CELEBRATING NIGERIAN CLASSICAL MUSIC GREATS – Olamide Timothy

ARTISTE OF THE WEEK

The artiste of this week is a “rounded musician”, in the sense that he has been able to play every genre of music comfortably. He understands the stylistic approach of each genre and knows exactly how to interpret them.
Such deep knowledge comes with years of serious practice and experience, and you can say that Olamide Timothy has weathered the storm.

A very serious Olamide conducting an Orchestra in South Africa

Olamide started music at a very early stage as a choir boy where he would try to play all sort of percussion available.
He quickly thought himself how to play some of the instruments to ensure his space among the instrumentalists.

He later became a professional drummer and performed with notable Nigerian and international artistes.
‘Lamide, as he is popularly called by his colleagues at the Muson Centre, would learn any instrument just by looking at how it’s played and would try his hands on it later on.
He started learning the bass guitar in the same manner, but took it even more seriously after listening to Richard Bona’s album, scenes from my life.

Olamide poses with his Bass Guitar

Due to his love for music, he switched from engineering and statistics, to study music at the Lagos State University after two years, as he found no fulfillment studying engineering and statistics. He later attended the Muson diploma school of music where he studied the ethics of western classical music. There he was introduced to the Double Bass, and in few months, he was already playing the instrument with great dexterity and performed for several years in the Muson Symphony Orchestra. He also gave recitals on the double bass.

Playing the Double Bass

He took professional exams in Music theory up to grade 8 Diploma and Licentiate in performance from the Associated Board of the  Schools of Music (ABRSM) and Guildhall Trinity London.
Olamide has performed, produced and recorded with great musicians such as Earl Klugh, Jimmy Dludlu, Ntsiki, Steve Rhodes Orchestra, Chinaza, Biodun Batik, Orlando Julius, Karen Patterson, Nerak Patterson, amongst others.
He was the conductor and music director of the Limpopo Youth Orchestra, in South Africa, where he’s currently working as an instructor, performing with his group and several other great musicians.

Olamide barking out orders as the Conductor of the Limpopo Youth Orchestra

The dred locked musician is known for his technique on the bass guitar, which is next to none. A well trained musician, he is thorough with his instrument and is an astute perfectionist, no wonder he practices for long hours.

Please raise your glasses for this Great Man, a Teacher and Performer, Olamide Timothy.

I CELEBRATE YOU TODAY.

Ifediora, Obinna Maurice
(Baritone)

Musical Society of Nigeria
8/9 Marina, Onikan Lagos.
(±234) 708-708-6669
(+234) 706-338-3135

dasuGarboi@yahoo.com
obislim.baritone@yahoo.com