Rebeca Omordia is a Nigerian-born classical pianist who has gained international recognition for her virtuosic performances and dedication to promoting classical music in Africa. Born in Lagos in 1981, Omordia showed an early aptitude for music and began playing the piano at the age of four. Her parents, both medical doctors, recognized her talent and encouraged her to pursue music as a career. Omordia's early musical education was shaped by her exposure to a wide range of musical styles, including traditional Nigerian music, Western classical music, and jazz. She studied with several prominent Nigerian pianists, including Fela Sowande and Ayo Bankole, before moving to the United Kingdom to continue her studies at the Royal College of Music in London. At the Royal College of Music, Omordia studied with renowned pianists such as John Blakely and Andrew Ball, and won several awards for her performances, including the prestigious Chappell Gold Medal. She also earned a Master's degree in Performance from the college, and went on to complete a PhD in Musicology at the University of Surrey. Omordia's career as a concert pianist has taken her to some of the world's most prestigious concert halls, including the Wigmore Hall in London, the Berlin Philharmonic, and the Carnegie Hall in New York. She has performed with leading orchestras such as the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the BBC Concert Orchestra, and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, and has collaborated with renowned conductors such as Sir Simon Rattle and Vladimir Ashkenazy. One of Omordia's most notable achievements as a pianist has been her dedication to promoting classical music in Africa. She has organized several concerts and festivals in Nigeria and other African countries, and has worked with local musicians and educators to develop music education programs for young people. In 2018, she founded the African Concert Series, a project that aims to showcase the talents of African classical musicians and bring classical music to a wider audience in Africa. Omordia's commitment to promoting classical music in Africa has earned her several awards and honors, including the Nigerian Women in Arts Award and the African Achievers Award. She has also been recognized for her contributions to music education, and has been appointed a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. Despite her many achievements, Omordia remains committed to her craft and continues to push the boundaries of classical music. She has recorded several albums, including a critically acclaimed recording of the piano music of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, and is currently working on a project to record the complete piano works of Florence Price, an African-American composer who has been largely overlooked by the classical music establishment. Through her performances, recordings, and advocacy work, Rebeca Omordia has become a leading figure in the world of classical music, and a powerful advocate for the role of music in promoting cultural understanding and social change. Her dedication to promoting classical music in Africa has inspired a new generation of musicians and music lovers, and her virtuosic performances continue to captivate audiences around the world.

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