Barely two weeks ago, the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) came together with the Malta Youth Orchestra (MYO) to give an open-air concert, and what a concert it was!
Pjazza Teatru Rjal provided an idyllic backdrop for the 100-strong orchestra. The MPO and MYO blended perfectly under the baton of the Greek conductor Michalis Economou, giving emotional rendition of well-loved classic pieces by Beethoven, Mascagni and Tchaikovsky, among others, that thrilled listeners.
This concert has become a regular event on the island's cultural calendar, since it is one of the few opportunities where the MPO performs with its 'sister ensemble' the MYO. Relatively young, the MYO made its debut in 2004 during a concert held at the President's Palace in Valletta. The MYO is a student orchestra, providing budding musicians with an invaluable opportunity to play in an orchestra and participate in ensemble music-making. Undoubtedly their performance last Saturday was perfectly tuned, making it hard to distinguish between the MYO musicians and the more seasoned ones- living proof that the goal behind the MYO is being reached.
Organised under the patronage of President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, the concert was free of charge. However members of the audience were invited to make a nominal donation of €5 towards the Malta Community Chest Fund.
Bank of Valletta has this year renewed its support towards the MPO, and by extension towards the MYO, as part of its commitment to promote performing arts in our islands.
We met some of the musicians during the rehearsals immediately before the performance. Their beaming faces gave away their excitement and pride at being part of this event. We have taken the opportunity to ask them a few questions in a bid to get better acquainted with these promising young artists.
1. How long have you been performing with the NYO?
2. What does it mean for you to be part of the NYO? What does it give you as a musician?
3. How hard is it to play in an orchestra?
4. Where do you see yourself in 5 years' time?
5. How do you juggle being part of an orchestra with your everyday commitments of a student?
Here is what they had to say:
Desirée Quintano
Age: 20
Instrument: Cello
1. I've been a member of the MYO for 3 years since 2012.
2. Being part of MYO boosts your team skills. Playing an instrument requires you to work with others to make music. In an orchestra setting one must learn how to cooperate with others. Every player and section must learn how to listen to one other and play together.
Being a member of the MYO opened doors to other opportunities. For instance, I had the opportunity of playing in various concert with the MPO and the Commonwealth Youth Orchestra. Furthermore, I worked with great conductors from all over Europe.
One of the qualities I've learned is discipline - practising at home often and working on the challenging pieces, not just the easy and fun stuff, requires discipline.
In an orchestra you're part of a team working towards a common goal. Everyone have to work effectively together to produce a sound people want to hear, and to do justice to the notes a composer has written on a page. If one person does not contribute, it can affect the entire performance.
3. When you're performing in an orchestra such as MYO, you are 100% living in the present. When the baton is waving, you are moving forward in time with the beat, in perfect unison as a group. So many of your senses are ultra-engaged, from reading the music to consistently looking up at the conductor, to physically executing what is being asked in the music, to listening and responding to how all the instruments blend together and play off of each other.
Most exciting of all, when you are performing, it is the display of all the hard work the group has put into rehearsals and hours spent in individual practice. Sometimes you manage to achieve that magical moment when you get goose bumps and feel at peace. It happens to me when I am performing with the MYO, and I feel like all of my problems dissolve in the music.
4. In 5 years' time I see myself develop musically maybe performing frequently with the MPO. I also see myself as an art and music/cello teacher. I hope to touch students' lives and help them really love music the same way that I do.
5. Being part of an orchestra and being a full time student is all about time management. Students exposed to music gain time management and organisational skills. This makes it easier to find a balance between university and hobbies like playing an instrument or being part of MYO. However I find all the rehearsals and practice as a break from university exams, assignments and studying!
Bernice Sammut Attard
15 years old
Instrument - Violin
1. I have performed in all the MYO concerts since my audition in September 2013.
2. MYO is a place where one plays and at the same time, has fun bonding with other people. One learns how to work in a team and learns the discipline needed to improve at whatever instrument he plays, in my case, the violin. MYO is very important for me. It is a place where I have amazing opportunities to improve my playing skills and widen my repertoire whilst at the same time socialize with people and have fun.
3. It's not that hard to play in an orchestra, however one needs to learn to work as a team and know that it is a big commitment. An orchestra is a place where team work is vital as that makes the whole difference.
4. In 5 years time, I see myself doing something I enjoy, of course in the music field.
5. I've always managed to cope with school work and orchestra rehearsals. This concert's rehearsals were during my school exams however my exams did not stop me from attending all rehearsals as I really did my utmost to juggle between school and orchestra.
15 years old
Instrument - Violin
1. I have been playing with the string section of the MYO for the past three years. I must say that it has been an enriching experience from the outset.
2. Being part of the MYO means everything to me. This is because the MYO has helped me expand my musical capabilities. It is one thing to play as a soloist and another playing in harmony with fellow musicians in an orchestral environment. The MYO has also provided me with the opportunity to meet performers from the local and international scene and so helped me to network more.
3. I must admit that at first it was hard to get used to the idea of blending with the sound of others but gradually one masters the technique.
4. In five years' time, I see myself studying music at University level and eventually joining the MPOJ
5. My musical life together with my academic commitments require hard work and a strong sense of sacrifice. But as Plato puts it, "music gives a soul to the Universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything."
Stefan Calleja
19 years old
Instrument - Violin
1. I have been performing with the MYO since 2011 - almost 4 years.
2. Being part of an orchestra is critical because it helps you share your ideas and learn from others to create one composite sound. As a youth, I feel that the MYO is one of the best places to play in Malta as all the musicians are of the same age and share the same musical maturity level. We can always learn especially when foreign conductors come to direct the orchestra. Since 2011, it has given me a lot of opportunities such as playing in different positions in the first violin section, playing next to Carmine Lauri in one of MPO-MYO concerts and going abroad to play and record with the Commonwealth Youth Orchestra.
3. Playing in an orchestra has to do a lot with working in a teamwork. You have to combine your ideas and the sound you produce with others in order to have unity in the overall sound production. This is definitely not an easy thing, and the most important thing in orchestral playing is to listen to others. Every musician is important but has to give space for others.
4. Currently I am studying Music and Psychology at the University of Malta. Therefore I hope that in five years' time I will be performing around and teaching music to share what I have learned with others.
5. Since I am a music student, playing in an orchestra is an asset for me though sometimes rehearsals clash with some of the lectures. I always try my best in order to study the parts at home so when it comes to rehearsals I would know my part well and can blend what I have studied with others. Time management is the most important thing.
Nathan Abela
17 years old
Instrument - Trumpet
1. I have been performing with the MYO for 3 and a half years.
2. It is great to be part of the MYO because after all the studying, I can now transmit what I studied to someone else. The orchestra does not only help me learn new techniques used in an orchestra but it gives me more courage to continue studying in this wonderful career.
3. When I attended the first rehearsal I did not know what I was going to be faced with and thought that it would be simple to play in an orchestra. When someone asks me this question nowadays I realise that the repertoire played is anything but simple. Apart from that, you cannot merely play the notes. You need to show the emotion transmitted by the composer in the music piece. Therefore, to sum it up, I can say that it is challenging but extremely rewarding to play in an orchestra.
4. Most of the musicians who form part of the MYO always see themselves with the MPO in the future because it is everybody's dream to be part of this orchestra. Fortunately I had some experiences with the MPO already, and I enjoyed it immensely.
5. It is very difficult to juggle between these two huge commitments. When you are part of an orchestra you have to at least reserve half an hour daily to practise small details of the music pieces that are going to be played in the concert. During school days, there is only the night left to practise. I use my silent mute so that I can play at night with my headphones. It is demanding but worth it. Fortunately concerts are planned in advance so that we ensure that we don't have exams at the time.
Abigail Grech
23 years old
Instrument - Double Bass
1. I have been performing with the MYO for a year.
2. It is a great opportunity to learn and gain experience. The concerts give us an incentive to take the instrument more seriously and to structure practice time better. Every concert represents a different experience - one surely does not get bored practising or rehearsing!
3. In a way it is pretty hard. You have to be aware of a lot of elements - the musicians, the conductor, your own playing and how it blends with the rest. On the other hand, it makes practice more effective, easy and enjoyable because you are listening to how the full piece is supposed to sound and not just your part - counting the rests becomes more interesting than when you practise on your own!
4. Discovering more bumps on my double bass!
5. A good balance between work and study, practising and social life is of course a must! But if one loves what he/she does, the balance is already there. Being part of an orchestra helps you get your priorities straight in a fun way.
Bernice Musu
22 years old
Instrument - Violin
1. I have been with the MYO for almost two years now.
2. We meet very often to rehearse before a concert and during the last week we meet practically every day to rehearse.
3. It is hard to play in the orchestra because it's very different from when you are playing on your own. You need to listen all the instruments around you and pay attention to what the conductor is doing. However you learn a lot when you take part in the orchestral playing because it teaches you how to discipline yourself in tempo and listening.
4. In 5 years' time i see myself getting a diploma and start reading for the next one:) Moreover I see myself fulfilling my dream to become a full time musician.
5. Actually I am not a student, but I have a full time job. I try to stick to a list of priorities. Ultimately, once you have the will to make it, you will achieve your goals even if you're busy like me.
Michael Cutajar
17 years old
Instrument - Clarinet
1. I have been performing with the MYO for two years and undoubtedly it has been one of the most beautiful experiences of my life.
2. To be part of the MYO means a lot to me because through the MYO I am meeting different people, it gives me self-confidence, enhances my technical skills and most of all I enjoy playing the clarinet. As a musician, with the MYO, I am exposed to different genres of music from classic to swings.
3. Quite difficult and challenging. The whole orchestra must remain tuned and all eyes glued on the conductor.
4. In five years' time God willing I see myself studying at University to further my studies in the clarinet.
5. It is very hard work and demands a lot of commitment. It's not that easy but I always say that if you are committed to something you should find the time to rehearse the music and attend all the rehearsals.
Isaac Lucas
17 years old
Instrument - Trumpet
1 I have been performing with the MYO for one year.
2 First of all it is a privilege for me to play with musicians who have the same ambitions like me. As a musician, it gives me great pleasure and is the best reward after all the hours I have spent studying and will spend studying in the future.
3 It depends on the individual. First of all one needs to blend with the other musicians. In a professional orchestra musicians needs to blend with each other both in relation to the sound and the dynamics of the group.
4 Hopefully studying at a higher conservatory.
5 I find it hard to concentrate on both my studies and my music. Generally, I end up dedicating more study hours to the trumpet than to school.