The University of Malta Wind Ensemble was invited to perform at a concert at the Aula Magna Giovanni Paolo II of the Seminario Vescovile of Noto, Sicily. The audience included the mayor of Noto, Dott. Corrado Bonfante, together with members of the Comune Citta' di Noto, representatives of the Istituzione Musicale Citta' di Noto, musicians and the general public.

Two of the pieces performed during the concert, which attracted the admiration of all those present, were Larry Neeck's Concerto for Drum Set and Concert Band and Richard Meyer's Clarinetics performed by Kristian Schembri and Noel Curmi on the drum set and clarinet respectively.  These two music students performed brilliantly in the presence of a fully-packed concert hall that acknowledged their excellent performance with rapturous applauses. Another item on the programme that attracted the attention of all those present was Philip Ciantar's three-movement suite Ghar Dalam, a demanding composition through which the Ensemble manifested its high musical standard, good preparation and teamwork. 

The University Wind Ensemble is affiliated to Degreeplus and brings together students from different faculties and institutes within the University of Malta, therefore benefiting from an array of diverse mindsets and proficiencies. 

Mark Farrugia, an MSc Biomedical Sciences student, said it was the first time he played the trumpet outside of Malta, and described the experience as truly amazing both from the musical and the social point of view. “I always believed that being in a band, orchestra or any other group in which you are expressing your music with other musicians, requires members of the group to familiarise themselves with each other even on a social level. This experience was truly proof of this, experiencing a foreign city and living with the group for the duration of the trip helped us get to know each other better, and that reflected itself in the unity, balance and good performance during the concert. It was also a learning experience to listen to the local bands in Noto and share experiences with them.”    

Luke Baldacchino, a BA (Music) student was in full agreement. He said such an experience also opened the possibility for constructive criticism and the sharing of ideas by the musical director and the other members of the Ensemble. “The fact that we were ambassadors of the University made it even more important for us to strive for a high level of music. Indeed, the positive and encouraging response we got from the audience itself reflected the level of our performance.”