From humble beginnings in 1974, when it was founded by the then parish priest of Naxxar Rev. Paul Caruana as a girls' choir, the Jubilate Deo Choir has continued to grow and develop into one of Malta's finest choirs in the field of sacred music. Over the years the choir took part in a number of memorable events such as the BBC production Songs of Praise and singing during the visit to Malta of Pope John Paul II in 1990, the first Maltese performance of Saint-Saëns's Christmas Oratorio in 2005 and the revival of Paolino Vassallo's monumental Requiem together with the National Orchestra of Malta in 2006 to mention but a few.
The year 2013, however, certainly remains one of the most important pages in the choir's 40-year history. In July, during the 5th International Festival of Sacred Music held in Rome, the Jubilate Deo Choir was awarded a Silver Medal Diploma in each of the two categories in which it competed. A few days later the choir had the opportunity to sing at St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican during Sunday mass. That same year, the Jubilate Deo Choir was collectively awarded Ġieħ in-Naxxar by the Naxxar Local Council for its achievements in the field of sacred music.
Besides the choir's increasing reputation for its interpretation of a cappella sacred music, the choir's own Cappella Gregoriana has in recent years created a revived interest in the art of plainchant singing and is widely regarded as the leading ensemble of this genre in the Maltese Islands. One of the most recent formative developments was the setting up of a children's choir in 2010, the Pueri Cantores Jubilate Deo under the direction of Daniela Callus. Besides serving as training grounds for young choristers who intend to proceed to the adult choir at a later stage, the Pueri Cantores also provides a comprehensive professional musical, vocal and spiritual formation to its members.
In order to commemorate the 40th anniversary from its foundation the choir has published a book Il-Kor Jubilate Deo: Erbgħin Sena ta' ħidma fl-għalqa tal-Mulej. Besides being a historic collection of important events during the choir's 40-year history, the book also includes sections on the spiritual and musical aspects that are so central to the choir's existence. Together with the choir's own CD album CRUCIFIXUS (released in 2012) and Stabat Mater by Christopher Muscat (published by APS Bank and released in March 2014), this book is an important addition for any Melitensia or local sacred music collection.
2014 ended in style with a Christmas Concert together with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra held on 15th December at the parish church of Naxxar. This concert featured works by the choir's own music director Christopher Muscat (who is incidentally celebrating his 10th anniversary at the helm of the choir) and assistant director Josef Bugeja as well as the first Maltese performance of Karl Jenkins's Joy To The World.
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