At the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu, my wife and I were greeted by a gifted saxophonist, Harrison Chidalu Ibaro. With fervor and grace, he offered us a soul-stirring rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner. Harrison, as you will discover in his own words, holds that music transcends mere entertainment. To him, it is the language of the soul, a vessel for emotion, a bridge between hearts, a force that shapes atmosphere itself. When he plays, he does not simply perform; he paints with sound, giving breath and color to feelings unseen. As a professional singer, I share this belief. I believe that singing is a sacred act, a Divine gift offered in devotion to the Creator of music. Emanuel C Perlman My Journey with the Saxophone: Creativity, Passion, and Purpose By Harrison Chidalu Ibaro The first time I heard a saxophone solo, it felt like someone was speaking directly to my soul. That sound was raw, expressive, and full of emotion. It wasn’t just music; it was storytelling without words. My name is Harrison Chidalu Ibaro, and I’m a saxophonist from Enugu, Nigeria. Music has always been my language. I’ve been singing since childhood and joined the choir when I entered high school. My family is musically inclined, with two of my siblings as choristers and my younger brother playing the keyboard. Growing up in that environment, music wasn’t just a hobby. It was part of our daily rhythm. I began my journey with the clarinet in 2014, when I was in Junior Secondary School 2 (equivalent to 8th Grade in the U.S.). At school, we were encouraged to learn at least one musical instrument, and I chose the clarinet. I was already active in the choir, and this felt like the next step, I remember asking my dad to buy me the instrument. I didn’t expect him to agree, thinking he would say it would distract me from my studies. To my surprise, he asked what a clarinet was. I laughed and showed him a picture in our Oxford dictionary. Right there, as he was dropping me off at school after midterm break, he handed me the money. That moment meant everything to me. I told myself I had to make him proud, not just academically, but through this new skill he supported without hesitation. In 2017, I got my first taste of the saxophone through one of my teachers. I didn’t have full access to it because he didn’t trust me enough to handle it properly, and he was also too busy to teach me. Eventually, he left. In 2018, my school bought a saxophone, and I was put in charge of it. That was my turning point. I improved quickly, and by 2019, I bought my own. My foundation in the clarinet helped me transition smoothly, and I learned a lot just by observing and practicing. The saxophone gave me something the clarinet could not: freedom. While the clarinet was mostly for orchestral settings, the sax allowed me to perform solo and express myself more fully. It became my voice. During the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown, I found myself idle at home. That was when I decided to take things further. I began performing, going for gigs, and building my presence. Even when events were free or low-paying, I showed up. It was about growth, not money. Five years later, I’m proud of that decision. It shaped me. Music, for me, is more than entertainment. It is how I express emotions, connect with people, and create atmosphere. When I play, I’m not just performing. I am painting emotions in the air. My slogan is “Matchless entertainment, beautiful memories,” and that is exactly what I aim to deliver. Music has given me access to people, dignitaries, and a digital identity. I’m known across my socials as a saxophonist, and that recognition means a lot. More importantly, music has given me a sense of purpose. It has allowed me, and is still allowing me, to experience becoming more confident, more expressive, and more connected to who I truly am. I’ve had countless moments where people come up to me after performances to share how much they enjoyed the music or how it inspired them. Some even ask me to mentor them, especially the younger ones. My students appreciate the lessons deeply, and seeing them grow is one of the most rewarding parts of this journey. For me, the saxophone is not just an instrument. It is a bridge to the hearts of others. I want to keep building that bridge, one note at a time. I am passionate about fostering musical growth through tutorials and mentorship. Music is a gift, and I believe it should be nurtured, respected, and never trivialized.
