When one of my sisters suggested attending a Singalong for Seniors at Teatru Manoel, I was hesitant. After all, my singing abilities have never been much to boast about - I spent most of my school singing lessons turning pages for the nun at the piano rather than actually singing. Nevertheless, I agreed to go to the last session which was last Thursday, and I'm glad I did.
Singalongs have long been a way to bring people together through music. Part of the Toi Toi programme, which primarily caters to children, the sessions take place in the Manoel Theatre Studio, just around the corner from the theatre at No. 81.
Upon arrival, we found a group of mostly Swiss tourists, all fluent in English. The session was led by Dorothy Bezzina, a classically trained singer widely recognized in Malta's music and theatre scene. She was accompanied at the piano by Edward Mifsud, pianist, composer, and music tutor.
Dorothy comes from a family of seven children, deeply rooted in music. Her brother, Gianluca Bezzina, represented Malta in the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest with Tomorrow. Their grandfather, Gaetano Buttigieg, was a pioneering singer-songwriter who adapted popular Italian and English songs into Maltese, making them accessible to local audiences.
"My siblings and I grew up surrounded by music," Dorothy told me. "Our parents instilled in us a love for different genres, and our maternal grandfather was a huge influence. He was known for his ability to quickly adapt songs, often creating Maltese versions within 24 hours."
Despite having diverse careers - ranging from medicine to architecture - the Bezzina siblings remain united by their love for music, regularly coming together to perform concerts in tribute to their grandfather's work.
Dorothy herself pursued music professionally, performing in concerts and theatre productions both locally and internationally. Alongside Edward, she co-founded Revamp MT, a performing arts collective. Their production The Band's Visit was even nominated for Production of the Year at the Premju għall-Arti.
Beyond performing, Dorothy is a dedicated voice teacher and producer. Her impressive academic background includes classical voice training, multiple degrees in language studies, and ongoing studies in marketing. She has also starred in musical theatre productions such as Dear Evan Hansen and Into the Woods, currently playing the role of the Witch.
Despite her busy career, Dorothy is also a devoted wife to Karl and mother to her young son Michele and newborn daughter Marianna.
The Toi Toi Singalong Seniors programme is designed for individuals aged 60 and above, promoting health and wellbeing through community singing. The sessions, held at the Theatre's Studio, encourage social connection, mental stimulation, and physical movement, making them enjoyable and accessible to all participants.
During our session, Dorothy guided us through light physical exercises, followed by vocal warm-ups. She then handed out sheet music for Here's That Rainy Day, a lovely song with melancholic lyrics, which we learned piece by piece before singing it through a few times. Many participants had strong, beautiful voices.
Next, we received sheet music for There is a Green Hill Far Away, which I recognized instantly.
Dorothy proved to be an excellent teacher, with a naturally engaging style and a beautiful voice. We had the chance to chat with a couple of Maltese participants who had attended previous sessions and clearly enjoyed them. Towards the end, Kate Fenech Field, the programme's manager, stopped by, though I regret not having had more time to speak with her.
It was a truly enjoyable and productive morning. What a shame I don't have much of a singing voice - otherwise, I'd be attending every session next year. That is, of course, if I'm still around!
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La Scatola Magica
The next appointment for La Scatola Magica which is organised so well by Dott. Anna Porcheddu is with the sports journalist Angelo Zomegnan who has been very close to the Giro d'Italia and the sole director from 2004 to 2011. He has also attended and written about other world events in the field of sport such as the Olymic Games, Tour de France and others.
In his presentation Il Giro d'Italia e l'Italia del Giro we will discover so many adventures. Yet another 'magical' evening which will take place on Tuesday 13 May, at 18.30 at the Valletta Design Cluster. See you there.