Over 100 musicians to participate in 'The Commonwealth Resounds!'

'The Commonwealth Resounds!' is a spectacular multicultural musical event featuring musicians, singers and composers and performers from Malta and all over the Commonwealth to be staged at the Manoel Theatre on November 24.

The event will be held as part of the activities to mark the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

The main concert will follow a format devised by Alison Cox, The Commonwealth Resounds' UK organiser, for a special concert at Buckingham Palace in the presence of members of the Royal Family last March 1. Held as part of a Royal Music Day, this concert featured musicians from many of the major ethnic and cultural groups in the UK.

Over 100 musicians and directors from India, Pakistan, Africa, the Caribbean (Jamaica), the South Pacific (Fiji, Australia), Cyprus, the UK and Malta are taking part in The Commonwealth Resounds!

Groups involved in the event will also give individual performances all over Malta, under a programme organised by the Commonwealth People's Forum during the week beginning November 21.

The music of the Commonwealth broadly falls into five types. A group was assembled representing African, Asian, European, Caribbean, Australasia, South Pacific, and 'young musicians' categories.

The Commonwealth Resounds! is a non-political event, and was originally a Maltese initiative. The event aims to bring Commonwealth musicians to Malta and Gozo for the very first time, especially those who could not otherwise afford to come. The organisers of The Commonwealth Resounds! also plan to offer assistance to Maltese youngsters now and in the future UK-based Cecilia Sultana de Maria, the 15-year-old Anglo-Maltese harpist, is launching her own personal appeal on the Internet to bring over young musicians from countries in the Commonwealth who are experiencing hardship and poverty. The winner of this year's Marjorie Humby Award, she is making a personal appeal on the Internet and is also to appear on the British media.

Cecilia is currently studying harp, piano and voice at the Purcell School after receiving a scholarship under the government's music and drama scheme at the age of 12.

Cecilia has raised considerable funds for charity over the past four years and also performs regularly at hospitals, nursing homes, schools and churches. Proceeds from her performances have gone to St Joseph's Hospital in Jerusalem, NSPCC, SPARKS, and the Rainbow Learning Centre in the UK and various local charities.

During this year's CHOGM, Malta will host the very first Commonwealth Youth Choir, to be directed by Lino Attard. The choir will also perform the first ever Commonwealth Anthem, commissioned by Malta from composers all over the Commonwealth.

A souvenir programme for 'The Commonwealth Resounds! will feature images by celebrated photographer Malcolm Crowthers.

The Royal Commonwealth Society and Buckingham Palace are supporting this event and have helped organise a highly prestigious curtain-raiser for sponsors and supporters of The Commonwealth Resounds! that will take place in London on November 17. This will also coincide with the opening of the RCS's new auditorium. This event will be attended by a member of the royal family.

Classic FM will run trailers and broadcast highlights to 5.9 million listeners as the main media partner.

The Victoria Hotel in Sliema is one of The Commonwealth Resounds! major sponsors, having offered free accommodation to the foreign musicians and directors.

Tourism and Culture Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said that multi-cultural musical events like "Commonwealth Resounds!" represent the internationality of the Commonwealth and help in fostering understanding between the peoples of the member states.

Dr Zammit Dimech added that the size of a nation is in no way a disadvantage in the Commonwealth. This is amply proved by Malta's hosting of this year's CHOGM. Malta's contribution in the cultural field is in its hosting of the Commonwealth Youth Choir and the commission of the very first Commonwealth Anthem.

Malta's hosting of CHOGM will also help contribute towards the promotion of the island as a tourist resort and a nation with 7,000 years of history and culture in the six continents from where the 53 nations forming the Commonwealth, come, Dr Zammit Dimech added.