Young saxophonist Philip Attard won the 2012 edition of the Young Musicians Contest, organised by the Malta Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, which is celebrating its 160th anniversary this year.

Held at the Casino Maltese, Valletta, on October 26, Attard was voted overall winner.

The evening was introduced by society president Joseph Filletti, who recalled how the first winner of such a contest was the late Mro Carmelo Pace, one of Malta’s most appreciated musicians and composers.

The contest, sponsored by the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts and by the London College of Music, saw 10 finalist musicians competing for a prestigious music scholarship in the UK.

Each musician performed their selected piece to perfection, with instruments including the B flat baritone, violin, clarinet, trumpet and saxophone.

The judges included Richard Lambert, Mro Noel Beck and Mro Antoine Frendo. Mro Lawrence Borg was an observer representing the society’s council.

Mr Lambert, chairman of the jury, announced the winners and Jessica de Battista, the society’s vice-president, presented participation certificates to all contestants and a number of prizes to the winners of each category.

Attard, who performed Scharamuche by Darius Milhaud, also won the mature category. He was awarded a commemorative trophy and a music scholarship at the University of West London, London College of Music.

Attard was also awarded €400. Jessica Ellul (clarinet) and Marita Cassar (clarinet) placed second and third in the mature category.

Joseph Attard (Bb baritone) won the promising category and €200.

Nathan Abela (trumpet) and Miriam Rapa (violin) placed second and third respectively in the same category.

The evening was presented by Marika Azzopardi.

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