years has worked as a choirmaster, author, composer and organist. He is currently featured as a composer in the African Composer‘s database. This is no other than Tochukwu Callistus Ipere.
WHO IS TOCHUKWU CALLISTUS IPERE?
Tochukwu Callistus Ipere is a graduate of Corporate Administration and Finance who felt the need to secure the musical foundation established in his family by accepting the legacy as worth the call. Callistus was born to Late Engr and Mrs Ipere in Enugu Enugu State.
EDUCATION OF TOCHUKWU CALLISTUS IPERE
Callistus Ipere had his basic education as Ekulu Primary School GRA Enugu, Marist Brothers’ Juniorate Uturu Abia State and St John Cross Seminary Nsukka. He has a post graduate diploma in Education (PGDE) from the National Teachers’ Institute Kaduna and a masters degree in Educational Administration and Planning from the National Open University of Nigeria NOUN. He also had a diploma in Health Information Management from the School of Health Information Management(SHIM) University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Ituku Ozalla Enugu. He is currently a full member of the Chartered Institute of Administration (MCIA) Nigeria.
Read Also: Featured Musician Grace Oforka aka Graciedion
ARTS AND MUSIC PERFORMANCE OF CALLISTUS IPERE
Callistus Ipere started proper musical training at Marist Brothers’ Juniorate under the tutelage of the late piano/organ maestro Mr John Item. Where he earned a basic education Certificate in Music. His tutelage included music theory, choral singing practices and active participation in the school band daily and ceremonial outings. The musical performances were enhanced in the senior secondary by more advanced choral tutelage under the famous composer and organist, Rev Fr Dr Basil Okeke together with lessons in keyboard accompaniment, choreography and stage drama management. He also began writing for the school magazine, The Lumen, moderated by Rev Fr Cajetan Iyidiobi.
Callistus Ipere has acouple of stage appearances in drama. His experience as organist and choirmaster also started blossoming from this level. Callistus later confirmed his interest in music by inaugurating a private music chamber in 1999. Callistus also launched his writing career in the same year and has since published several poetry works. Callistus joined the Association of Nigerian Authors Enugu State Chapter in 1999 and served as an executive for many years. Callistus Ipere was named in the British Council Enugu’s GREAT TALENTS ART FORUM together with Prof Greg Mbajiorgu, Prof AneziOkoro, Dr Ifeoma Okoye and Engr Edmund Kaine et al. Callistus Ipere performed in Dorothy Ipere’s Chamber choir to very many studio and ceremonial outings including the UNICEF 50th Anniversary and The Day of The African Child Celebrations.
Callistus Ipere’s skills as a music composer emerged later in his career and he is now listed in the African Composers database and website www.africancomposers.com with more than a hundred songs in his kitty especially hymns, anthems, inspirational songs and backup lyrics to existing praise and worship songs as displayed in his facebook magazine page ADM Callistus.
Read Also: My Experience As A Choirmaster, Organist & Teacher – Babatunde Sosanya
ACHIEVEMENTS AND AWARDS
Callistus Ipere has won several international awards as a poet from the International Society of Poets (ISP) and International Poetry Library including the Editor’s Choice Award For Poetry Writing 2006, 2007 and 2008 respectively. Callistus Ipere has special musical compositions for dignified ceremonies and has also composed in his local language Igbo.
INSPIRATIONS AND ASPIRATIONS
Callistus Ipere is greatly inspired by the classical composers like George Frederick Handel, Johannes Sebastian Bach, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Felix Mendelssohn. He is also inspired by local composers like Sam Ojukwu, Dorothy Ipere, Jude Nnam, Basil Okeke and C.C. and L Iwobi as well as the late D.M. Okongwu.
Callistsu Ipere aspires to have his own musical collection in books, audio and visual packages especially the youtube as is en vogue today. He is an established chorister and musician with many organisations and is highly motivated by standalone performers like Don Moen and Choral groups like Lagos City Chorale, Cantemos Chorale Enugu and the Harmonious Chorale Ghana.
Callistus Ipere works with the Federal Ministry of Health, he is happily married with two children.
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