Monrovia – For the second year, the Swedish Embassy in Monrovia has brought musicians to Liberia to celebrate its National Day, and to visit and perform at various educational institutions; the musicians were joined by Liberia’s own Ernie Bruce, performer and entertainment consultant, in most of the performances while in Liberia.
The visiting musicians were singers Amanda Engstrom (singer and music teacher), Matilda Lundstrom (singer and music teacher), and Torbjorn Gulz (associate professor of piano and jazz theory at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm, Sweden) they arrived in Monrovia on Sunday, June 2nd. and joined Ernie for trips and performances at various institutions; they first visited Cuttington University in Bong county on Monday, the University of Liberia Fendell Campus on Tuesday, and Ricks Institute in Brewerville on Wednesday to perform for the students of both Ricks and Lot Carey Mission in a combined occasion. On Thursday June 6th, the duet of Matilda and Amanda (AKA MATAMBA) joined Torbjorn for the celebration of the Swedish National Day and an evening performance of music from the repertoire of the Swedish singing group, ABBA.
The eventful week of activities was culminated in a master class for singers on Saturday morning, and an outstanding and well attended evening of entertainment at the Royal Grand Hotel in the evening. Guests were served to an eclectic collection of classic songs by the three singers in the ensemble, with impeccable piano accompanying by Torbjorn Gulz; he glided with ease through classic jazz selections by Ernie, and a collection of popular songs sung in both Swedish and English by Matilda and Amanda; it was a very enlightening evening.
The visitation of performers from Sweden serves a dual purpose; it is an excellent engagement of cultural exchange and good will, and also brings live music to Liberian students, who are eager and capable of creating and performing music, if only more institutions would include music in the curriculum for all students.