Augustine Sobeng wins at Setnor School of Music Competition
Augustine Kweku Sobeng, one of Ghana’s most prominent young organists, came first in his category at the Setnor Outstanding Artists Competition organised in April 2021. The native of Shama in the Western Region of Ghana is currently a Master’s degree student of Organ Performance at the Setnor School of Music in Syracuse University, New York.
Not many people know that Augustine pursued Medical Laboratory Technology for his undergraduate studies at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi, Ghana. While in school, he was the principal organist and choirmaster for the University Choir of KNUST. At that time, he had still not received any formal education in music.
Augustine has also been the principal organist for Harmonious Chorale for over seven years.
In 2018, he was awarded a Diploma, Organ (Practical) by the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) with distinction.
Augustine started a two-year Master of Music program in Organ Performance at the Setnor School of Music in August 2019. This year, he became the first Ghanaian recognized by The Diapason - an international journal for organ and harpsichord makers and players in circulation for over a hundred years - in their 20 under 30 list of outstanding young performers.
In May 2021, he won first prize in the “Concerto Movement or Solo Instrumental Work” category of the Setnor Outstanding Artists Competition at Syracuse University. He performed the fifth movement of French organist Louis Vierne’s Troisième Symphonie pour Grand Orgue, op 28. Vierne composed this piece - continuing the tradition of secular organ symphonies established by Widor and César Franck - in 6 months in 1911. He dedicated it to his colleague Mercel Dupré, who premiered the piece in 1912 at the Salle Gaveau of Paris.
Mr. Sobeng is expected to complete his studies this year.
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About the Author: Kwaku Boakye-Frempong is a writer at Choral Music Ghana, a composer, piano instructor and accompanist.
