New Names Malta

Calendar108The European foundation for Support of Culture  organized New Names Malta – National Music Programme 2019, which was held under  the Distinguished Patronage of H.E. Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca – President of Malta. The Programme aimed to promote exceptionally talented young musicians under the age of 16.

A national selection was made through New Names Malta – National Music Competition. New Names Malta – National Music Programme was established in 2015 to seek, select and promote very young musicians who have already demonstrated true talent. The artistic committee of the New Names Malta – National Music Programme was made up of prominent figures in the world of arts, outstanding musicians, professors and pedagogues from the best conservatoires, music academies and other international higher educational institutions. The Artistic Director of this programme is maestro Alan Chircop, a prominent Maltese musical figure and international orchestra conductor.

In 2019, the young musicians qualifiers took place between January and March and the competition’s finals was held on 12 March at the Robert Samut Hall (Floriana). The honorary panel of judges  consisted of Francesco de Santis, Piano Professor at Conservatoire Piccinni at Bari, art director of the Euterpe International Music Competition; Karen Shakhgaldyan (Armenia), winner of the Pablo Sarasate International Violin Competition; and Alan Chircop, Artistic Director and international orchestra conductor. At the finals, five New Names Malta will be selected and, during 2019, to hone their musical skills, they will participate in master classes both in Malta and abroad.

Over the year, the “New Names” were granted a unique opportunity to display their talents to a broader public, to make friends with other young performers from different countries who share the same interests and possess similar talents, but might have been brought up in a different national environment. Their performance programmes  featured works by modern Maltese and other European composers.

The concerts by the young talents  took place at prestigious concert halls in Malta, such as the Mediterranean Conference Centre, the St Francis Oratorio and the Robert Samut Hall, with traditional appearances at the San Anton Presidential Palace and the Parliament building. During their performance, the young stars were supported by the Malta Philharmonic Youth Orchestra.