the music directorate
HISTORY OF MUSIC DIRECTORATE
The Direcotrate of Music is in charge of Christ Apostolic Church Music settings /sections from the juvenile to the adult church choir and every arm of the Church that has to do with music e.g. the Youth Fellowship Conference Choir, Good Women Conference Choir, Pastors’ Conference Choir etc., in order to enhance good singing production and maintain high quality standard of hymn singing in our church.
In June, 1994, Pastor Samuel O. Olukunle the erstwhile Personal Assistant to the then President of the church because of his flare and love for music was appointed pioneer Music Secretary and in 2002 he was appointed the first Music Director of the church. Pastor Olukunle has earlier served as Assembly Choirmaster/Organist, CAC Kaduna. During his tenure as Music Director, he worked assiduously on the compilation of the English edition of the CAC Hymnbook and commenced work on some other editions before his retirement in 2016. He employed the services of Mrs. Olaitan Akande who typed all the hymns. He also engaged the services of notable Musicians from the church to set the staff notation to each hymn.
At various times several sub-committees were constituted by Pastor S. O. Olukunle to work on the Church hymn books in its various combinations and English and Yoruba editions of the church’s order of service booklet between 1996 to year 2013.
At various times several sub-committees were constituted by Pastor S. O. Olukunle to work on the Church hymn books in its various combinations and English and Yoruba editions of the church’s order of service booklet between 1996 to year 2013. Among the committee members are:
- Pastor Samuel O. Olukunle (Music Director)
- Pastor Yinka Oyesanya (now late)
- Pastor Babs Mala (now late)
- Pastor Gabriel Okafor
- Pastor Tope Dada
- Pastor J. F. Omitinde
- Pastor Moses Awojobi
8. Pastor Ayo Adeusi (now late)
9. Pastor Adeola Amudipe
10. Elder P. O. Oyeyemi
11. Pastor Z. O. Ajayi
12. Deacon S. M. O. Anan
13. Pastor S. O. Gbadebo
14. Elder M. A. Adeniji
15. Elder Leke Adegbaju
16. Elder Sesan Taiwo
17. Pastor Prof Femi Adedeji
18. Pastor Samuel Oladele
19. Pastor Lanre Adekunle
20. Pastor Christian Holm
21. Pastor Paul. O. Taye Bankole (Committee Secretary) among others.
The current Music Director Pastor Tope Dada was first appointed CAC National Choirmaster in year 2001 and led the first 5,000-strong member Choir and Orchestra of the church that ministered at the church’s millennium activities across the country. He was later appointed as Assistant Music Director in 2009. Upon the retirement of Pastor S. O. Olukunle in December 2016, Pastor Tope Dada was appointed the second Music Director with Pastor Paul O. Bankole as Music secretary/Assistant Music Director. The team has brought notable transformation into the Music ministry of the church since their appointments. The Music Directorate took off formally on the 1st of May, 2017 with Pastor Tope Dada as the Director of Music and Pastor Paul O. Taye Bankole as the Music Secretary/Assistant Music Director.
With approval of the church authority, the music directorate appointed a team of notable and committed musicians in the church as Assistant Music Directors/Regional Music Coordinators from each of the 12 regions of the church to support the Music Directorate:
The directorate has since worked on the corrections of both the English and Yoruba editions of our hymn books. The musical notations of our Hymnbook have gone through many notable Choir leaders of the church over the years. Specifically, the final musical settings and editing were done by the following team:
1. Pastor Tope Dada;
2. Pastor Phillip Ayeni;
3. Pastor Deola Amudipe;
4. Brother Ayo Ajayi;
5. Pastor Paul Bankole;
6. Pastor Samuel Oladele;
7. Elder Sesan Taiwo;
8. Elder Samuel Akinyele;
9. Brother Sola Osanyiluyi;
10. Brother Tolutope Dada, and
11. Brother Austine Ehime
Also, the team has concluded the Centenary combined CAC Bible and Hymn Book. Work is ongoing on the Hausa, Igbo, Efik, Isoko and French languages of the Hymnbook for corrections and update. The android app edition is also being worked upon and updated by the support of our dynamic Pastors Deola Amudipe, Samuel Oladele, Brothers Ifeoluwa Adediran, Isaac Lebi and Joshua Kupoluyi.
OBJECTIVES OF THE DIRECTORATE
The Direcotrate of Music is in charge of Christ Apostolic Church Music settings /sections from the juvenile to the adult church choir and every arm of the Church that has to do with music e.g. the Youth Fellowship Conference Choir, Good Women Conference Choir, Pastors’ Conference Choir etc., in order to enhance good singing production and maintain high quality standard of hymn singing in our church.
1. To improve the quality of singing in all CAC Assemblies through various levels of training programs and exposures to quality music ministration appropriate with the contemporary church growth and development.
2. Regularly conduct seminars, lectures and provide musical training support for choristers in all regions.
3. Organize Music Conferences to strengthen the spiritual life of our choristers and improve the quality of our music performances with focus on Instrument Training, Voice Training, Music Composition and Scores, Choristers’ Ethics etc.
4. Hold Night of Talent Development Sourcing/Praise Concert to develop and bring to fore our talents.
5. Encouraging every choir to develop or train on sight singing through a conscious and dedicated effort.
6. Encourage all assemblies to consciously encourage ‘Community Hymn Singing services’ for the church to learn hymn singing with appropriate tunes.
7. Put in place appropriate suggestions for the appointment of Regional Music Coordinators by the authority.
8. Give musical support to all arms of the church.
9. Develop Mass Choir with National Outlook to minister at National Programs of the church which include:
i. Pastors’ Conferences
ii. Holy Pilgrimage at Odo-Owa
iii. Pentecostal Nights
iv. National/Regional Crusades
v. National Christmas Carol
10. Every CAC Pastor is to encourage regular choir leaders and choristers retreat in their assemblies.
To be better equipped, every Assembly, District, Zone, DCC should invest in Music and their Choirs to have good music as tools for evangelism in the contemporary church development. All Ministers and Board of Elders to encourage and practically support learning of musical instruments by the youth in every assembly with appropriate commendation and rewarding system for productive choristers for them to do more.
As Music Ministers, we are committed to dress properly as Christians and maintain good altar ethics and Godly mannerism and minister with the consciousness of the guidance of the Holy Spirit.