The Ministry for Tourism and the Malta Tourism Authority are pleased to announce that preparations have commenced for the next edition of the Malta International Choir Festival which will be held between 2 and 5 November 2017.

This event has now become a mainstay in the Maltese musical calendar and thus is very much anticipated by all music lovers, in particular those that have a fondness for the genre. Impressively, in each of the last editions of the festival, Malta has hosted not less than 800 international choristers hailing from countries as diverse as Russia, Great Britain, Italy, Poland, Spain and China.

Choirs have the choice of either participating in the festival competitively or else choose to follow the non-competitive programme. The festival runs over four days and provides choirs with a varied programme spread across several venues. Another important aspect of the festival is the pedagogical part which takes place in the form of workshops or masterclasses.

For the 2017 edition, the festival's organisers are hoping that there will also be a number of Maltese and Gozitan choirs participating. The local public and visitors from abroad are invited and encouraged to attend the performances, most of which are free of charge.  

Paul Bugeja, MTA CEO commented that: "Events such as the Choir Festival attract a large number of visitors in the less popular shoulder months, both in terms of the actual choristers as well as accompanying family and friends, and music enthusiasts. The scale and success of this event continue to contribute towards the increase of the Maltese Islands' reputation in the cultural sector." Mr Bugeja continued by saying that the festival also offers an excellent opportunity for cultural exchanges and for making new contacts between the many who participate.