News
Joseph Vella featured at the MUSIC+ festival
After last year’s first edition of the festival MUSIC+, this year the Classique Foundation will be presenting the second edition that will take place between 27th September and 1st November 2019.
The last recital in the series will take place on 1st November at St. Francis Church, Victoria.... Read More
Maestro Vella’s Music at the Malta International Arts Festival
As part of Family Vella`s unfolding collaboration with the Malta Arts Council and Festivals Malta, one of Maestro Vella`s earlier orchestral works – “Overture alla Concertante (Opus 23)” – will be performed at Pjazza Teatru Rjal, Valletta, on Saturday 6th July 2019 at 9pm.
The event... Read More
Congratulations to Jessica Ellul
Jessica Ellul made her debut with the Malta Youth Orchestra in 2012 performing Weber’s Clarinet Concert No. 1, under the baton of Maestro Joseph Vella, whom she acknowledges as Malta`s leading composer in contemporary music.
Ever since, Jessica has never looked back. Her latest milestone as... Read More
Second Edition of the Joseph Vella Award in Composition
In 2018, Dr. Jennifer M. Barker, Professor of Music Theory and Composition at the University of Delaware in the United States, decided to launch “The Joseph Vella Award in Composition from the University of Delaware”, in his memory and honour. The inaugural 2018 Award went to promising... Read More
Joseph Calleja Performs Mro. Vella’s Works in Hungary and Latvia
Maestro Joseph Vella`s “Il-Kebbies Tal-Fanali” (Opus 18), composed in 1973 to words by Anton Buttigieg, thereafter appointed President of Malta (from 1976 to 1981), has been included in quite a few recent concerts featuring world famous tenor Joseph Calleja.
In 2017, for instance, it was... Read More
New works dedicated to Mro. Vella
A special word of thanks goes to Maestro John Galea and Maestro Kristian Schembri for composing two new works, dedicated specifically to the memory of Maestro Joseph Vella.
Both works were launched during separate concerts of sacred music organised on the 13th April 2019 by the Soċjetá... Read More
Maestro Vella Bust Inaugurated by the Minister for Gozo
On Saturday 9th March 2019, a commemorative event in honour of Maestro Joseph Vella was organised by the Ministry for Gozo, at Villa Rundle, Victoria, Gozo. A varied programme of speeches and Joseph Vella's chamber works culminated in the unveiling of a bust by Minister for... Read More
Beyond the Horizon – Memorial Speech by Alan Vella
A year has passed since that appalling afternoon. My brother and myself were abroad, and we both headed home as quickly as we could, following the shattering news.
It has been a tough year without you, Maestro Joseph Vella. The inimitable Roberto Benigni conveys the message that life is... Read More
World Class Composer – Memorial Speech by Dr. Jennifer Margaret Barker
Joseph Vella was a world-class composer. His unique compositional language, coupled with his superb compositional craft, enabled him to create an opus of works that will stand the test of time and remain an integral part of the international concert stage.
________
I was first introduced to... Read More
A Complete Artist – Memorial Speech by Pierre Henri Xuereb
Joseph Vella, a complete artist, musician, a unique human being...
I had the great luck to meet Joseph when I was in my twenties, during my first visit to Malta and I remember telling everybody in France afterwards, that I met the equivalent of Pierre BOULEZ in France, in Malta.
Joseph's... Read More