Music was indirectly part of her life from childhood. Her dad played all kinds of music on the way to school, and her mom played gospel music on Sundays.
Over time, she became familiar with different songs and instruments without even trying.
In primary and junior high school, she joined the school band and played the euphonium, a brass instrument known for its rich, warm sound.
In Wesley Girls Senior High School, she learned the trumpet for about a year.
“When I completed senior high school, I wanted to continue playing the trumpet because I didn’t see the point in letting go of something I had learnt.”
The trumpet comes with its ups and downs. Firstly, it can be a loud instrument but, you know, with technique, you can also play it quietly.
But I was also thinking that sometimes it stresses your lips as well. So, I was weighing the pros and cons of the trumpet and then I said, okay, if
I want to play a wind instrument, why not go to the saxophone, because I really like the sound and it would be my alternative to the trumpet,”
Ms Ewuraesi Nyamekye Koshie Hagan told The Mirror in an interview in Accra on Wednesday.
Her first saxophone
She said that, with the savings from a summer job she took while waiting to enter university, she bought her first saxophone and began teaching herself to play by watching YouTube videos.
When she entered her first year of university, things became challenging. Architecture was demanding, and balancing schoolwork with music was harder than she expected. She couldn’t rehearse as much as she had planned.
Still eager to grow, she joined the independent school band. “If I hear the word ‘band,’ I’ll join,” she joked. But it was tough — no one taught her how to read the notes, and she often felt lost. She pushed herself because she believed that joining a band would help her improve.
By second year, she became discouraged and eventually put the saxophone down. She felt she wasn’t skilled enough yet and questioned why she had joined the band in the first place. Later that year, when she moved into Hall Seven, a hostel on campus, she reminded herself, “I bought this saxophone…” and began considering how to return to playing.
At her new hostel, she set a goal: rehearse every day, even if it meant just practising whatever she saw online. But this came with its own challenges. Her roommates admired her dedication, yet the irregular practice hours disrupted their rest.
When they finally voiced their concerns, she made a tough compromise—she stopped practising indoors and took her saxophone outside
“I used to go downstairs to the parade ground. It's an outdoor area where anybody just walking around will see you or hear the not-so-cool music and I was shy at first because people will always turn to find who was playing.
“I rehearsed constantly every day, sometimes every other day and then when I first started seeing some improvements, I think, two years after, in fourth year, I started playing ‘happy birthday’ for people and then they'll say, “oh you're doing well”, “you're good”. Gradually, I started playing some small gigs, getting some GH¢300, GH¢400 here and there. If I get lucky, GH¢500,” she added.
Balancing two worlds
Today, Naa Koshie Hagan — as she is popularly known — who holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Architecture from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, performs at corporate events, weddings, music shows, and other private functions.
Even as her music career grew, she stayed committed to her architectural ambitions. She was recently inducted as an architect by the Architects Registration Council (ARC).
Her path to becoming a licensed architect was a long one. She studied architecture for four years at the undergraduate level, then continued with a two-year master’s programme.
After that, she completed a year of national service and two years of work experience before writing her professional exam and finally receiving her licence.
At her induction, which also saw her being admitted into the Ghana Institute of Architects, she ranked among the top four in her group.
To her, architecture and music are closely connected. Both require a sense of rhythm, harmony and proportion. In design, she considers how elements relate to each other and to the environment—just as music flows from one note to another to create feeling.
Whether designing a building or playing a melody, she aims to create an experience people can feel and connect with.
Naa Koshie continues to carefully balance her two passions. On a typical weekday, her schedule depends on the type of performance she is booked for. If it’s a short gig, she slips out during her lunch break, performs, and hurries back to the office.
When she’s hired for a longer event, with the permission of her superiors, who know her passion for music, she takes the afternoon off so she can give the performance her full attention.
Evening shows, she said, required more planning; she often pushes herself to finish her office work by 5 p.m., sometimes working ahead just so she can rush off in time. Weekend gigs, however, are more relaxed.
She noted that being part of different bands played a key role in helping her sharpen her skills and cultivate discipline.
On teaching other young people how to play, she explained that many have approached her about it, but her schedule — working in an office during the day and performing frequently in the evenings and on weekends — doesn’t currently allow her to commit.
Still, she is always open to answering questions from learners and recommending teachers. She hopes that in the future she’ll be able to incorporate teaching into her life.
She expressed gratitude to her parents, siblings and close family members for the support and all the architects who encouraged her on the journey.
After dedicating 10 years to training as an architect and spending roughly the same number of years playing the saxophone, she feels they have both grown with her.
She wants to keep exploring what each field offers—designing spaces that tell her story and making music that expresses her passion.
efiaamoako2@gmail.con
