tamarisk
August 15th, 2004, 04:45 AM
by di-ve.com
Sunday, 15 August, 2004
PROMUZIKA, a newly founded group made up of some of the best Maltese musicians on the island will launch itself during a chamber music concert to be held on Thursday 19th August at 8.30 PM at Bighi, Kalkara.
This concert will feature violinists Maria Conrad and Joanna Aquilina, violist Sarah Spiteri, cellist Simon Abdilla Joslin and clarinetist Godfrey Mifsud. They will be joined by Spanish horn player Jose Garcia Guttierrez.
The aim of PROMUZIKA is to engage the best Maltese musicians and collaborate with foreign performers in classical and comtemporary repertoire.
PROMUZIKA will also be working in close collaboration with Maltese composers in order to promote their compositions.
The programme includes: Amon: Horn quartet Op 20 No 1, Mozart Clarinet quintet in A major K 581, Hoffmeister Horn Quintet, Glazunov Idylle for Horn quintet and concludes with Joseph Vella's work for clarinet quintet Introduzione, Allegretto e Adagio Cantabile Op 16.
Born in Germany, Maria Conrad holds a B.A. Degree in Music and German from the University of Malta, and a post-graduate diploma from London's Guildhall School of Music and Drama where she studied under Prof. Krzysztof Smietana. She was a member of the National Orchestra of Malta from 1998-2001. Between 2002 and 2003 Maria worked chiefly performed with leading orchestras throughout Spain, such as the Orquesta Sinfonica de Tenerife, Orquesta Filarmonica de Gran Canaria, Orquesta Sinfonica de Galicia, Orquesta Sinfonica de Bilbao and Orquesta Pablo Sarasate de Navarra. Since January of 2004 she has been a full-time member of the Orquesta de Extremadura. She has worked with some of today's leading conductors, such as Sir Colin Davis, Kurt Masur, Ton Koopman and Pierre Boulez.
Joanna Aquilina studied violin technique with Prof Joachim Atanasov and furthered her studies at the University of Malta. She holds a B A degree and a PGCE from the University of Malta specializing in music studies and music teaching. Joanna is part of the unique Maltese Folk Band Etnika and together with this band has recently represented Malta in festivals in Gibraltar, Tunis, Spain, Greece, Turkey, Libya and Ireland and at the prestigious Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. In 2003 together with this group Joanna launched the CD Zifna. Joanna plays regularly with the National Orchestra, and is also very much into the local chamber music scene.
Violinist and violist Sarah Spiteri holds a Licentiate from the Trinity College, an BA (Hons) in Theatre Studies from the University of Malta, and a postgraduate diploma in Dramatherapy from the University of Surrey, Roehampton. In 1990, having won the Bice Mizzi Vassallo Music Competition, she continued her musical studies in Lyon, France. Together with the Borealis String quartet, Sarah has recorded 2 CD'S featuring works by Charles Camilleri, Nicolo Isuard and P. P. Bugeja. In 2002 she also recorded the War Cantata, a work by John Cremona and Charles Camilleri, which received excellent reviews from the critics. Her latest recording is Mill-Kant tal-Bahar a series of songs to the lyrics of Joe Friggieri and music of Charles Camilleri. Earlier this year, as part of the Manoel Theatre Ensemble Sarah performed works by Maltese composers in Germany within the Europa Musicale Festival.
After obtaining his L.T.C.L performer's diploma Simon Abdilla Joslin was awarded a scholarship to study cello performance with Prof. Derek Aviss and orchestral training with Arthur Davison at the Trinity College of Music, London. Simon later obtained his L.R.S.M. performance diploma and furthered his studies at the Conservatorio di Santa Cecilia in Rome where he studied with Salvatore Degirolamo and Jorge Schultiz. Among prestigious venues in which Simon has performed as soloist one can mention Teatro al Massimo of Palermo, Teatro Politeama Garibaldi of Palermo, the U.N. Headquarters in New York. In May 1997 Simon premiered Joseph Vella's Concertino, for Violoncello and Chamber orchestra, op.77, with the Accademia Musicale Siciliana in Sicily. Later in the same year, Simon premiered Joseph Vella's Violoncello Concerto, op. 75 in Thessaloniki Greece. Simon holds a B.A.(Hons.) degree from the University of Malta specialising in performance and is currently teaching cello at the Johann Strauss School of Music. He plays a fine French cello - ?Honore Derazey' circa 1860.
Jose Garcia Gutierrez was born in Alicante, Spain, and began his French horn studies at an early age under the guidance of his father, Gabriel Garcia Martinez, himself an accomplished horn player. He furthered his studies at Amsterdam's Sweelinck Conservatoire under D. Vicente Zarzo Pitarch. He was awarded first prize in the first international horn competition in Villa de Benaguacil, Spain, in 1998. In 1990, 91, 96 and 99 he represented Spain in the Mediterranean Youth Orchestra and in 2000 he was chosen to form part of the prestigious Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra, performing in Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, the Check Republic, Austria, Germany, France, the U.K., Italy, Turkey, Egypt, Israel, Morocco, Palestine and Holland. From 1997-2000 he was co-principal horn with the Orquesta Filarmonica de Gran Canaria, and from 2000-2002 principal assistant with the Orquesta Sinfonica de Galicia. Between September 2002 and September 2003, he was principal horn with the Orquesta Pablo Sarasate in Pamplona, Navarra, and after that worked with Seville's Real Orquesta Sinfonica until January 2004. During this time he worked with conductors such as Pierre Boulez, Seiji Ozawa, Alain Lombard, Ton Koopeman, and Alexander Lazarev and with top artists such as Anne Sophie-Mutter, Rostropovich, Zimmerman and Ann Sophie von Otter. Since January 2004 he has been a full-time member and co-principal horn of the Orquesta de Extremadura. Last year he was invited by Joseph Vella to record his work "Soliloquies" for solo horn, a work dedicated specially to him by the composer, and the "Trio Concertante" for horn, violin and piano.
The venue chosen for the concert is idyllic in setting and an unusual choice for a concert. The grounds of Bighi are home to Villa Bighi which houses the offices of Malta Council for Science and Technology and the East wing houses the Malta Centre for Restoration. The concert is to be held in one of the terraces overlooking the Grand Harbour, with the spectacular view the Valletta bastions as a backdrop. To reach Bighi, get to Kalkara and follow the uphill road by the sea, until close to the top of the hill you will find an even steeper road to the left. Take that road and you will end up in front of Villa Bighi. Note that Villa Bighi has Villa Frisari carved in stone above the main door! If you just cannot find Villa Bighi, once in Kalkara ask for the old English naval hospital (l-isptar tas-servizzi) and you should be directed there.
Tickets for the price of Lm4 are available from the Manoel Theatre Bookshop and St. James Cavalier. Children under 13 years are admitted free of charge when accompanied by a paying adult. This event is being supported by the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts.
Sunday, 15 August, 2004
PROMUZIKA, a newly founded group made up of some of the best Maltese musicians on the island will launch itself during a chamber music concert to be held on Thursday 19th August at 8.30 PM at Bighi, Kalkara.
This concert will feature violinists Maria Conrad and Joanna Aquilina, violist Sarah Spiteri, cellist Simon Abdilla Joslin and clarinetist Godfrey Mifsud. They will be joined by Spanish horn player Jose Garcia Guttierrez.
The aim of PROMUZIKA is to engage the best Maltese musicians and collaborate with foreign performers in classical and comtemporary repertoire.
PROMUZIKA will also be working in close collaboration with Maltese composers in order to promote their compositions.
The programme includes: Amon: Horn quartet Op 20 No 1, Mozart Clarinet quintet in A major K 581, Hoffmeister Horn Quintet, Glazunov Idylle for Horn quintet and concludes with Joseph Vella's work for clarinet quintet Introduzione, Allegretto e Adagio Cantabile Op 16.
Born in Germany, Maria Conrad holds a B.A. Degree in Music and German from the University of Malta, and a post-graduate diploma from London's Guildhall School of Music and Drama where she studied under Prof. Krzysztof Smietana. She was a member of the National Orchestra of Malta from 1998-2001. Between 2002 and 2003 Maria worked chiefly performed with leading orchestras throughout Spain, such as the Orquesta Sinfonica de Tenerife, Orquesta Filarmonica de Gran Canaria, Orquesta Sinfonica de Galicia, Orquesta Sinfonica de Bilbao and Orquesta Pablo Sarasate de Navarra. Since January of 2004 she has been a full-time member of the Orquesta de Extremadura. She has worked with some of today's leading conductors, such as Sir Colin Davis, Kurt Masur, Ton Koopman and Pierre Boulez.
Joanna Aquilina studied violin technique with Prof Joachim Atanasov and furthered her studies at the University of Malta. She holds a B A degree and a PGCE from the University of Malta specializing in music studies and music teaching. Joanna is part of the unique Maltese Folk Band Etnika and together with this band has recently represented Malta in festivals in Gibraltar, Tunis, Spain, Greece, Turkey, Libya and Ireland and at the prestigious Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. In 2003 together with this group Joanna launched the CD Zifna. Joanna plays regularly with the National Orchestra, and is also very much into the local chamber music scene.
Violinist and violist Sarah Spiteri holds a Licentiate from the Trinity College, an BA (Hons) in Theatre Studies from the University of Malta, and a postgraduate diploma in Dramatherapy from the University of Surrey, Roehampton. In 1990, having won the Bice Mizzi Vassallo Music Competition, she continued her musical studies in Lyon, France. Together with the Borealis String quartet, Sarah has recorded 2 CD'S featuring works by Charles Camilleri, Nicolo Isuard and P. P. Bugeja. In 2002 she also recorded the War Cantata, a work by John Cremona and Charles Camilleri, which received excellent reviews from the critics. Her latest recording is Mill-Kant tal-Bahar a series of songs to the lyrics of Joe Friggieri and music of Charles Camilleri. Earlier this year, as part of the Manoel Theatre Ensemble Sarah performed works by Maltese composers in Germany within the Europa Musicale Festival.
After obtaining his L.T.C.L performer's diploma Simon Abdilla Joslin was awarded a scholarship to study cello performance with Prof. Derek Aviss and orchestral training with Arthur Davison at the Trinity College of Music, London. Simon later obtained his L.R.S.M. performance diploma and furthered his studies at the Conservatorio di Santa Cecilia in Rome where he studied with Salvatore Degirolamo and Jorge Schultiz. Among prestigious venues in which Simon has performed as soloist one can mention Teatro al Massimo of Palermo, Teatro Politeama Garibaldi of Palermo, the U.N. Headquarters in New York. In May 1997 Simon premiered Joseph Vella's Concertino, for Violoncello and Chamber orchestra, op.77, with the Accademia Musicale Siciliana in Sicily. Later in the same year, Simon premiered Joseph Vella's Violoncello Concerto, op. 75 in Thessaloniki Greece. Simon holds a B.A.(Hons.) degree from the University of Malta specialising in performance and is currently teaching cello at the Johann Strauss School of Music. He plays a fine French cello - ?Honore Derazey' circa 1860.
Jose Garcia Gutierrez was born in Alicante, Spain, and began his French horn studies at an early age under the guidance of his father, Gabriel Garcia Martinez, himself an accomplished horn player. He furthered his studies at Amsterdam's Sweelinck Conservatoire under D. Vicente Zarzo Pitarch. He was awarded first prize in the first international horn competition in Villa de Benaguacil, Spain, in 1998. In 1990, 91, 96 and 99 he represented Spain in the Mediterranean Youth Orchestra and in 2000 he was chosen to form part of the prestigious Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra, performing in Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, the Check Republic, Austria, Germany, France, the U.K., Italy, Turkey, Egypt, Israel, Morocco, Palestine and Holland. From 1997-2000 he was co-principal horn with the Orquesta Filarmonica de Gran Canaria, and from 2000-2002 principal assistant with the Orquesta Sinfonica de Galicia. Between September 2002 and September 2003, he was principal horn with the Orquesta Pablo Sarasate in Pamplona, Navarra, and after that worked with Seville's Real Orquesta Sinfonica until January 2004. During this time he worked with conductors such as Pierre Boulez, Seiji Ozawa, Alain Lombard, Ton Koopeman, and Alexander Lazarev and with top artists such as Anne Sophie-Mutter, Rostropovich, Zimmerman and Ann Sophie von Otter. Since January 2004 he has been a full-time member and co-principal horn of the Orquesta de Extremadura. Last year he was invited by Joseph Vella to record his work "Soliloquies" for solo horn, a work dedicated specially to him by the composer, and the "Trio Concertante" for horn, violin and piano.
The venue chosen for the concert is idyllic in setting and an unusual choice for a concert. The grounds of Bighi are home to Villa Bighi which houses the offices of Malta Council for Science and Technology and the East wing houses the Malta Centre for Restoration. The concert is to be held in one of the terraces overlooking the Grand Harbour, with the spectacular view the Valletta bastions as a backdrop. To reach Bighi, get to Kalkara and follow the uphill road by the sea, until close to the top of the hill you will find an even steeper road to the left. Take that road and you will end up in front of Villa Bighi. Note that Villa Bighi has Villa Frisari carved in stone above the main door! If you just cannot find Villa Bighi, once in Kalkara ask for the old English naval hospital (l-isptar tas-servizzi) and you should be directed there.
Tickets for the price of Lm4 are available from the Manoel Theatre Bookshop and St. James Cavalier. Children under 13 years are admitted free of charge when accompanied by a paying adult. This event is being supported by the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts.