Female band players

The number of bands participating in St George's feast, celebrated in Victoria, Gozo, last Sunday, was one of the highest ever. The St Gregory Band of Kercem this year participated for the first time.

Three Maltese bands took part in the feast, besides those from Zebbug, Sannat, Nadur, Ghajnsielem, Xewkija and Qala. All these bands had a proportion, although a low one, of female players.

However, La Stella Band is not using female band players which can help it to perform even better. The participation of Maria Frendo in the two hymns Giorgius natus est and A San Giorgio Martire played on the main stage, shows that we do not lack female talent.

Both La Stella Band Club and Leone Band Club do not seem to believe in including females in their bands.

This delicate issue should be treated seriously so that this form of silent discrimination is stopped. I feel that the female band players themselves should have voiced this complaint.

I look forward to seeing female players in these two bands next year.