Events Archives -

11 May, 202211 May, 2022

Events 2021

Calendar Year 2021

‘A Christmas celebration’
with Wayne Marshall & The New Choral Singers

St. Paul’s Pro-Cathedral, Valletta
Wednesday 22 & Thursday 23 December 2021

The New Choral Singers presented a service of festive choral masterpieces old and new and seasonal readings

Mauro Farrugia Musical Director
Wayne Marshall Organ

A retiring collection was held in aid of the Cathedral

Other events

Saturday 25 May – Wedding Mass at St. Agatha Church, Rabat at 5.30pm

Saturday 22 June – Wedding Mass at Our Lady of Victories, Valletta at 4.30pm

Thursday 14th November – High Mass at Ta’Xbiex Parish Church at 6.00pm

29 March, 201930 December, 2019

Events 2019

Calendar Year 2019

Mass of Thanksgiving
Christ the King Parish Church, Paola
Saturday, 15th June 2019

The programme included music by Reimann, Bach, Frisina
as well as a Missa penned by the choir’s previous Director, Robert Calleja.

Mauro Farrugia Musical Director
Romina Morrow Organ
Duncan Camilleri Trumpet
Peter Cini Euphonium

From a group of 12 friends who came together back in 1994 to a 70-strong
mixed choir, The New Choral Singers celebrating their 25th year.

‘A Choral Celebration’
The New Choral Singers 25th Anniversary Concert

From a cappella compositions to music for organ
and orchestra, ‘A Choral Celebration’ amongst others featured works by
Antonio Vivaldi, Gabriel Fauré, Hubert Parry, Maurice Duruflé,
Mauro Farrugia, and Wayne Marshall.

Friday 25 October 2019 | St. John’s Co-Cathedral, Valletta
by courtesy of The St John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation

WAYNE MARSHALL Guest Conductor/Organist
MAURO FARRUGIA Resident Conductor
MAROUSKA ATTARD Soprano | CLARE GHIGO Mezzo-Soprano
SARAH SPITERI Orchestra Leader | IRINA FEDCENKO-CARBONARO Harpsichord

A retiring collection was held in aid of Caritas Malta,
which itself was marking 50 years since its inception.

This concert was supported by APS Bank plc

The New Choral Singers present the 22nd edition of ‘Musical Tidings’
an evening of Christmas carols and festive favourites

Wayne Marshall: Guest Conductor & Organist
Mauro Farrugia: Resident Conductor
Marouska Attard: Guest Soloist

St. Paul’s Pro-Cathedral, Independence Square, Valletta
Wednesday 18 December 2019 at 7.30pm

Jesuits’ Church, Merchant Street, Valletta
Friday 20 December 2019 at 7.30pm

Other events

Saturday 25 May – Wedding Mass at St. Agatha Church, Rabat at 5.30pm

Saturday 22 June – Wedding Mass at Our Lady of Victories, Valletta at 4.30pm

Thursday 14th November – High Mass at Ta’Xbiex Parish Church at 6.00pm

5 February, 20189 June, 2019

Events 2018

Calendar Year 2018

Tour to Alto Adige, Italy

Mauro Farrugia Musical Director
Romina Morrow Organist
Irina Fedčenko-Carbonaro Pianist

Tuesday 28 August 2018
Concert at the Parish Church in Selva di Val Gardena

Friday 31 August 2018
Concert at the Church of St. Josef Freinademetz, Bressanone

Sunday 2 September 2018
High Mass at the Cathedral in Bressanone

The New Choral Singers
under the distinguished patronage of
Her Excellency, Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, President of Malta
presented the international premiere of Patrick Hawes’

“The Great War Symphony”

during a commemorative evening marking the centenary year
of the end of the Great War

Sunday 4 November 2018
St Paul’s Anglican Cathedral, Valletta

WAYNE MARSHALL Organist | MAURO FARRUGIA Musical Director

Claire Debono Soprano | Juan Gambina Tenor

A retiring collection will be made in aid of
the Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation

An event held in collaboration with Festivals Malta
and St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral, Valletta

The New Choral Singers present the 21st edition of ‘Musical Tidings’
an evening of Christmas carols and festive favourites

Wayne Marshall: Conductor & Organist
Mauro Farrugia: Resident Conductor

St. Paul’s Pro-Cathedral, Independence Square, Valletta
Tuesday 18 December 2018 at 7.30pm

Jesuits’ Church, Merchant Street, Valletta
Friday 21 December 2018 at 7.30pm

12 May, 20179 June, 2019

Events 2017

Calendar Year 2017

Past events

The New Choral Singers presented the 20th edition of ‘Musical Tidings’
an evening of Christmas carols and festive favourites

Wayne Marshall : Conductor & Organist
Mauro Farrugia : Resident Conductor

Tuesday 19 December 2017 – St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral, Valletta
Friday 22 December 2017 – St. Publius Parish Church, Floriana
Both concerts start at 7.30pm

A retiring collection was held in aid of the St. Paul’s Pro-Cathedral
and the Karl Vella Foundation

The New Choral Singers sang during a Pontifical High Mass presided by
His Grace Mgr Charles J. Scicluna, Archbishop of Malta on the occasion of the bicentenary of the Maltese Augustinian Province (1817 – 2017)

St. John’s Co-Cathedral, Valletta
Thursday, 14 September 2017

Mauro Farrugia : Conductor
Sarah Spiteri : Orchestra leader
Fr. Aurelio Mule` Stagno : Organist

The New Choral Singers teamed up with the London Oriana Choir, one of Britain’s leading amateur choral groups, to present a joint concert of music that spaned the centuries, starting with classic renaissance composers, such as Monteverdi and Palestrina, and coming right up-to-date with contemporary writers, including James MacMillan, Eric Whitacre and Mia Makaroff.

Saturday, 27th May 2017
St. Paul’s Pro-Cathedral, Valletta

Dominic Peckham : Musical Director (London Oriana Choir)
Mauro Farrugia : Musical Director (The New Choral Singers)
Romina Morrow : Organist

A retiring collection in aid of the St. Paul’s Pro-Cathedral Restoration Appeal was held after the concert.

9 March, 20169 June, 2019

Events 2016

Calendar Year 2016

The New Choral Singers presented the 19th edition of ‘Musical Tidings’
an evening of Christmas carols and festive favourites
presented in association with Lions Club Sliema.

Wayne Marshall – Conductor and Organist

Tuesday 13 December 2016 – St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral, Valletta
Friday 16 December 2016 – St. Publius Parish Church, Floriana

Under the musical guidance of Shirley Helleur the Choir prepared a varied repertoire of ever-green Christmas carols that appealed to audiences of all ages. In the spirit of the season, the audience was invited to join the choir in song for a couple of traditional favourites.

A retiring collection was held in aid of Malta Guide Dogs Foundation,
Helen Keller Foundation Malta and Ursuline Creche

With the kind support of: Copyclub, Jaguar Landrover, the Malta Broadcasting Authority, Red Box Advertising, Volkswagon, and 389 Company Ltd.

The New Choral Singers in association with Hilltop Gardens proudly presented:

LIGHTS! CAMERA! SINGERS!
Music from La Scala to Broadway

Under the patronage of Her Excellency, Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, President of Malta

Wayne Marshall (Conductor)
Irina Fedcenko (Pianist)
Shirley Helleur (Pianist/Resident Conductor)
Albert Buttigieg (Bass)

The open air concert held at The Crescent pool area of Hilltop Gardens, presented a celebration of musical sound tracks from screen and stage.

The singers performed a carousel of musical delights ranging from popular arias such as the famous ‘Toreador Song’ from the opera ‘Carmen’, and much loved music from movies and musicals such as ‘Moon river’ from ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’.

Apart from directing the choir, world acclaimed Wayne Marshall also played an improvisation on themes from ‘West side story’ by Leonard Bernstein.

A free collection was held in aid of The Malta Community Chest Fund.

The event was held in association with Hilltop Gardens and with the kind support of Frank Salt Real Estate and Floreal.

Closing Concert – International Spring Orchestra Festival 2016

Mediterranean Conference Centre
Saturday, 9 April 2016

Conductor: Brian Schembri
Soloists: Lucia Micallef (piano), Claire Debono (soprano)
Choir: The New Choral Singers

Programme:
Conil: Ariane et Dionysos
Prokofiev: Symphony No.7
Karl Fiorini: Of Gods and Dogs
Beethoven: Choral Fantasy Op. 80

27 May, 20152 April, 2019

Events 2015

Calendar Year 2015

Solemn High Mass on the occasion of Fr Ray Francalanza’s
(OSA, SThD – Prior Provincial of the Maltese Augustinian Province)
25th Anniversary of Ordination to Priesthood

Parish Church dedicated to St. Catherine, Zejtun
Sunday 14th June, 2015

The New Choral Singers participated in this year’s
HSBC Bank concert which also featured the choir from Gozo
‘Schola Cantorum Jubilate’ and the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra

Wayne Marshall Conductor

Fort St. Elmo, Valletta
Thursday 9th July, 2015

The Choir presented its annual Christmas concerts
‘Musical Tidings‘

Ta’ Xbiex Parish Church – Sunday, 13 December 2015
Floriana Parish Church – Thursday, 17 December 2015

This year’s concerts were held in aid of the Richmond Foundation whose main aim is to provide optimal community mental health services that promote mental wellbeing, address the prevention of mental health problems
and provide support for good quality of life.

Simone Attard Musical Director
Shirley Helleur Pianist
Fr. Aurelio Mulé Stagno Organist

With the participation of the Mirabitur Youth Choir (Director: Simone Attard)

23 March, 20142 April, 2019

Events 2014

Calendar Year 2014

Forthcoming public events

Past events

First solemn High Mass of a newly ordained priest

Parish Church dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes, San Gwann
Thursday 3rd July, 2014

Ordination Mass
presided over by Archbishop Paul Cremona

St. John’s Co-Cathedral, Valletta
Tuesday 1st July, 2014

20th Anniversary concert for choir, soloists and orchestra

St. John’s Co-Cathedral, Valletta
Wednesday 11th June, 2014

The choir’s main work for this concert was ‘Song of Songs’ by Mr. Patrick Hawes, who is best known as composer in residence at Classic FM in the UK. This work was premiered in Malta by TNCS with the composer’s own encouragement.

The concert also featured the world premiere performances of works composed specifically for the choir’s 20th anniversary by Alexander Vella Gregory and Geoffrey Nobes. Furthermore, through this concert the choir also revived two works by the early 19th century composer Pietro Paolo Bugeja.

Robert Calleja Choir Director
Nicola Said Soprano
May Caruana Alto
Edward Camilleri Tenor
Albert Buttigieg Bass
Sarah Spiteri Orchestra leader
John Aquilina Organ

A retiring collection was held in aid of The Malta Hospice Movement.

Thanksgiving Mass
held as part of the choir’s 20th Anniversary celebrations

St. Dominic’s Church, Rabat
Saturday 3rd May, 2014

Under the direction of Robert Calleja, the choir performed music by Duruflé, Stella, Reimann, Calleja/Mulè Stagno, and Vaughan Williams. On this occasion the singers were accompanied by Gino Mulè Stagno on the organ, and a brass quartet.

The collection held during the Mass was in aid of the restoration works
taking place at the same church.

6 March, 20132 April, 2019

Events 2013

Calendar Year 2013

The Choir presented its annual Christmas concert
‘Musical Tidings‘

Floriana Parish Church – Friday, 13 December 2013
Ta’ Xbiex Parish Church – Sunday, 15 December 2013

This year’s concerts were held in aid of the The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem who’s aim is to sustain and aid the charitable, cultural and social works and institutions of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land. The lay Chivalric Order is under the protection of the Holy See.

Robert Calleja – Choir Director
Shirley Helleur – Pianist
Fr. Aurelio Mulé Stagno – Organist

Opera Gala – celebrating the 200th anniversary of

Giuseppe Verdi and Richard Wagner

An event organised by Malta Arts Events
with the participation of Maltese and foreign soloists, The New Choral Singers, and the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra.
Grandmaster Suite, Hilton Hotel, Portomaso
Friday, 27th September 2013

Conducted by Damiano Binetti

A concert of Sacred Music in aid of id-Dar tal-Providenza

An event organised by the Parish of Qawra
St. Francis of Assisi Parish Church, Qawra
Tuesday, 10th September 2013

Robert Calleja – Choir Director
Shirley Helleur – Pianist
Gino Mule Stagno – Organist

Viva Verdi!

An event forming part of the Malta Arts Festival 2013
President’s Palace Courtyard, Valletta
Saturday, 6th July 2013

Marking 200 years from the birth of Italy’s greatest operatic composer, Giuseppe Verdi, The New Choral Singers showcased the composer’s most famous arias and choruses, which remain evergreen to this very day.

Robert Calleja – Choir Director
Claudia Tabone – Soprano
Albert Buttigieg – Bass
Romina Morrow & Shirley Helleur – Pianists

The Choir presented a concert of Sacred Music
in aid of a new mission set up in India by
the Friars of the Franciscan Conventuals

Church dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi, Ta’ Paris, Birkirkara
Thursday, 11th April 2013

Choir director – Robert Calleja
Accompanists – Irina Fedcenko-Carbonaro & Shirley Helleur

The Choir presented a programme of choral music during an event
launching the book ‘Exploring the spirit of Assisi’ by the late Fr. Maximilian Mizzi. During the evening the Singers also premiered the work ‘Cantico delle creature’ penned in by Robert Calleja (Choir Director).

Friday, 1st March 2013
CAK Conference Hall, Birkirkara

15 December, 20122 April, 2019

Events 2012

Calendar Year 2012

‘Musical Tidings’
a concert to herald the advent of Christmas
Siggiewi Parish Church – Thursday, 13th December 2012 at 7:30pm
Gharghur Parish Church – Wednesday, 19th December 2012 at 7:30pm

Choir director – Robert Calleja
Accompanists – Irina Fedcenko-Carbonaro & Shirley Helleur

Entrance is free of charge. Donations in aid of Dar San Guzepp (home for boys) will be greatly appreciated.

Saturday, 27th October 2012
St. Mark’s Priory, Rabat (Malta)
The Choir presented
a concert of Sacred Music ‘a cappella’

This concert was held in the historic and intimate surroundings of the Piano Nobile of St. Mark’s Priory – home to the Augustinian friars – which was opened to the public for this singular event.

The programme of sacred works performed was entirely a cappella and included music penned in by Palestrina, Victoria, Rachmaninov, Whitacre, and Fr. Albert Borg OSA (ex Maestro di Cappella of the Mdina Cathedral).

Without any doubt the highlight of the evening’s programme was the ‘Miserere’ by Gregorio Allegri, which was originally composed for exclusive use in the Sistine Chapel during the celebrations of Holy Week in 1630 circa. This piece is written for two choirs, and the music alternates from the original Miserere chant to polyphonic sections sung by the two different choirs.

This concert was held in aid of restoration works taking place at the Priory.

Sunday 24th June, 2012
Parish of the Annunciation, Balzan
The Choir presented a concert of Sacred Music
in aid of the restoration of the
paintings by Profs. Emvin Cremona
that are housed in the Church.

The repertoire for this concert has been aptly selected
to match the tone and pace of the summer season,
characterised by the warmth of the works of great composers
such as Elgar, Franck and Goodall.
Robert Calleja – Choir director
Alexandra Scicluna – Mezzo soprano
Irina Fedcenko-Carbonaro & Shirley Helleur – Piano

Saturday 24 March, 2012
Manoel Theatre, Valletta
On the 150th anniversary of the foundation
of the Peace Band Club of Naxxar,
the Choir together with the Band performed
the world premiere of the Cantata
‘L-Ghanja tal-Paci’.
The music was composed for the occasion by Karl Fiorini,
whilst the text has been set by Rev. Richard Borg.

15 August, 20112 April, 2019

Events 2011

Calendar Year 2011

Tuesday 20th December, 2011
The Choir presented a concert of Christmas music
in aid of Caritas Malta
at the Carmelite Priory in Mdina

Tuesday 13th December, 2011
The Choir presented a concert of Christmas music
in aid of Caritas Malta
at the Parish Church of St. Publius in Floriana

Saturday 3rd December, 2011
The Choir participated in a recital of
20th century and contemporary music
which took place at St. Dominic’s Church in Rabat (Malta)

The concert featured works by Arvo Part, Jean Langlais,
Eric Whitacre, and Alex Vella Gregory amongst others.

Choir director – Robert Calleja
Organist: Timothy Guntrip

This event was organised by
The Malta Association for Contemporary Music.

Friday 14th October, 2011
The Choir presented a concert of Sacred Music
together with the Norwegian choir
Kemmerkoret Nesodden/Frogn
at St. John’s Co-Cathedral

This concert formed part of the events marking
World Hospice & Palliative Care Day 2011

Choir Director – Robert Calleja
Choir Director – Gunnar Bjerknes-Haugen
Mezzo Soprano – Marianne E. Andersen
Organist – Timothy Guntrip

Friday 15th July, 2011
St. Publius Parish Church, Floriana

The Choir animated the Prima Messa
of Rev. David Torpiano, a newly ordained priest

Monday 13th June, 2011
The Choir presented a concert of Sacred Music
at the Oratory Church, B’Kara

This event formed part of the Choir’s
outreach programme to the community

Friday 3rd June, 2011
The Choir presented a concert of Sacred Music
in collaboration with the Housing Authority
in aid of the Fra Diego Home for Children
St. Dominic Church, Rabat

Amongst other choral works, the programme included
the ‘Missa Benedicamus Domino’ by Lorenzo Perosi,
‘Praeces Sanctae Stephani’, a new work
penned in by Alexander Vella Gregory, and
‘Totus Tuus’ by the Polish composer Henryk Mikolaj Gorecki,
a work for an eight part choir.

Robert Calleja – Choir director
Timothy Guntrip – Organist
Alexandra Scicluna – Mezzo soprano

Saturday 7th May, 2011
The Choir presented a concert of Sacred Music
at the Parish of St. Gorg Preca, Swatar

The concert was held to raise funds for the new Adoration Chapel being set up by the Parish in Swatar.

Thursday 28th April, 2011
The Choir presented a concert of Sacred Music
at the Parish of St. Bartholomew, Gharghur

This concert formed part of the events held to commemorate the
275th Anniversary of the consecration of the parish church
by Archbishop Alfaran de Bussan, on 22nd April 1736.

A retiring collection was held in aid of the Restoration Fund of the same church.

Saturday 5th March, 2011
The New Choral Singers teamed up with Coro Garoe from Madrid, Spain
to present an Evening of Choral Music

The concert took place at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Hall, Birkirkara
The program included both sacred and secular music
from the Renaissance through to works of our time.