About

Aderayo Abiodun Oyegbade, Conductor-Singer-Violinist, is the founding conductor and artistic director of the Mountain Top Chorale (MTC)and also the former conductor of the Divine Symphony Orchestra (DSO)and Mountain Top Conservatory Choir and Philharmonic Orchestra (MTCCPO). He maintained an active schedule in his home country as a lecturer, voice teacher and violin teacher at the MUSON School of Music and Mountain Top Conservatory of Music. He also functioned as guest conductor and adjudicator in churches and domestic choral festivals and competitions.

Background

A native of Nigeria, Aderayo received a two year scholarship to study music as Singing and Violin double major at the MUSON Diploma school of music. He later received his Bachelor of Arts in Creative Arts (Music) from University of Lagos and his Master of Arts in Choral Conducting from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He ascribes a great deal of his success to the many influential people and experiences that helped shape him into who he has become today.

During his experience at the MUSON Diploma school of Music, he studied Singing with Mr Emeka Nwokedi and Violin with Mr Geoffrey Amoah and was offered the opportunity to travel to Bonn, Germany for Suzuki violin studies and Beijing,China for the 29th ISME World Conference. In 2011, he received his licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music (LRSM) in singing from ABRSM London.

In July 2011, Aderayo attended the Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival (SICMF) Cape Town South Africa for the first time and played as a violinist under the baton of an international conductor. This experience was deeply moving and laid the foundation for his full commitment to conducting both choirs and orchestras. He attended this festival consecutively for another three years and developed his musicality and exposure greatly in those years, as he met and listened to musicians and performers from around the world.

In the course of his undergraduate experience at University of Lagos , he studied theatre arts and visual art courses in addition to music courses making him a well rounded artist.

In March 2013, Aderayo started the Mountain Top Chorale (MTC) with the support of Dr D. K. Olukoya the general overseer of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries. Under his direction, the Chorale won three Gold Medals and three Silver Medals in the champions competitions of the Ninth and Tenth World Choir Games in Sochi, Russia and Tshwane, South Africa respectively.

In the summer of 2018 at the Savannah Choral and Voice Institute, he studied conducting in the United States with renowned composer Howard Helvey and renowned Conductor Dr Gregory Fuller.

Master of Arts in Choral Conducting

During the process of obtaining his Master of Arts in Choral Conducting, he studied with Dr. Craig Denison and Dr. Gerhardus Scheepers. He served as graduate assistant to Dr. Scheepers , which exposed him to standard choral music from around the world. This opportunity also honed his choral rehearsal skills while working with all the choral ensembles at IUP. In addition, he served as assistant to the director of the IUP string project where he taught violin and viola, while concurrently taking on other administrative duties. Aderayo was the assistant concert master for two semesters in the IUP Symphony Orchestra.

Current Engagement

Aderayo Oyegbade is presently a member of  American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) Pennsylvania chapter. He maintains an active schedule as a performer, and guest conductor in America. Aderayo continues to actively record songs and enjoys mentoring up-and coming singers and instrumentalists. His greatest passion is watching those who he has mentored as conductors, singers and instrumentalists become conductors and performers in their own right.

Aderayo is currently the Music Director of MFM Revival Center Duluth Georgia; voice and violin teacher at Freedom Academy of Music Education (FAME) and the Conductor and Artistic Director of Glory Chorale, USA.

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