Mro. Joseph Vella passed away on February 25th 2018. Family Vella intends honouring the seventh anniversary since his demise by launching the first phase of its music digitisation initiative, as a fitting tribute to his legacy.

Preparations are in hand to digitally transform Mro. Vella`s CD discography in order to make it accessible online, via digital music platforms. Family Vella is aiming to complete this first phase around Summer 2025. The project will ensure that Mro. Vella`s music will thereafter be accessible to a global audience, via digital means.

A commemoration of Mro. Vella’s life and legacy will also be held in Victoria, Gozo, in the weekend 21st-23rd February. The 7th Joseph Vella Memorial Lecture will take place on Friday 21st February at Il-Hagar Museum (7.30pm), followed by an exhibition focusing on Vella`s ‘Mass in D’ (Opus 20), this year being the 50th anniversary of its composition (Friday 21st February after the Memorial Lecture).

On Saturday 22nd February (Aula Mgr G. Farrugia, 8pm), a chamber music concert by the Janascharco Trio will take place, during which different works by Mro. Vella will be performed. The Laudate Pueri Choir will also be singing Vella`s ‘Missa Brevis’ (Opus 40) at St. George’s Basilica on Sunday 23rd February at 11am, during mass.

For more information, please follow https://heartofgozo.org.mt/

The radio programme ‘ Marċi u Bandalori’ , produced and presented by Joseph Chetcuti, will also commemorate Mro Vella as the seventh anniversary of his demise approaches. Tune in on NET FM on Sunday 23rd February at 12.30pm to enjoy a selection of band marches composed by Mro. Vella.