From Engineer to Music Director: The Journey of Kelechi Nnam

In the world of professional music, traditional pathways often seem clearly defined. But for Kelechi Nnam, Music Director of The Chorus Abuja, the road to musical leadership wound through engineering laboratories and business boardrooms before finding its true destination on the conductor's podium.

The Dual Calling

"People often ask me how I balance being an engineer and a musician," Kelechi reflects. "But for me, there's no balance to strike – both are expressions of the same fundamental passion: creating something beautiful through precision, planning, and collaborative effort."

Engineering Foundations

Kelechi's engineering background has profoundly shaped his approach to music direction:

Systematic Thinking: Just as engineering projects require careful planning and execution, great choral performances emerge from methodical preparation and attention to detail.

Problem-Solving: When a musical passage isn't working, Kelechi applies the same analytical skills he uses in engineering – identifying the root cause, developing solutions, and testing them systematically.

Project Management: Leading a chorus through a major work like Solomon or Elijah requires the same organizational skills needed for complex engineering projects.

Business Development Expertise

His work as a Business Development Expert brings additional dimensions to his musical leadership:

• Vision Casting: Understanding how to articulate goals and inspire teams toward common objectives
• Stakeholder Management: Building relationships with venues, sponsors, and community partners
• Strategic Planning: Developing long-term repertoire and performance goals

The Musical Journey

While engineering and business provided professional foundation, music has always been Kelechi's heart language.

Early Musical Experiences

"Music chose me long before I understood what that meant," Kelechi says. "From childhood, I was drawn to the way voices could blend together to create something bigger than any individual contribution."

His formal musical training began alongside his engineering studies, creating a unique perspective on both disciplines:

• Technical Precision: Engineering taught him that excellence requires mastering fundamentals
• Creative Expression: Music showed him that technical skill serves a higher artistic purpose
• Leadership Development: Both fields require the ability to guide teams toward ambitious goals

Finding Choral Music

The transition from general musical interest to specific passion for choral music came through exposure to the great works of the classical tradition.

"The first time I heard a really excellent performance of Bach's Mass in B Minor, I understood what I wanted to spend my life doing," Kelechi remembers. "There's something about the human voice in ensemble that reaches places other instruments can't touch."

Leading The Chorus Abuja

When Kelechi founded The Chorus Abuja, he brought together his diverse professional experiences with his deep musical passion.

The Vision

The Chorus Abuja exists to prove that excellence in classical choral music can flourish anywhere committed musicians gather together. The ensemble's mission reflects Kelechi's integrated approach:

• Musical Excellence: Every performance meets professional standards
• Community Impact: Music serves broader purposes beyond entertainment
• Cultural Bridge-Building: Classical tradition speaks meaningfully across cultural boundaries
• Personal Development: Participation transforms individuals while serving collective goals

Leadership Philosophy

Kelechi's leadership style reflects his diverse background:

Servant Leadership: "My job isn't to showcase my own abilities, but to help every member of the chorus discover and contribute their best."

Collaborative Decision-Making: Drawing from business experience, Kelechi involves the entire ensemble in repertoire selection and artistic decisions.

Continuous Learning: "Every rehearsal, every performance teaches us something new. The moment we think we've arrived is the moment we start going backward."

Excellence Without Elitism: "Great music shouldn't be exclusive. Our goal is to make the classical tradition accessible without compromising its integrity."

The Engineering-Music Connection

Rather than seeing his dual interests as competing demands, Kelechi has discovered profound connections between engineering and music:

Precision and Beauty

Both engineering and music require absolute precision in service of higher purposes. A bridge must be built to exact specifications, and a chord must be tuned to precise frequencies – but the ultimate goal in both cases is creating something that serves human flourishing.

Collaboration and Systems Thinking

Complex engineering projects and great choral performances both emerge from many individuals contributing specialized skills toward common goals. Success requires understanding how individual parts relate to the whole system.

Innovation Within Tradition

Engineers build on established principles while pushing boundaries forward. Similarly, great musical interpretation honors traditional practices while finding fresh ways to make them speak to contemporary audiences.

Advice for Emerging Leaders

Kelechi's unique journey offers insights for anyone balancing multiple passions or considering leadership roles:

Embrace the Integration

"Don't compartmentalize your interests. Look for the deeper connections between your various passions and let them inform each other."

Serve Something Bigger

"Whether in engineering, business, or music, the most fulfilling work serves purposes beyond personal advancement. Find ways to use your skills in service of others."

Never Stop Learning

"Expertise in one area doesn't exempt you from being a beginner in another. Stay curious and humble."

Build Bridges

"Your unique background gives you opportunities to connect communities that might not otherwise interact. Use that gift."

Looking Ahead

As The Chorus Abuja continues to grow under Kelechi's leadership, his vision remains focused on the intersection of excellence and service.

"Five years from now, I want The Chorus Abuja to be recognized not just for our musical quality, but for the way we've demonstrated that classical music can be a vital force for community building in modern Nigeria."

The engineer-musician-businessman continues to prove that the best leaders often emerge from unexpected combinations of experience, passion, and calling.

Kelechi Nnam can be reached through The Chorus Abuja for speaking engagements about music, leadership, or the intersection of technical and artistic pursuits.