Children's song festival to promote peace and friendship

The Golden Cross International Singing Festival will be held between September16-18 at the University of Malta, aiming to give children from Malta, Italy, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, Russia, Egypt and Macedonia the opportunity to come together to appreciate and learn about each country's culture.

The festival, which will be hosted by Malta under the International Federation of Festival Organisers' (FIDOF) motto of "peace and friendship through music and art", will be divided into three categories.

The first category will be for children aged six to eight, the second for children aged nine to 11 and the final category for singers aged 12 to 14. The winner and two runners-up from each category will be awarded a prize from the five-person professional jury.

The Golden Cross Festival has five clearly set objectives. These are to promote the songs specially written for children and youths; to educate children and youths through music with respect for the values of professionalism and good taste; to cultivate the feeling of love for peace, freedom, nature; family and humanity; to make children and youths appreciate and learn about different cultures and to encourage them to create friendly relations between nationalities through music and art.

The festival is being sponsored by the HSBC Cares for Children Fund.

"The fund places great emphasis on providing Maltese children with opportunities to expand their horizons.

The Golden Cross Festival will be an excellent opportunity for young Maltese to meet other children from other countries, which have vastly different cultures," said Doriette Camilleri, a member of the HSBC Cares For Children Fund committee.