San Francisco Chronicle: 'Piano prodigy from Ghana soaring in S.F.'

[Kofi Vordzorgbe; Photo: Lacy Atkins/The Chronicle]

AfriClassical learned of this story from the pianist and music editor Dr. William Chapman Nyaho (b. 1958), who was born in the U.S. but was raised in Ghana, the native country of his parents. He is profiled at AfriClassical.com.

SFGate.com
Home of The San Francisco Chronicle
Piano prodigy from Ghana soaring in S.F.
Julian Guthrie, Chronicle Staff Writer
Saturday, June 6, 2009
“Thirteen-year-old Kofi Vordzorgbe sat at the piano, poised to play for the celebrities, dignitaries and heads of state who had come to Ghana in March 2007 to celebrate the nation's 50 years of independence from British rule.Kofi, the son of a music teacher in Ghana, was introduced by singer and songwriter Stevie Wonder. As the strong-looking boy with the delicate hands began to play, the crowd went silent. Sitting in the audience was a pastor and former politician from San Francisco, a man who pledged to bring the prodigy from Ghana to the United States.

“Today, Kofi lives with the Rev. Amos Brown and his family in San Francisco. Now 16, he attends a private high school and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Since his arrival, he has composed six sonatas, four symphonies, two string quartets and eight piano pieces. His limited repertoire went from predictable 18th century pieces to complex works, including Beethoven sonatas and Bach fugues and preludes. To Brown, who is head of the local chapter of the NAACP, Kofi represents the largely untapped potential of Africa. 'Africa has been woefully mischaracterized as having no culture, no language, no music and no arts,' said Brown, who runs the Third Baptist Church in the Western Addition. 'But here's this kid out of Africa who has such an excellent ear for music, who has such a mastery of music.'

“With Brown's help and the blessing of Kofi's mother and father, the young man left Ghana in early June 2007.” “Kofi was asked by a teacher who had traveled with him from Ghana to play a piece he had composed on the plane. 'Kofi didn't want to play it,' McCarthy said. 'When I asked him why, he said, “Because it's orchestral.” I thought that was a remarkable answer. He didn't feel he could do justice to what he was imagining on the piano since in his mind it was for orchestra. It showed how vividly clear he hears tonal color. It showed me how authentic his hearing and imagination are.' He was offered a scholarship at the conservatory, and has just completed his second year of classes. 'Our collegiate division just performed a string quartet written by Kofi,' McCarthy said. 'Kofi has grown legions.' Kofi's piano teacher at the conservatory is McCarthy's wife, Annamarie, who says that what is unusual about Kofi is his natural charisma onstage.” “See a short documentary on Kofi Vordzorgbe at sfgate.com. [Full Post]