The JP2 Memorial Festival 2026 is hosting the prestigious Cordia Quartet in a concert – The Four Seasons – at St. Anthony of Padua Church in G?ajnsielem.

With a name derived from the Latin Cordia (hearts) and phonetical Maltese overtones of Korda (strings),  Cordia Quartet said that its vision is to create for its audience the ambiance of concordance in musical harmony and within the four different string instruments of the quartet.

Jacob Portelli plays the violin. He studied at the School of Music in Gozo with Joachim Atanassov. His love for music enabled him to play the cello and the double bass then the viola and later on the harp. Jacob is graduated in Theology, obtaining a BA (Theo) Hons and a PGCE.

David Lang studied music in Hungary at the Specialised School of Musical Art in Pécs, and in Austria at the “Mozarteum” Academy of Music in Salzburg obtaining a master’s degree in violin performance. David was the leader of the Chamber Orchestra “CIS” and the Salzburger Mozart Chamber Orchestra. He was a concertmaster and soloist of the Liszt Ferenc Symphony Orchestra in Sopron (Hungary). In Malta he was a member of the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra. He was a violin teacher at the Schools of Music in Malta and Gozo.

Emese Toth studied in Hungary at the Kodály Specialised Secondary School of Musical Art in Kecskemét and at the Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest. She obtained a master’s degree as a violinist and violin teacher. She won a scholarship at the World Youth Symphony Orchestra in Interlochen (USA) and the 1st prize at the Weiner National Chamber Music Competition in Budapest in the String Trio category. She continued her studies at the Academy of Music in Graz and “Mozarteum” Academy of Music in Salzburg. Emese was a violin and chamber music teacher at the Széchenyi University in Gyor (Hungary). Later in Malta, she was a member of the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra. She was a violin teacher at the Johann Strauss School of Music and the Gozo School of Music.

Frank Camilleri studied Cello under the direction of Mro Valeriu Popovici and later with Simon Abdilla Joslin. He associated in cello playing with the London College of Music. Frank performed with several orchestras, like the Brno Philharmonic, the Mediterranean Youth Orchestra, and the Finland EU Celebrations Orchestra. Frank also performs as a soloist in various recitals. Today he is a member of the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra.

Together they have been invited to perform in numerous prestigious concerts in Malta and Gozo. The Cordia also performed abroad in New Delhi and Calcutta for Austria’s National Day under the auspices of Maltese Ambassador for India.

In London at Marlborough House in the presence of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as part of the Commonwealth Celebrations. The Quartet also performed during the Malta EU Presidency.

While the classical repertoire remains the core of their music, they also play different genres like Waltzes, Musicals, Jazz, Irish, Scottish and Jewish traditional song, Film soundtracks, contemporary pop songs and religious themes.

The concert is taking place next Monday, the 24th of August 2026 starting at 8pm and forms part of the Ghajnsielem Summer Nights organised by the Ghajnsielem Local Council. The organisers said that the venue is equipped with air-conditioning.

They also expressed their thanks to the Ministry for Gozo for supporting this event.

Photo: JP2 Foundation

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