Bombardier Mario Testa, son of Joseph Testa and M’Dolores nee’ Bonello was born at Attard, St Catherine Hospital on 7 August 1970. He was educated at St Albert College and St Michael School.

At the age of 12, he started his elementary musical studies in Bb Baritone with Chev. Mro A. J. Mizzi. Mario enlisted in the Armed Forces of Malta in May 1989 as a Gunner. That same year he changed his instrument to a Bb Bass Tuba to fulfill the band’s establishment. He furthered his studies with Mro Paul Borg, Notional Orchestra’s Principal Tuba player studying Modern techniques, and theory lessons with Profs. Charles Zammit and Mro. Ray Sciberras for advanced and counter point.

Mro Testa is presently the bandmaster of the St Catherine V. M. Zurrieq band, Marija Regina Marsa and music teacher of Unione Band Luqa.

In January 1999 Mro Testa was Honoured Dip.Mus in Bb Tuba and in 2001 was Honoured Fellow in Music of the Euro Institute for Higher education from Nue. This year he successfully obtained the Associate performer’s Diploma of the Trinity College of London as a Distinction in Bb Bass Tuba performer with the rights to use the letters A.T.C.L. He is presently the only Maltese citizen in possession of a diploma on the Bb Bass Tuba.