The Victoria International Arts Festival (VIAF) is a yearly, established cultural platform being Malta’s longest-running Festival of its kind.

Mro. Joseph Vella was VIAF`s first Artistic Director, occupying this position up to his passing in 2018. Over the years, he and his team built sound foundations on the basis of which VIAF rose and flourished.

This year – the 28th edition – includes a highly varied and interesting programme running from the 13th June to the 14th July 2025. The final concert will be held on Monday 14th July (St George’s Basilica, Victoria Gozo – 8pm) and will include Mro. Vella’s ‘In Memoriam’ (Opus 96), alongside Vaughan Williams’s ‘Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis’ and Mgr Giuseppe Farrugia’s ‘Requiem’. https://viaf.org.mt/news/

Mro Vella composed ‘In Memorian’ in August 1999. This nearly 7 minute work was first performed at the Manoel Theatre, Valletta in the same year, and is for a string orchestra.