The World Philharmonic Orchestra was established in 1985 with the support of famous names such as Maurice Bejart, Lorin Maazel, Seiji Ozawa, Mstislav Rostropovich, Ravi Shankar, and Roberto Alagna – just to mention a few. Once a year, it invites the leaders of symphony orchestras from 83 different countries to play together in order to transmit – through the universal language of music – a message of peace and solidarity in aid of underprivileged children. It offers scholarships to musically gifted children from deprived areas who would otherwise never have the means to further their musical studies.

For 2006, the first five countries selected to choose one of their children to receive this scholarship are Romania, Thailand, India, Tunisia and Venezuela.

France is hosting the World Philharmonic Orchestra this year, and concerts, under the baton of Maestro Yutaka Sado, will be held in Paris at Les Invalides and the Palais des Congrès, and also in Rheims.

Marcelline Agius joined the National Orchestra of Malta in March 1984 and was appointed Leader of the Orchestra in December 1993 – a position she has retained since then. Marcelline has been very active throughout her career, performing in Malta and abroad, both with orchestras and ensembles, under well-known conductors.

Meanwhile, Fiorella Camilleri, the second full-time flautist with the National Orchestra, has just returned from Florence where she attended master classes with Prof. Nicola Mazzanti, piccolo flute soloist with the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Orchestra who also holds master classes at the Italian Flute Academy in Rome, as well as being invited to teach overseas. Fiorella has been such a successful ambassador for Malta that Prof. Mazzanti has agreed to play Vivaldi’s piccolo concerto as guest artist with the National Orchestra on 15 May 2007 at the Manoel Theatre.

And leaving for Birmingham shortly, in order to attend The International Trombone Festival, is Dennis Camilleri who plays second trombone with the National Orchestra. A keen musician, who last year participated in the International Trombone Competition organised by Hungarofest and the Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest, this year Dennis will take part in clinics and perform in some concerts with other trombone players.