Old boy tenor is highlight of school anniversary events

Chiswick House School, set up in Sliema as a small Protestant school for girls 100 years ago, has grown into an established primary and secondary school for girls and boys.

The school has been lucky enough to book international Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja, an old boy, and his soprano wife Tatiana Lisnic for a concert as part of its anniversary celebrations.

The concert will be at the Manoel Theatre, in Valletta on March 28.

"We like to believe the first time he sang was on our stage," school principal Bernie Mizzi told a news conference yesterday.

Other events include thanksgiving Mass at St John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta, at 7 p.m. for past and present Chiswick House school pupils, parents, staff and guests.

The St Paul Choral Society and the Drama Troupe Choir will participate.

The school will also be holding a two-day conference on educational issues at the Radisson SAS Baypoint Resort in St Julian's on March 14 and 15.

International and Maltese speakers will be discussing the importance of tradition and innovation in the education sector.

A literary evening will be held at the school on March 14.

November 2006 will set the stage for West Side Story, the musical that captivated audiences since the 1960s.

Celebrations will come to an end with a ceremony also to be held in November.

Maltese management started running the school in 1962 when it was given to Yvonne Mangion as a gift by her husband. Earlier she had applied to teach at the school but was turned down because she was Maltese.

The school is now run by Marguerite Mangion and Mrs Mizzi, Mrs Mangion's daughter-in-law and daughter, respectively.

The school moved to Kappara in 1991 and St Martin's College (Chiswick secondary school) was established in 1997.

Its motto is Tradition, Growth, Innovation.