THE MALTA INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL & COMPETITION

        

             27th of April – 10th of May 2016

Dear Ladies, Gentlemen, Participants and Music Lovers,

I wish to give you a very warm welcome to the Malta International Music Festival & Competition 2016, comprising of a series of Master-Classes, Concerts and International Competitions during the two weeks in the end of April/ beginning of May 2016.

Our faculty of internationally acclaimed professors will conduct a series of Master-Classes between 27^th April and 6^th May in pianoforte, strings, winds and voice to around 150 participants hailing from 30 different countries.
The Festival will feature our professors and master-classes’ participants in daily lunchtime and evening concerts being held at various venues around Malta and Gozo.

Between 7^th and 10^th May,  participants representing 25 different nationalities will participate in International Music Competitions for Pianoforte, Strings and Wind instruments. We have three categories in the Pianoforte Competition: for Children under 13, Juniors under 17 and a Senior Category for pianists under 35 years of age. In the Strings and Wind Instruments competitions, participants under 35 years of age will compete in two rounds of the Senior Category of each competition.

We are very excited to welcome and host so many participants from many different nations around the world. While having the opportunity to learn, live and exchange artistic experiences with professors and participants of various nationalities, the festival aims at providing young international performers with further opportunities which are vital in the development of one’s international career. Our aim is to present an International Music Festival & Competition on the same lines of similar classical music festivals abroad, with the participation of representatives from many different countries, while enabling local music students, teachers and music-lovers alike to benefit from such an opportunity in Malta.This together with the provision of high quality teaching, concerts and competitions of high standards and competitive levels is the main goal of this Festival.

Our guest Professors together with the organising team and hospitality entourage are looking forward towards providing you with an enjoyable, yet rewarding and inspiring artistic experience during our Festival in Malta. With pleasure we also note that for some participants this is not their first time in Malta and have been participating in the Festival from year to year. We are thrilled to follow their artistic development, while we are proud to be contributing towards their successful careers.

On my behalf, I wish to thank the European Foundation for Support of Culture for entrusting me with the artistic direction of the MIMF as from this year, their dedication and contribution towards the development of young and upcoming musicians. I wish to thank the Professors and members of the Jury of the competitions, the sponsors – the Moscow Government in particular, the management of the various Theatres, Concert Halls and venues where we are holding our concerts, and the local entities supporting our Festival, in particular  the Johann Strauss School of Music – Malta, the Malta Band Clubs Association and AELS English Language School – Malta.

I wish you all a pleasant stay in Malta, while I augur all the participants a wonderful time and successful performances. Good luck to all the participants of the competitions while wishing everyone the best of luck in their musical careers.

Best wishes,

Mro. Alan Chircop
Artistic Director

EUROPEAN FOUNDATION FOR SUPPORT OF CULTURE