Manding Morry Academy of Music holds an orientation with its first batch

On Saturday the 15 of September, the Manding Morry Academy of Music held an orientation with its scholarship awardees to break down the academy’s line of curricular activities, rules and regulations and what is expected of the freshmen about to begin the twelve months professional training programme in mid October this year.
Speaking at the orientation at Alliance Francaise Gambienne, the Director of the academy, Ibrahim Ceesay pointed out the significance of the training programme which he said came as a result of the pressing need to empower the players of the music industry to be able to earn a decent living, to teach students how to play music instruments to be in a better position to compete internationally and also to expose the music industry on an international market.
The music academy which will be launched in October is the first of its kind in the Gambia which many people have longed for to serve as a basis to change the status of the entertainment industry. Mr. Ceesay further urged the scholarship awardees to make best use of this opportunity to build a brighter future for the music industry. “This is a is a pilot programme and we are experimenting with you guys to see if it will work. So the future of the school lies in your” Ceesay added.
Among the high table members is Mr. Oko Drammeh, the veteran music impresario/consultant congratulated the first batch of the academy on his part said “the purpose of the music school is to train you guys to be competitive in the international market”. Mr. Drammeh whom much is expected of during the training programme pointed out the vast amount of raw talents in the country with no background in music knowledge and said that his role in the academy is to encourage, guide and teach music business and administration; and to make sure that at the end of the programme the Gambia exchange catalogues with England, Nigeria and the likes to serve as a source of revenue for the country. “The surname of music is business that’s why you will be taught music business and administration” said Mr. Drammeh. He also called on the scholarship awardees to pay much attention to the programme and be discipline as it will curb youth unemployment at the end of the day.

Tara, a giant record producer/studio engineer reiterated the importance of discipline in the academy as the first basis to achieve the desired goals at the end of the programme. Tara who will be teaching music theory, studio recording and music instruments in the academy took the time to explain the importance, which he said will boost their level of music communication and knowledge in international market.
Bankie Grey-Johnson, media consultant/adviser on his part called on all and sundry to put all heads together in order to make a change and delved into aspect of marketing the music to realize the dreams of the music industry players. “This is the opportunity to see the Gambia’s future if we are discipline and put a lot of effort into it” he said.
Ms. Onikeh Mendy, among the panel of Judges/ choir doyen appealed to the academy freshmen to be original in anything they do and bid farewell to imitation.
Muhamed Sumareh, official of music academy/ Music consultant thanked the judges for the wonderful job done in selecting eligible applicants for the academy and also took the floor to applaud Mr. Ibrahim Ceesay for the realization of the country’s long term dream of music school and described him as a young Gambian contributing towards national development.
The orientation began with prayers followed by an interactive introduction done in a musical format by the participants and members at the high table.