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By Vanessa Obioha
Adeshina Oluwaseun Emmanuel a.k.a Seun Double bass, is a music Embodiment, he is known with his dexterity with bass, playing Classically, Jazz, R&B, funk and contemporary music. In the beginning of millennium, Double bass is still not know in Nigeria, it is rarely seen in concert , most time it`s been substituted with Cello however Seun stood to be one of the player who popularise Double bass in Nigeria playing it in most part of the Country, and in other African countries.
Seun picked bass playing from a local classical player, Olufemi by name and he transformed playing bass from playing classically to playing different genre of music, he learned and sings bass in a choir, he is just known with the bass.
After his first year of tutelage, Seun auditioned for a concert in 2003 to play a complete Handel Messiah with an Orchestra in mountain of fire and miracles ministries Called Divine symphony Orchestra to performing the whole messiah work, he then later became the principal bassist of that same Divine Symphony Orchestral since 2003 till date, seun has been functioning in this orchestra as principal player, instructor and instrument maintenance officer since 2010 and his total year in this orchestra is now 21 years.
seun Double bass as he`s usually called Studied under Karen Peterson from United States in 2009 till 2011in Lagos, after which he learned and took master classes with Jeff Braiditich in South Africa in 2013, in that same 2013, he enrolled at muson school of music to learn under Thomas Kanith , from 2013 till 2014, later on he took on his apprenticeship with Tunde Jegede since 2014 till date, while this is on, Seun took many master classes with Gjorgji Cincinievski and Michelle Scicluna in Malta, and with Chineke Orchestra Founder Chi Chi Nwanoku and through Chi Chi, Seun got another class with Leon Bosh. It is therefore concluded that seun learnt from the best hands and he learnt not only bass performances from these maestro but also Leadership skills which now turns to be part of the attribute
Seun has performed both locally and internationally, in Nigeria, South African, Kenya, Ghana, Ethiopia, Ivory coast, Malta, United Kingdom and United sate of America. Due to his distinct musicianship, he got MTN FOUNDATION Scholarship In 2013 to study Music at the Muson school of music Lagos and majored on Double bass.
As a student in the school, Seun Joined the school choir and went on with the Choir to ITALY to perform at the world choir game and won a gold medal in the category, this group stand to be the most entertaining group of the tournament.
His leadership skills is phenomenon and this makes him stand out with any section he leads, In 2014 Seun join the Muson Symphony Orchestra and after a year he became the Sectional leader for lower strings, Cello and basses arranging sectionals, master classes and preparing the section for concerts, one of his major achievement is having Chi Chi Nwanoku the founder of chineke Orchestra from London to give master class to Cellos and basses in year 2016 and 2017, he played alongside with Chi Chi Nwanoku also on her visit.
His leadership tracts was called on in 2014 to form and manage the ABUJA Philharmonic Orchestra, seun gave the best hand from Lagos, most players from Muson Symphony orchestra and from notable places, the orchestra performed works of Franz Lizt, Joseph hydn, Bethoveen, Bach and some Nigeria composers such as Akin Euba, Lazarus Ekwuem, Evi Edna Ogholi and more, the orchestra always travel from Lagos to Abuja for their performances and past Conductors are Tunde Jegede, Late Major Samuel, Volhart Walter, Oluseyi and more. in 2015 he concluded his first music course and got his Diploma in music from Muson school of music
seun is session player in many Studios in Nigeria and has performed with many know artist, he also teaches Double bass and has got a track record of teaching in an Autism Spectrum Disorder School in Lagos where he teaches Piano, clarinet, he also takes home music lessons for minor and prepare student for Associated Board of royal school of music (ABRSM) Exam, it is amazing to know a brilliant leadership track of a hardworking musician with distinctive record, seun is a known musicologist that has got passion for bass, singing bass and playing bass instrument one of his passion for bass lead him to play Baritone Saxophone and function in a Brass band in Mountain of fire and Miracles Church, In 2016, he played baritone saxophone in a Sax Quartet performing works of Scott Joplin, Charlie parker, Ira Sankey hymn medley, Akin Euba and some traditional compositions.
One of his outstanding projects today is the Love world Orchestra project in 2016 where he managed and rehearsed 150 Orchestra players alongside with the 15,000 choir to attempt the Guinness world record for the largest choir and Orchestra in 2016 which turned to be a successful project as the event got the Award for the largest choir and the orchestra in 2016, he is the brain behind the provision and production of the Orchestra, by providing, strings players, brass players, woodwind players and percussion. seun Managed and rehearse this orchestra from time to time in preparation for the project, seun is a silent discovered talent on the field of art.
His engagement in 2010 to worked with a British born composer, a Cellist, kora player and conductor still stands out, After the first performance with Tunde Jegede they both had a connections and after many years, Tunde Jegede returned to Nigeria as the Artistic Director of Muson center, then he picked Seun to work with him and to serve as the sectional head at the Muson Ochestra , this made Tunde jegede and Seun to have a bonding and performed many concert, again he was the head of the Muson string Ensemble and the Lagos new Horizon, in 2017 seun was on UK tour with the Lagos New horizon performing different concert in Colchester, Lymes Regis, Birmingham, Hereford, Milton Keynes and London. In 2018 seun visited New York attending music leadership conference and also continue performing his music where he played bass in Maryland for an International program. With all these track record, simultaneously seun led 6 musician to Malta to be part of the Commonwealth Orchestra at the Heads of government meetings in Malta, also in 2018 seun Led a group of 11 Nigerian Musicians to the United Kingdom to represent African and play at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in London, this is the second of its kind programme seun will be leading an orchestra players on an international platform.
With all these qualities, it is fact that seun is a talented leader and a skilful leader in music, Leading a group of musician is known to be one of his qualities, both in singing and in Instruments playing, according to “Warren Bennis” a leader is one with the capacity to translate a vision into reality, many vision has been brought to reality with Seun one of is is to appear on CNN Broadcast with Tunde Jegede in 2018, walking with “Lape” a London based Journalist in April 2023, seun Featured his ensemble Adun on a TRT world TV series (African Matters) where he showcased his black African talent on the western instrument, this led to his solo performance with violin and Cello to celebrate Black history month at the Google October black history month Celebration where he showed his idea of music style of call and response between Talking drum with Violin and Cello, this is an idea of bringing local African Instrument with the western instruments. In 2023 Seun Featured at the 02 Arena with ASHAKE live in concert where his played bass and directed the strings session at the concert, his Art of music is known both locally and internationally. He has appeared twice on BBC RADIO 1xtra in 2023 with his ensemble showcasing his leadership skill and his idea of African tradition al music on western instrument. It’s a fact that Adeshina Oluwaseun Emmanuel is performer, director and a music leader with over two decade experience
