DrWambugu

Title/Qualifications: Ba- Music (Augustana), Mmus-Conducting (Alberta) Doctoral Fellow, Music Education (Florida)
Department/Unit/Section: Music and Dance
Contact Address: P.O. BOX 19787 – 00202, Nairobi, Kenya
Position: Lecturer

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Publications

Referred Journals

  • Reamo Leboga. SATB Choral Arrangement, Co- Arranger with Dr. Russel Robinson.  Excelcia Music Publishing, USA. July 2021

  • Towards Standardized and Greater Objectivity in Adjudication at the Kenya Music Festivals.  TALANTA Yearbook of the Kenya Music Festival. Kenya Music Festival Foundation. Nairobi, July 2015. ISBN 9966-9689-5-4

  • Socio-Cultural and Educational Importance of African Art Music: The Case of Kenyan Choral Art Music. Music Cultures from Eastern Africa. Chapter 7. Department of Creative Arts Dar es Salaam. 2016

  • Tools for Assessment and Evaluation of Vocal Music among Selected Kenyan Universities. Co-Authors Ogari, E.K, Digolo B, and Wambugu D. African Musicology OnlineVol. 9, No. 1, pp. 47-68, 2019

  • Developing Vocal Music Assessment Schedule: An Analysis In Synchrony To The Current Systems In Kenyan Universities. Co-Authors Ogari, E.K, Digolo B., and Wambugu D. African Musicology Online Vol. 9, No. 2, pp. 1-25, 2019.

Books and Books Chapters

  • Towards Standardized and Greater Objectivity in Adjudication at the Kenya Music Festivals. TALANTA Yearbook of the Kenya Music Festival. Kenya Music Festival Foundation. Nairobi, July 2015. ISBN 9966-9689-5-4

Conference/ Workshops/ Seminars Presentations

Conference Papers

  • Vocal/Choral Training and Conducting: Do’s and Don’ts; Permanent Presidential Music Commission National Symposium. 2008.
  • Selection, Preparation and Performance of African Art Music. CMENC –University of Florida Chapter, January 2010
  • Vocal Music in Africa: Past to Present. Teachers’ Summer Institute, University of Florida Center for African Studies, June 010.
  • The Teaching of Expression in High School Performance Ensembles: A Case Study of Select High Schools in Alachua County, Florida. FMEA Fall Conference, September 2010.
  • Presentations on different aspects of African Music: ‘African Choral Music for High School/ Youth Choirs’, ‘African Choruses for use in Elementary classrooms and Children Choirs’ and ‘Adding Percussion to African Songs’: Music Conference Alberta (MCA), Alberta, CANADA. November 2010
  • African Choral Music. Soweto Gospel Choir Pre-Concert lecture, Philips Center for the arts, February 2012.
  • Music Education in Kenya: Past and Present Trends. Santa Fe College Guest Lecture Series. January 2013.
  • Role of Church Choir in Music Ministry of the Church; St Andrews Church Choir Annual Retreat, February 2014.
  • Strengthening Teacher Practice Through Visual Methodologies; Co-Presenter; International Society For Music Education 31st Conference, Porto Alegre, Brazil, July 2014.
  • Music in the 21st Century: Beyond the Classroom. Co-presenter, Pan African Society for Musical Arts Education 1st Eastern Africa Regional Conference, Kenyatta University, October 2014.
  • Towards Standardized and Greater Objectivity in Adjudication. Ministry of Education, Science and Technology Kenya Music Festivals. Trainers and Adjudicators National Workshop. Kisumu, Kenya. April 2015
  • Choir Training and Choir Directing: An Aid. PAMICCO Choir Trainers and Coordinators Workshop, Nairobi. May 2015.
  • Role of Kenyan Art Music in Preservation of Cultural Music. 9th International Ethnomusicology Symposium, University of Dar es Salaam. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. July 2015.
  • Adjudication of Choral Music – Own Choice Selection and Performance. Ministry of Education, Science and Technology Kenya Music Festival Trainers and Adjudicators Workshop, Kisumu, Kenya. April 2016.
  • Panelist: Role of Music Education in transforming the Music Industry in Kenya. ONGEA Eastern Africa Music Summit. February 2017
  • Choral Training and Directing as a Critical Role in Kenya Music Festivals. Ministry of Education, Science and Technology Kenya Music Festival Trainers and Adjudicators Workshop, Kisumu, Kenya. February 2017.
  • Panelist: Music Education and the Music Industry. ONGEA Eastern Africa Music Summit, February 2018
  • The Choral Conductor: Expectations and Best Practices. Ministry of Education, Science and Technology Kenya Music Festivals Adjudicators and Trainers Workshop. Kisumu, Kenya. April 2018
  • Presentation and Adjudication of Western Instrumental Classes. Ministry of Education, Science and Technology Kenya Music Festivals Adjudicators and Trainers Workshop. Kisumu, Kenya. April 2018
  • Orchestral Activities in Developing Countries: The Growth and Development of Orchestras in Kenya. World Federation of Amateur Orchestras International Conference.  Bergen, Norway. May 2018
  • Panelist: The New Normal: Online Education for Creatives. Ongea! 2021 Webinar. Nairobi. February 2021.
  • Effective Choral Training and Rehearsal Techniques: Covid and Beyond. Parastatals, Ministries and Counties Choral Organization (PAMICCO) Workshop. Mombasa, Kenya. September 2021
  • Social Impact of Music Making Activities in Kenya: The Case of Art of Music Foundation. German Association of Amateur Orchestra (BLDO), European Orchestra Federation (EOFED) & World Federation of Amateur Orchestra (WFAO) Conference 2021. Dresden, Germany. September 2021 (Virtual)
  • Choral Training and Effective Rehearsal Techniques: Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company Choir Workshop. Mombasa, November 2021.

Professional Industry Performances:

      • Conductor: The Nairobi Orchestra.  

      • June 2004 – works included Beethoven ‘5th Symphony’

      • November 2004- works included Mozart ‘39th Symphony’ & Haydn ‘Surprise Symphony’

      • 2005 – works included Dvorak 9th Symphony

      • 2008- works included Haydn ‘Trumpet Concerto’

      • 2013, works included Njane Mugambi’s ‘Ujenzi (premier), Beethoven’s 5th Symphony.

      • 2014 – works included W A Mozart’s 40th Symphony.

      • 2015 – works included Dvorak’s 9th Symphony (from the New World)

      • 2016 – works included Mozart Clarinet concerto, Tchaikovsky Sleeping Beauty Suite.

      • 2017 – works Tuba Concerto by Njane Mugambi (Premier), Jean Sibelius’ “Finlandia” and Ravel/ Moussorgsky “Pictures in an Exhibition”

      • 2018 – works included Malaika by Brian Kepha, Hummel Trumpet Concerto, Rachmaninoff Slovanic Dance No. 1 and Beethoven Symphony No. 6 (Pastoral)

      • 2020 – works included Oboe Concerto (cancelled at the last minute due to Covid-19 lockdown)

  • Conductor: The Nairobi Music Society.

  • 2003 – works included Puccini ‘Messa di Gloria’

  • 2004 – Christmas Concert
  • 2005 – Christmas Concert
  • 2008 – works included G F Handel ‘Messiah’
  • 2017 – Christmas Concert

  • Conductor: 2018 Voices for Hospice concert – G F Handel’s Messiah with combined choir and orchestra. Fundraiser concert towards the Nairobi Hospice.

  • Conductor: 2005 Voices for Hospice Concert – G F Handel’s Messiah, with combined choir of 1000 voices and orchestra.

  • Conductor: Kenya Conservatoire of Music Orchestra

  • Various works including Beethoven ‘Emperor Piano Concerto’

  • Conductor/Music Director: Safaricom Youth Orchestra

  • Various concerts since its formation in 2014.

  • Tenor Soloist:

  • Nairobi Music Society G F Handel’s Messiah.
  • Gentlemen In Concert (a concert of five men and ten-piece band to raise funds towards a Boys Orphanage).
  • Music Director: Sterling Quality Productions:
    • Fiddler on The Roof (2004); Gentlemen In Concert (2005) Phantom of the Opera (2006)
  • State Pianist: State House. (For various State functions including visiting Heads of State dinners and National Holidays).
  • Vocal Coach: IDOLS Eastern and Southern Africa. 2008.
  • Musical Director and Conductor:  2011 Safaricom Classical Fusion Festival, featuring Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Festival Choirs and Orchestras. October 2011.
  • Conductor:  Kampala Symphony and Kampala Singers, Kampala, Uganda. July 2013.

Professional Industry activities

  • Adjudicator: Western Regional Music Festivals, Busia County. July 2023

  • Music & Dance Curriculum Panel: Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) panel. 2021- present

  • National Examiner: Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) - Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), Music Practical exam, 2021

  • Music Advisory Panel: Covid 19 Presidential Stimulus Package, June – August 2020

  • Adjudicator: Kenya Music Festival (Nationals) 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019

  • Adjudicator: Kenya Music Festivals (Regionals) 2018 – Aberdare Region;

  • Music Consultant: All Africa Conference of Churches General Assemblies, 1997, 2003

  • Board Member: National Youth Orchestra of Kenya Advisory Board. 2012- present

  • Board Member: Changamoto Arts Foundation (for the development of talent in the arts), Nairobi. 2007- 2008.

  • Consultant: Permanent Presidential Music Commission Drafting of National Music Policy Document. 2008

  • Resource Person: 1st National Youth Music Camp, Permanent Presidential Music Commission (PPMC), Mombasa, 2009

  • Adjudicator/Evaluator: Choral Fest North, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. March 2013.

  • Adjudicator/Evaluator: Choral Fest South, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. March 2013.

  • Facilitator: National Talent Development, Permanent Presidential Music Commission (PPMC) ; Meru County, December 2013; Muranga County, April 2014; Western Region, June 2014; Kwale County, November 2014; Kitui County, September 2015; Coast Region April 2017, Nakuru 2019, Kisumu Region 2022.

  • Member: UNESCO Kenya 50th Celebrations Committee. April – October 2014

  • Vice Chairman: Executive Committee, Kenya Music and Cultural Festival. June 2014 – 2020.

  • Chairman: Organizing Committee, Pan African Society for Musical Arts Education (PASMAE) 1st Eastern Africa Regional Conference, October 2014.