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15 CULTURE maltatoday | SUNDAY • 28 OCTOBER 2018 In October 2015 he joined the Junior College Orchestra. Since then, Ellul participated in various masterclass- es and performed both locally and abroad. During the orchestral season 2017- 2018, Ellul was chosen to start an in- ternship programme with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra. Although still at a young age, you have already travelled across Europe to participate in various masterclasses and also performed in festivals. Can you explain these experiences? I believe that one has to explore and go beyond our shores. Travelling abroad will make you think further to absorb new ideas. When I used to attend the Junior College, I had several travelling ex- periences, participating in festivals in France, Belgium and Turkey. The first summer course that I at- tended in participation with interna- tional countries was BISYOC, which was held in Ludlow, UK. This is an International Youth Or- chestral Camp which involves per- forming concerts in different venues and getting to know other cultures by participating in various activities dur- ing the camp. Last year I travelled to Budapest to participate in a couple of masterclass- es with Gyorgy Lakatos, who is a vio- linist and chamber music teacher in Béla Bartók Conservatory. During last July, I visited Austria as part of the Malta Youth Orchestra in collaboration with the Jugendorches- ter Stattegg. We gave performances in Graz and Stattegg. Soon after I headed to Greece in or- der to participate in an intensive sum- mer masterclasses course with Nata- lia Lomeiko, who is a violin professor at the Royal College of Music in Lon- don. After Greece, I participated with the Malta Youth Orchestra in collabora- tion with the Stonleigh Youth Or- chestra in Prague. Was there any particular performance to date which you remember fondly? Although there are quite a number of performances which I really en- joyed playing, the violin and piano recital Perfect Fifths, held in January 2017, is the one which I have loved the most yet. This particular recital was organised by an Economics lecturer who used to teach me at the Junior College. I re- ally appreciate when someone shows interest in my passion. Do you have a mentor and who influenced you the most throughout your formative years? I started studying at the age of seven with Lydia Micallef Sanchez at the Jo- hann Strauss School of Music. I am grateful for what she has taught me throughout the eight years of her tui- tion. Soon after I was tutored for three years by Mario Bisazza who once again guided me and pushed me for- ward in quite a number of challenges, gaining a violin diploma in violin per- formance. At present, my tutor is Agnieszka Kuzma. The recital programme of the upcoming Three Palaces Festival is being tutored and mentored by Ms Kuzma. Are you looking forward to your performance with Michaela Agius during the Three Palaces Festival? Did you perform with Michaela prior to this performance or is this your first time together? Yes, I am really looking forward since this will be my first time performing with Michaela. I cannot wait to share the stage with her. In your opinion, do you think there are enough opportunities in Malta for young emerging talents like you? Culture in Malta is moving forward although there is still a long way to go. Events featuring young musicians should be organised more frequently. This is the way forward for us, young musicians since it gives us much- needed exposure. When we are growing gradually in our musical path, we would like to find venues where we can perform and share our musical journey with the audience. Also, some sort of financial support can help us to facilitate our struggle in order to be able to pay the expenses incurred in renting a venue and invit- ing the public to attend our perfor- mances. Having said this, I am grateful for all the improvements that our country is making in this sector, though I believe that we are capable of doing better." What should those attending the concert expect from your performance? We have tried to select a solo recital programme which is quite tranquil compared to our busy daily lives. The Baroque Era portrays simplicity in a way that brings a peaceful and joyful atmosphere." MICHAELA AGIUS MALTESE soprano Michaela Agius, born in 1999, has been exposed to the musical world since the age of four. Her musical ambition was always to become a professional singer. Agius started out by learning the pi- ano at age five. She received multiple first place awards and was invited to play at several annual prize-giving ceremonies. She has now reached di- ploma level. She also showed great potential when singing at around the same age, placing first several times in singing competitions and eventually compet- ed twice abroad – in Macedonia and in Italy – where again she managed to place Malta's name among the win- ners in both countries. Her childhood successes led her to take up singing seriously, studying classical voice with Nicola Said – now successful opera singer – who later introduced her to her former teacher Alice Horne at the age of 11. Agius then joined Horne's choir, Malta Opera Ensemble, where she performed a variety of different reper- toires during the annual summer and Christmas concerts in various venues across the islands. She later entered the Malta Inter- national Arts Festival singing contest in which she was one of the youngest to take part and received the 'Special Award' for her performance. This year, Agius was part of the Archbishop's personal choir under the direction of Maestro Hamish Dustagheer where she had the op- portunity to sing alongside the world- famous Clare College Choir. She is currently studying with the renowned Juliette Bisazza with whom she is preparing herself for her debut in The Three Palaces Festival. Michaela, you started singing at a young age also winning various singing competitions along the way. What are your ambitions going forward? My ambitions are to continue study- ing and singing professionally and to eventually make it my career. You also competed twice abroad, in Italy and Macedonia. How do you describe these two experiences? These two experiences were the key which sparked my wish of venturing beyond singing locally. These experi- ences made me believe that Maltese talent is as strong as others in foreign countries. Do you have a mentor and who influenced you the most throughout your formative years? My current mentor is Juliette Bisaz- za. Along the way, there were many people who influenced me musically, some of which are my piano teacher Denise Fava and sopranos Nicola Said and Alice Horne who have coached me and introduced me to classical singing. Are you looking forward to your performance with Ian Ellul during the Three Palaces Festival? Is this the first time you are performing together? Yes, I am very excited to be perform- ing with Ian Ellul as this is the first time performing together and I am sure that we will be able to put up a unique and varied performance. In your opinion, do you believe that there are enough opportunities in Malta for young emerging talents like you? Unfortunately I feel that in Malta, young talent is overshadowed by the more experienced artists, however, the Arts Council is doing its very best to help young artists like myself to intro- duce them to the public and for this, I publicly would like to thank them. What should those attending the concert expect from your performance? Those attending the concert should expect to be taken back into the Ro- mantic Era while enjoying relaxing pieces from various Italian composers such as Bellini, Tosti and Rossini. The Three Palaces Festival Emerging Artists Concert is being held at the National Museum of Archaeology, Republic Street, Valletta on 6 No- vember at 12.30pm. For more infor- mation and to book tickets, please visit the festival's official website: www.3palacesfestival.com. taking centre stage