Ahead of Il Volo’s upcoming concert in Malta, the band’s growing contingent of Maltese fans are looking forward not just to see their idols perform but also meet them face to face.

“When I listen to Il Volo, it reminds me of the songs I used to hear with my grandfather,” Jessica Mula, who started Malta’s first fan community for the band, said. “I just close my eyes and listen: the twist they put on old classics is always so striking.”

Ms Mula is one of 30 superfans working with concert organisers as “fan ambassadors” for a chance to meet the Italian operatic pop trio in person.

Over the next few weeks, they will be promoting the band around their hometowns in exchange for free tickets, a photo with their idols and a pass to certain areas on the day of concert – August 29.

Il Volo – made up of tenors Piero Barone and Ignazio Boschetto and baritone Gianluca Ginoble – started out their classical crossover career on the popular Italian music show Ti Lascio Una Canzone.

It reminds me of the songs I used to hear with my grandfather

Since then, they have won the Sanremo Song Festival 2015, represented Italy at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest and landed a worldwide recording deal with American label Universal Music Group. They are hugely popular in America and in Spain.

Ms Mula first watched the band perform live in Rome last June and got the chance to speak to one of her idols during a live stream with Maltese fans last month.

“At first I didn’t think there were many Maltese fans but I’ve been really surprised by the response,” she says.

Her fan community, Il Volo Malta, began on Twitter last April and has since garnered about 600 followers, spreading to Facebook and Instagram.

“My dream is for us to have a proper fan club like we have for other groups; maybe even organise tours to see them perform abroad,” she added with a smile.

Another fan eagerly anticipating the chance to meet the band is Tanya Louise Mifsud, who says she fell in love with Il Volo’s “beautiful voices”, having always been a fan of Italian music and opera.

“I’m hoping they give us more and more albums and remain as they are,” said Ms Mifsud, who is travelling to Verona in September to see the band perform.

“They are all so approachable and grounded and they’re great with the fans. I think that’s what really makes you successful.”