Simon Vella is a university graduate in I.T., and hence now working full-time in the I.T. industry Simon has also been working in the Maltese music scene from some years now. He has been studying the violin since he was 5 years old. He’s also a keyboardist and likes to create compositions and arrangements of his own. Simon has been performing in hotels since the age of eight and has continued doing so, while later on he also moved on to play in various local clubs, television shows, major music events in Malta and also accompanied other artists/bands both in live performances as well as in recordings. It’s hard to define his style as his major characteristic is his versatility and the ability of incorporating the violin into various music styles, some of which are not normally associated with the violin.

Simon also belongs to a group called Violin which is made up of Renzo Kerr Cumbo, Adrian Zahra. Agnes Cachia Pickard and Doreen Saliba. Between Friday and today they have been playing at St James Cavalier. This year’s activity is focusing on Simon’s skills on an electrical violin. He will be performing tonight side by side with vocalists, dancers and also musicians to create a fusion of classical and modern sounds

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What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Making a living out of what you really like to do, and having people you care for around you all the time.

What is your favourite occupation?

Shall we say instead: “What could be my favourite occupation”? The answer to that would be being one of those football players that earn some £80,000 per week for playing football…these figures are still beyond me to understand. Maybe I’m just jealous!

What is your greatest fear?

Loneliness, death.

What is it that you most value in your friends?

Being there when you most need them.

How would you like to die?

I’m too afraid to answer.

What is your greatest extravagance?

Music gear!

What is your greatest regret?

None yet (fingers crossed).

What is your most treasured possession?

A notebook computer I got some time ago on which I have all my music stuff – compositions, ideas, arrangements and so on.

Which talent would you most like to have apart from the ones you already have?

Being able to sing really well.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?

Having no one that really cares for you.

n Where would you like to live?

Wherever I can live a happy life.

What is your most marked characteristic?

Positive: modesty.

Negative: shyness.

Who are your heroes/heroines in real life?

Anyone who impresses people by facts not by words.

n What is it that you most dislike?

Huge egos

What is your motto?

Live life to the full – try not to hurt anyone while doing so.

How old are you? Star sign and date of birth?

23, Virgo, born 4 September 1982.

What would you like to be doing in 10 years’ time?

Realistically, having a good well-paid job in the I.T. industry, and having enough time to write and perform music that I like.

Not so realistically perhaps, being a full-time musician and being able to perform styles of music I really enjoy performing on a daily/weekly basis.