Nigerian pianist to bridge classical worlds in the US

Nduka studied music at the University of Nigeria and earned an MA in music at Kingston University London. He has since performed across Nigeria, the US and the UK.

As part of the repertoire, the Nigerian pianist will play African classical music, including works by such composers as Fred Onovwerosuoke from Ghana as well as Nigeria's Peter Sylvanus, Chijioke Ngobili and Christian Onyeji. (Onyeji composed the popular Igbo Christmas song 'Amuwor Anyi Nwa').

In a social media post inviting people to Nduka's recital, Ngobili noted the difference in acceptance of Western and African classical music, saying that many African classical music enthusiasts have “hardly gone to hear and see how their own African musical instruments like udu, ogene, ekwe, etc. are beaten right on the piano through the artistic concept we call ‘African Pianism’ hatched and developed since the early 1970s by African music scholars and composers themselves".

“We in the African musical arts are telling our story using the piano, and we want you to identify with it and be proud that beyond the language arts, we extended 'domestication' to the musical arts too,” he wrote.

Speaking about the importance of performing the works of African composers, Nduka told Music In Africa that art deserved diversity.

"Every work of art has the propensity to connect to a new audience when its medium or means of expression is redefined," he said. "African music, especially the more traditional forms, are expressed classically using the same or sometimes varying elements of harmony, counterpoint, rhythms and forms often used in Western classical music not only for art’s sake but also to have these works accessed on the same level as one would any European classical work."

Nduka will also perform pieces from European composers Prokofiev and Schumann, both of whom have been acknowledged as important figures in the annals of classical music. The mix of Western and African pieces, says Nduka, "introduces diversity into the already monotonous classical repertoire. It’s exciting to play works by Joshua Uzoigwe, Akin Euba, Fred Onovwerosuoke or Christian Onyeji right after a Beethoven sonata."

Nduka began playing recitals in the US last year and says working outside of his home country has been challenging yet exciting.

"Concertgoers here particularly like the fact that I play African classical piano works. They know their Beethoven, Chopin, Schubert and all, but hardly know anything about classical music from Africa.

"They are curious and I’m happy to fill that gap by bringing new works to the stage. I am hopeful that in the next couple of years, through regular performances, recordings, master classes and lecture recitals, African classical piano music will become a major part of the classical repertoire," he said.

The Transformation Spring Recitals takes place on 29 April at the Transformation Church, located at 114 Route 50, Mays Landing, New Jersey.