Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1527863
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 13 OCTOBER 2024 3 CULTURE Opera Nova Project launches first academic year Designed to support local classical voice students towards the music profession, the Opera Nova Project recently welcomed its f irst cohort THE Opera Nova Project has made its grand debut with the launch of its first academic year, marking a milestone for classical voice education in Malta. Spearheaded by top musical practitioners Gillian Zammit and Denise Mulholland, the ground-breaking vocal pro- gramme provides a pre-con- servatoire, holistic level of musical education previously unavailable to emerging classi- cal singers in Malta and Gozo. Further bridging the gap in advanced musical training lo- cally, the Opera Nova Project also offers students valuable opportunities to train with world-renowned tutors and perform internationally. To launch its first academ- ic year, a session held at the Catholic Institute in Floriana on Wednesday 2 October wel- comed students and teaching faculty. Present at the meeting were Opera Nova Project Hon- orary Patron Mary Rose Chal- mers and Mgr Claude Portelli, Archbishop's Delegate for Cul- ture and Director of the Catho- lic Institute. "Malta and Gozo are home to some exceptionally talent- ed young singers," says Opera Nova Artistic Director, Gillian Zammit. "Opera Nova is more than just training; it's about opening up possibilities and providing a platform where they can thrive both musically and professionally." The meeting served as an in- troduction to the course struc- ture, with students and tutors gathering to explore the cur- riculum, which spans eight months of in-depth training. Throughout the year, students will benefit from six intensive weekend masterclasses featur- ing globally respected experts such as Adrian Kelly from Op- era Zurich, mezzo-soprano Hedwig Fassbender and sopra- no Tatiana Lisnic. They will have the chance to perform in prestigious local venues, while engaging in a broad repertoire ranging from Baroque to con- temporary works. The project's plans also include future in- ternational summer residency programmes and a full-scale operatic production in 2025. Alongside support from Arts Council Malta, Rotary Club La Valette Malta and The Farsons Foundation, the Opera Nova Project is headquartered at the Catholic Institute in Floriana, marking the first long-term collaboration with the Arch- bishop's Delegate for Culture (ADFC). As its inaugural year begins, the Opera Nova Project is set to become a cultural cor- nerstone in Malta's artistic landscape, adds Opera Nova's Artistic Consultant, Denise Mulholland. "We hope the Op- era Nova Project will make a difference to the lives of clas- sical singers here in Malta and Gozo," she says. "It was wonderful to see the beautiful new studios of the Opera Nova Project filled with students and tutors at the welcome meeting. We're all ready to start lessons next week, and we look forward to a busy, challenging and ex- citing year!" For more information about the Opera Nova Project, email info@operanovaproject.com. The Opera Nova Project students and faculty members (Photo by Evan Demicoli) The Opera Nova Project (Photo by Evan Demicoli)