The L’Isle Adam Band Club of Rabat is holding various activities to mark the 25th anniversary of the appointment of its bandmaster, Joseph Galea.
Galea, who was born in Rabat in 1948, joined the band as a student musician aged 13, playing the tuba. He played with several leading bands on the island and was a part-time member of the Manoel Theatre Orchestra.
In 1985 he was appointed musical director of the Sliema Band, while also being invited to conduct various bands in Gozo.
A highlight of Galea’s career came in December 1985 when he successfully substituted Philip Gatt, then the resident conductor, and led the L’Isle Adam Band toits second win in the national band contest. He was officially appointed bandmaster early in 1987.
During the first visit of Pope John Paul II in 1990 Galea conducted the L’Isle Adam youth band at the national stadium in Ta’ Qali, and conducted the two Rabat bands (the other being the Count Roger Band) in a concert at Cathedral Square, Mdina.
Galea has written a good number of band marches, including funeral marches, overtures and sacred music, among them an antiphon to St Joseph played during the yearly feast in honour of the saint.
In the past year Galea conducted the band in a number of performances in Sicily, and during a concert at the Manoel Theatre on November 13.
The silver jubilee activities include the issuing of a CD of compositions by Galea, and an exhibition on the bandmaster’s life and career at Palazzo Xara, Rabat, the band club’s premises.
Today, the band will accompany Mro Galea and his family from their home in Rabat to the band club, playing some of his marches, followed by a thanksgiving Mass at the church of St Mary of Jesus.
The activities will be rounded up with a concert at the Seminary, Tal-Virtù, next Sunday evening with the participation of soprano Karen Camilleri, mezzo-soprano Marie Therese Vassallo, tenor Joseph Aquilina and baritone Louis Cassar. It will be conducted by Galea.
Admission to the concert is free and is open to all.