Three concerts to kick off Malta Philharmonic Orchestra outreach strategy

The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra has announced an Outreach Strategy based on Children's music education programmes, community outreach concerts and family-oriented concerts.

Parliamentary Secretary Mario de Marco, who is responsible for culture, said the MPO wanted to promote and conduct quality musical performances on a national level and encourage the development of musical talent.

Over the past eight years the orchestra organised educational programmes for schoolchildren to familiarise them with different musical instruments. Last month, over 700 schoolchildren attended talks and workshops at Robert Samut Hall, the orchestra's recently-acquired premises.

The next appointment is scheduled for November 2010 when the orchestra will be holding a series of Music Education Programmes under the wider umbrella of the Children's Festival.

Community outreach concerts

Over the coming months, the MPO will also hold a series of concerts (one every two months) in various halls in Malta and Gozo. The repertoire for these concerts is meant to help people who would have otherwise not had the opportunity to attend orchestral concerts, to appreciate the beauty of the world of classical music.

This Wednesday, the orchestra will hold a concert at St. Francis of Assis Church, Qawra, followed on Thursday with a concert at Our Lady of Victories Church, Senglea and on Friday at St. Helena Parish Church, Birkirkara. All concerts start at 7.30 p.m.and are open to everyone.

The programme is the following:

M. A. Charpentier Te Deum (Prelude)

J. S. Bach "Air" from Orchestral Suite No. 3

Felix Mendelssohn Paulus (Overture)

Joseph Vella Sarabanda Religiosa

Bach-Gounod Ave Maria

Samuel Barber Adagio for strings

J. S. Bach Jesus bleibet meine Freude

W. A. Mozart Ave Verum

Paolino Vassallo Marcia Religiosa e Fuga

Family-oriented concerts

The first in a series of family-oriented concerts will be held on July 28 with Classics under the Stars at the gardens of the Girgenti Palace. The concert will also be open to the public and will include popular pieces.

Other such initiatives planned for the following season include a number of concerts entitiled My Orchestra Family and Other Animals, which would focus on the difference and beauty of the different orchestral families.

The fourth edition of the Movie Spectacular Concert, will be produced during spring of 2011.

Other initiatives in the pipeline will include a Debutantes' Concert and New Composers' Concert on alternate years.

The orchestra also participated in the first edition of Rockestra, a Malta Community Chest Fund initiative which is expected to be come an annual event.