Schola Cantorum Jubilate hosted the Chichester Singers from the UK. They were visiting Gozo as part of their tour to Malt and Gozo from the 27th to today, Tuesday, the 31st of May.

The 70 choristers who were on tour, animated the 11am mass at the Basilica of Maria Bambina, Xaghra. They were under the direction of Jonathan Willcocks who after early musical training with the King’s College, Cambridge and at the Clifton College, took an Honours degree in Music from Cambridge University.

As a composer, Jonathon published major choral works, for children’s choir, instrumental and many shorter pieces including anthems and secular choral music. He is the son of David Willcocks, another contemporary English composer, mostly known for the several musical arrangements of many popular Christmas Carols.

Organist Richard Barnes accompanied the choir on the organ. Mr. Barnes is a music publisher (Cathedral Music). The English choir performed the ‘Mass in G, D167’ by Schubert, ‘Ave Verum Corpus’ by Mozart, ‘Cantate Domino’ by Monteverdi and ‘O Bone Jesu’ by Buhagiar. The mass included the baptism of Mikail Bajada and was officiated by Rev. Fr. Anthony Bajada.

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