Heard in the hive

The Classic Group Foundation was launched last month in the ideal setting of Andrea Bocelli's exclusive after-concert dinner, held at Hilton Malta.

The objective of this new foundation is to organise events aimed at creating awareness and raising funds for worthy philanthropic causes.

This year the Classic Group Foundation aims to raise funds for the Breast Cancer Support Group with which to purchase a reusable biopsy system as well as a number of essential laptop computers.

Speaking about the foundation, its chairman, Lina Fenech, said its aim was to raise awareness about breast cancer and so reduce the number of fatalities by means of early detection.

Research has shown that early detection could save as many as 30 patients a year. The foundation has also acquired 20 copies of the EU Guidelines & the Importance of Quality Assurance for early detection and treatment of Breast Cancer, which will be presented to the Ministry of Health.

The guests attending the dinner were asked to contribute towards this cause. Contributors participated in a lottery and the lucky winner was presented with an exclusive Rado watch worth Lm1,125, kindly provided by Diamonds International (part of the Classic Group), one of the main sponsors of the much-acclaimed Bocelli concert.

Vivian Corporation and Roche Diagnostics celebrate 50-year partnership

Vivian Corporation and their partners Roche Diagnostics have just celebrated their 50-year successful business relationship.

The event was held at the Grand Master Suite of Hilton Malta on December 13.

With its wide and varied range of products and services, Roche Diagnostics ranks number one globally in the diagnostic market. The Diagnostics Division works closely with patients, physicians, specialists in laboratory medicine and other medical personnel. Roche Diagnostics also supplies academic and industrial research institutes with high-quality reagents and systems.

The vibrant, local and talented group Etnika kicked off the evening with a spectacular performance. This was followed by presentations delivered by Vivian Corporation chairman Vivian Gatt, and Torsten Simon, head of International Agencies from Roche Diagnostics, who came over from Germany for the event. Their presentations were followed by speeches by Dr Stephen Fava, the newly appointed head of Diabetes and Endocrine Unit at St Luke's Hospital, and Anna Zammit McKeon, president of the Maltese Diabetes Association.

The guests were then hosted to a lavish reception.

Honorary consuls exchange greetings with Archbishops

The Consular Corps in Malta, headed by the Dean, John A. Gauci-Maistre, KM, recently met with Archbishop Joseph Mercieca and Archbishop elect Mgr Paul Cremona at the Curia in Floriana to exchange season's greetings.

Archbishop Mercieca expressed his appreciation for the visit and said that this would be his last as Archbishop of Malta. He wished everyone well and asked that his message be transmitted to the respective governments.

Archbishop-elect Mgr Paul Cremona associated himself with Archbishop Mecieca's greetings and was also very keen to learn further about the functions and duties of the honorary consular corps in Malta. He praised the corps for the hard work consuls carry out on a voluntary basis and suggested some very positive reflections on today's reality.

In a short address, Chev. Gauci-Maistre reciprocated the season's greetings on behalf of 55 governments represented by the 57-strong consular corps. He thanked Archbishop Mercieca for his dedication and hard work over the years and wished him a happy and long retirement.

Chev. Gauci-Maistre also took the opportunity to congratulate Mgr Cremona on his appointment as Archbishop of Malta and assured him that every effort will be made to enhance further the already excellent relations between the corps and the Church in Malta.

Debattista - Galea

The marriage took place recently at Our Lady of Fatima parish church in Guardamangia between Josette Debattista, daughter of Emmanuel and Antoinette Debattista of Pietà, and Johann Galea, son of John and Anna Galea of St Venera.

Nuptial Mass was concelebrated by Fr Joe Vella, O.Carm, Fr Michael Camilleri, OP, Fr Joe Vassallo, OP, assisted by Br Stephen Magro, OFM.

The ceremony was witnessed by Michael Debattista for the bride and Maruska Galea for the groom.

The duties of best man were carried out by Thomas Debattista, Michael Grech, Stephen Agius and Mario Fenech.

The bride was attended by Dorianna Agius as maid of honour and Vincienne Chircop as bridesmaid. Maria-Carla Mugliett and Michela Debattista were flower-girls. Luke Fenech was ring-bearer.

A reception was later held at Franxavier Hall in Qormi.

The couple spent their honeymoon in Salzburg and Munich.

Pulis - Spiteri

Married recently at St Nicholas parish church, Siggiewi, were Melanie Ann Pulis, daughter of Mr and Mrs Anthony Pulis, of Siggiewi, and Leighton Spiteri, son of Mr and Mrs John Spiteri of Zebbug.

Fr Albert Buhagiar, archpriest of Siggiewi, celebrated nuptial Mass. Michelle Vassallo Pulis, B.Accty (Hons), MIA, CPA, the bride's sister, and Carmelo Cauchi, the groom's uncle, witnessed the wedding ceremony. Mr Bernard Vassallo, BA (Hons) Econ, Dip. CS, Dip. Ed, and Mr Gaetano Farrugia were best men.

The bride, who wore a Victorian dress, was attended by the groom's sister, Raisa Spiteri, as maid of honour. Diane Parnis, Miriana Belfiore and Emily Edwards were flower-girls. Matthias Vassallo Pulis, the bride's nephew, was pageboy.

A wedding reception was later held at Villa Overhills, Birzebbuga.

The couple spent their honeymoon in Dubai.

Pace - Spiteri

Married recently at Our Lady of Mellieha Sanctuary were Deborah Spiteri, daughter of the late Lino Spiteri and of Agnes Spiteri of Zejtun, and Adrian Pace, son of Anthony and Susan Pace of Sliema.

Nuptial Mass was celebrated by Fr Joe Borg.

The ceremony was witnessed by Christopher Agius and Brian Cutajar. The duties of best man were carried out by Jesmond Saliba and Romina Mifsud.

The bride was attended by Ruth Saliba as maid of honour. Keiran and Liam Mifsud were pageboys.

A wedding lunch followed at the Riviera Sea Bank Hotel.

Micallef - Caruana

Married recently at the Assumption parish church, Ghaxaq, were Svetlana Micallef, daughter of Mario and Rosanne Micallef, of Ghaxaq, and Melvin Caruana, son of Charles and Maria Theresa Caruana of Tarxien.

Nuptial Mass was celebrated by Fr Colin Apap.

The ceremony was witnessed by the bride's aunt, Rita Xerri, and the groom's brother, Damian Caruana. Alfred Xerri was best man.

The bride, who wore an ivory gown with hand-made gold beads, was attended by her cousin, Nevise Ellul, as maid of honour, and the groom's cousin, Graziella Caruana, as bridesmaid.

Raissa Costa and Raisa Micallef, cousins of the groom and bride respectively, were flower-girls. Lyndon Mallia, the bride's cousin, was pageboy.

A reception was later held at Villa Overhills, Birzebbuga.

The couple spent their honeymoon on a Mediterranean cruise.

People

Philip Attard has been awarded the Fellowship Diploma (FVCM) in Music Composition from the Victoria College of Music, London, UK.

The works submitted for this prestigious and highest award are three varied and original compositions: a tone poem Beside the ruins of the Royal Opera House, Op. 56, for large scale orchestra (2003), symphonic march Maria Mediterranea, Op. 48 for wind band (2002) and a piano sonata, Romantika, Op. 45 in four movements (2002).

All works are due performance and a demo-disc demonstrating different works will be released shortly with a European record label.

Mr Attard obtained his Associateship Diploma A.Mus.LCM and Licentiateship Diploma L.Mus.LCM of the London College of Music at Thames Valley University UK in December 1982 and June 1984, and the Final certificates in Piano and Music Theory of the Associated Board of the Royal Schoois of Music with merit and distinction.

He was educated at St Augustine's College, Pietà, studied music with various teachers and attended the Johann Strauss School of Music, Valletta. ln 1985, he was awarded a scholarship to further his studies in composition at the Moscow Conservatory.

Mr Attard previously played the Bflat clarinet with the La Valette Band, the Malta Cultural Institute orchestra and in churches. In 1984, he gave up clarinet playing.

He is an active composer with over 200 classical and original compositions to his credit, of which few have been performed and recorded.

He teaches music theory privately and plays the piano in the entertainment business. The majority of the composer's output is mainly tonal but he has experimented considerably in chamber music and some piano works with the 12-note technique, bitonality, church modes, the pentatonic scale, the whole tone scale and folk tunes.

Mr Attard, who was born on August 16, 1962 in Zebbug, is the son of the late Joseph Attard and Giorgia née Bugeja.

Dr Karl Attard has just graduated Ph.D. from Loughborough University, UK.

His thesis focused on teacher-learning, including informal modes of professional development, reflective practice, tacit experiential learning, action-research, narrative inquiry, learning from uncertainty and learning communities.

Dr Attard's research has been described as a highly original and challenging study, offering much to the international community in the field of teacher professional development, particularly in supporting pre-service teachers to develop a habit of lifelong learning.

Dr Attard's research was commended by the examiners at his Ph.D. viva and has already resulted in publications in international journals.

Maltese students at Elmhurst Academy in Birmingham

Nicole Chetcuti and Denise Farrugia, both students at Mandy's Dance Academy of Marsascala, recently attended an intensive ballet course in Birmingham.

They were taught by various vocational dance teachers. Classes focused on syllabus, repertoire, technique and artistic qualities. Elmhurst, UK's vocational dance school, offers the highest quality training in ballet to students aged 11 to 19 years. Birmingham Royal Ballet is formally associated with the school.

Mandy's Dance Academy, which specialises in teaching professional dance, gave a warm welcome to Russian graduate choreographer Olga Mikhaylovna Karnatch, who joined the teaching staff last October. Classical and modern dance enthusiasts are invited for a trial class. For more information phone 2163-4053 or 9922-6842.

Brian Tonna & Co. joins SC International

Brian Tonna & Co., a local accounting, consulting and audit firm based in Marsascala, recently joined a leading worldwide association of independent accountancy practices - SC International (SCI).

After building up a strong reputation in the local market by providing an efficient service to small and medium-sized enterprises, the firm has steadily grown into the group which now comprises Brian Tonna & Co., BT Consulting Ltd, and BT Fiduciare Ltd, providing accountancy, audit and consultancy services.

While maintaining its core competence in the local market, the firm has now, thanks to its association with SC International, set up a new department to provide its services to international clients.

SC International comprises over 5,600 professionally qualified partners located in over 50 countries worldwide. This international association offers the participation of locally accessible, highly experienced staff able to provide swift, precise, forward-looking and flexible advice tailored to changing client needs.

As newly accepted members, Brian Tonna & Co. were invited to a recently held international conference in Vienna hosting more than 100 delegates of the association.

At the conference, representatives of Brian Tonna & Co. delivered a short speech outlining the firm's service. They also had the opportunity of promoting the various incentives that Malta has to offer to foreign investors.

For more information visit the firm's Website www.briantonna.com or the association's Website www.scinter.com.

St Julian's Choral Group Christmas dinner party

Keeping up the yearly tradition, the St Julian's Choral Group held their annual Christmas dinner party for members and guests on January 6 at the St Julian's parish church hall.

The evening could not have turned out better with excellent food and fun for all those present. Among the special guests were St Julian's parish priest Fr Ray Toledo, Fr Claude Portelli and Mro Joe Gatt, the choir's musical director. Chev. Patrick Falzon Gough, the choir's organist, was unavoidably absent.

Entertainment was provided with the projection of various comic sketches on a big screen followed by karaoke. The evening was concluded with a short speech by the choir's president, Ronnie Galea, and the presentation of gifts to each member in appreciation of their efforts throughout the year.

Gozitan couple celebrate golden wedding

Frank and Jane Azzopardi recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at the Calypso Hotel in Marsalforn.

The couple were married in 1956 at the Capuchins' church in Victoria, Gozo.

The wedding anniversary Mass was celebrated by the same priest that had officiated at their wedding back then - Mgr Anton Gauci - and by Fr Joe Vella Gauci and Br Joe Libreri.

The couple's daughter, Grace Sultana, came over from US for the occasion.

She was joined by her two brothers Michael and John, and the couple's grandchildren Matthew and Mark.

The President and Mrs Fenech Adami's engagements January 23-28

Tuesday
10 a.m. The President hosts the honorary consular corps to exchange New Year's greetings at the Palace, Valletta.
6.30 p.m. The President and Mrs Fenech Adami preside over a Malta Community Chest Fund committee meeting at San Anton Palace

Wednesday
11 a.m. Mrs Fenech Adami visits an exhibition of religious icons at the Russian Cultural Centre, Valletta.

Thursday
10.30 a.m. The President receives the British deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, on a courtesy call at the Palace, Valletta.
7.30 p.m. The President and Mrs Fenech Adami attend a reception hosted by the Australian High Commissioner and Mrs Juszczyk to mark Australia's National Day, at their residence in San Pawl tat-Targa.

Friday
10 a.m. The President and Mrs Fenech Adami pay an official visit to the Police Academy at Fort St Elmo, Valletta.
6.30 p.m. The President and Mrs Fenech Adami attend Mgr Paul Cremona's episcopal ordination ceremony at St John's Co-Cathedral.

Sunday
10 a.m. The President, accompanied by Mrs Fenech Adami, inaugurates a monument to poet Karmenu Vassallo in Siggiewi.

For your diary

The Bird Breeders Association is holding its annual bird show at the Trade Fair grounds in Naxxar from Friday to Sunday. Opening hours are from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday; 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 to 10 p.m. on Saturday and from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday. Parking is free.

A card party in aid of the Little Sisters of the Poor is being held in the Skyroom of the Preluna Hotel, Sliema, on Wednesday, February 7, from 10 a.m. For bookings call Blanche Martin on 2133-0387.