The Basilica of St Dominic in Valletta.

This year, the King’s Own Philharmonic Society will be hosting its annual concert on Saturday in Valletta.

The band club was founded in the capital city in 1874 to mark the occasion of the feast of St Dominic, its patron saint. This year the Dominican community celebrates two outstanding anniversaries – 800 years (Jubilee) of the foundation of the Dominican order and 200 years since the parish of Our Lady of Fair Heavens and St Dominic received the title of Minor Basilica, the first parish to receive this title on the Maltese islands.

In order to commemorate these important anniversaries, the society is staging this year’s concert within the basilica itself rather than at its traditional venue in Floriana.

The programme includes various anthems dedicated to its patron saint, enhancing the historical and religious connection between the society and the Order of Preachers. Inno a San Domenico, written by Chev. Aurelio Doncich, one of the society’s band directors, was written to commemorate an important anniversary of the Dominican Province in Malta. To mark the Dominican Jubilee being celebrated this year, the Order has launched the anthem Laudare, Benedicere, Praedicare which, with the Order’s permission, has been adapted for the band and will also be performed on the evening.

Various musical pieces from classical composers also form part of this year’s programme. Miklos Rozsa’s famous piece of Biblical music written for the film Quo Vadis will be performed on the day as well as the Te Deum from the renowned Puccini opera Tosca.

On the occasion of the 450th anniversary of the capital Valletta, also being celebrated this year, local composer and pianist Alex Vella Gregory has composed an overture called Città Umilissima. The overture is being donated by the composer himself to the philharmonic society.

The concert will be led by its musical director John Galea, who has directed the band for the past 14 years. The local religious choir Sine Makula, together with tenor Charles Vincenti and baritone Alfred Camilleri, will also participate.

■ The concert at the Basilica of St Dominic starts at 7.30pm with patrons encouraged to be seated by 7.15pm. Entrance is free. The annual concert is being held under the patronage of Archbishop Emeritus Paul Cremona, who is also the patron of the society.