The St John’s co-Cathedral Foundation and the Rev. Metropolitan Cathedral Chapter will be organising for the second year the International Sacred Music Festival in collaboration with the Embassy of the United States of America, L’Ambassade de France à Malte, the Embassy of the Republic of Austria and the Istituto Italiano di Cultura.

The International Sacred Music Festival will be held at St John’s co-Cathedral in Valletta from today till Sunday 11 June and will feature a number of concerts held over seven days with the participation of both local and foreign artists.

The intention of this International Sacred Music Festival is to bring out the beauty and spiritual message found in the best of the sacred music. Each year a young Maltese composer is commissioned to write an Ave Maria for the festival.

The festival committee for the second year has managed, under its artistic director Mro Prof. Charles Camille, to attract some prestigious international performers for the festival.

The opening concert today at 8pm features Voices Choeur International, an American director’s creation that has gained roots and has earned a name for itself in France.

Other participants on that day include the Johann Strauss School of Music Brass Ensemble. An organ recital by the Italian organist Giuseppe di Mare and saxophonist Salvo Tempio and The Medit Chamber Players will take place tomorrow. The St Monica Choir will participate with Antoine Frendo and Friends on Monday.

The Classique String Orchestra and the Chorus Urbanus will perform on Wednesday. There will be an organ recital by Peter Planyavsky from Austria on Friday 9 June. A concert by 25 strong Vienna Baroque Ensemble and the participation of the Schola Cantorum Jubilate will be held on Saturday 10 June.

The festival comes to an end on Sunday 11 June with a tribute to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart by performing his Mass in C (Coronation Mass) directed by Dion Buhagiar with the participation of the Collegium Musicum at 9.15am, which will be played during Mass.

All concerts start at 7.30pm and entrance is free.