1 comment.Silver Award for Schola Cantorum Jubilate at International Choirs’ Festival
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Malta hosted thirty-two choirs between the 31st of October and the 3rd of November, for the 5th Edition of the Malta International Choirs’ Festival.
The Choirs, from different countries, were taking part in fourteen different categories which included: Sacred Music for Mixed Choirs, for female choirs, for male choirs, Children’s choirs, Youth choirs for equal and mixed voices, Folklore and Popular Choral Music.
The Gozitan choir, Schola Cantorum Jubilate competed in the Category of Sacred Music for Mixed Choirs. There were another five choirs participating in their section. These were: Kamarikuoro Gaudete from Finland, LU FMF Jauktais Koris Aura from Latvia, Alversund Kammerkor from Norway, Riddarholmens Kammarkor from Sweden and Mitte-Riinimanda from Estonia.
In front of an international jury Schola Cantorum Jubilate, under the direction of Marouska Attard, performed four pieces, three of which a capella. These were: ‘Lauda Sion’ (Palestrina), ‘Jesu Dulcis Memoria’ (Portelli), ‘O Sacrum Convivium’ (Bartolucci) and ‘The Lord Bless you and keep you’ (Rutter), the latter accompanied by Joseph Camilleri on the organ.
On Sunday, during the Award Ceremony, the choir had a pleasant surprise. It achieved a Silver Medal Award at Level X, or better, the top level.
SCJ was the only choir from Gozo to compete in the Festival. The choir said it was a great honour for them to achieve the award for Malta and Gozo “the choir takes its music studies seriously and professionally and this achievement shows that they are on par with foreign choirs whose members carry an ingrained musical culture.”
Apart from competing members of the choir also had a coaching session with renowned conductor and lecturer Naomi Faran from Israel.
The Category winner and also the Grand Prize winner is the Swiss choir Riddarholmens Kammarkor which gave a unique interpretation of Lotti’s ‘Crucifixus for 8 voices’ among other pieces by Gjeilo, Sisask and Hogan.
For more information please visit www.scjchoir.com or the choir’s facebook page.
Prosit! Wonderful news! Prestigious Silver award an enormous achievement for SCJ
and something of which to be proud for every one of you, and for everybody in Gozo and Malta. World class performance like this does not come without talent, dedication, self sacrifice and hours of practice. We salute you all.