CHOPIN MUSICAL VENTURES - Key Persons
Gillain Warson is a writer with a particular interest in hymnody and local history ...
Gordon Appletion was recently invited to Nigeria by Sunday Olawuwo, Master of the ...
Lanre Delano is a visionary, successful entrepreneur and music connoisseur. He is the chief executive officer of Church Organ Projects in Nigeria (Chopin) and the founder of ‘Organ & Music Magazine'. He has spent the last 18 years preserving and promoting organ music in Nigeria.
About two decades ago, Lanre noticed the culture of sacred music was gradually into extinction in orthodox churches. They were beginning to embrace praise and worship as seen in new contemporary churches at the expense of the good old hymns and chants. The organ industry had gone into a state of comatose, as pipe organs were being replaced by synthesizers and keyboards. The generation of great organists was passing away and there seemed to be no replacements due to the non-availability of organs in churches. He knew he had to do something before things went out of hand.
In 2001 while on a private visit to Germany, he saw a digital organ for the first time during an exhibition at Hessentag. It didn't look as big as the one at his church in Nigeria, but it produced the same sound. Intrigued by it, he met with the exhibitor the idea to start an organ company in Nigeria was conceived. Today, with over 80 organ installations in private homes, schools, and cathedrals of different denominations, he has successfully reawakened and revolutionized church music in Nigeria, one organ at a time.
His full-service organ music company, Chopin, in 2002 became the sole representative and distributor of the biggest church organ manufacturing company in the world, Allen Organ Company in Macungie, Pennsylvania USA. In the same year, Lanre also clinched the dealership of one of the biggest German Organ building companies, Oberlinger Orgelbau GmbH. Part of his long list of achievements is the installation of the biggest 64 Stop Four Manual pipe organ in Nigeria at Christ Church Cathedral, Marina Lagos. Other landmark installations include the Three Manual Allen Organ at the Nigerian Vice President's Chapel at Aso Villa Abuja and the Largest Five Manual Allen digital organ on the African continent to mention a few.
Lanre is passionate about creating more interest in classical and contemporary music through concerts, seminars, publications and media productions. This has led him to create various platforms to perpetuate the art and encourage more people to get involved, especially the younger generation. One of such platforms is Organ and Music Magazine, a publication that celebrates the talent and skills of renowned organists and choral singers. Through his organ installations, he has created full time jobs for church organists, assistant organists, vocational skills and employment for well over 150 young men all over Nigeria.
He has received several awards and landed coverage in media outlets across Nigeria, such as This Day and The Guardian for his dedication to the music industry. In addition to his meritorious works, he has used his influence to bring internationally acclaimed musicians to perform live in Nigeria, including one of the first twenty world organists Maestro Hector Olivera.
Lanre graduated from University of Ife in 1982 as one of the first two music graduates from the university now known as Obafemi Awolowo University. He is one of the founding members of LOOM - Lovers of Organ Music - a body that seeks to ensure everyone has access to the purest and undiluted form of musical expression through the organ.
He is married and blessed with four children.
Born October 22 1930, Mr Adekunle studied music at Guildhall
Gordon Giles was born in London and went to school in England and Wales