The second edition of Violin and Friends International Festival (VFIMF) is being held until next Sunday at a variety of locations, including the Manoel Theatre and St Paul’s Anglican Pro-Cathedral, Valletta.

The event is being organised by Volodymyr Baran and Violin Limited in co-operation with Scuola Civica Musicale Città di San Giovanni Teatino, California State University, the Mediterranean Institute of Malta and a number of other educational institutions in Germany, China and Ukraine.

VFIMF brings professional artists and teachers together with talented students for an intensive two weeks of performance and study. The festival includes a series of master classes, competitions and concerts that are open to the public, offering music lovers the opportunity of experiencing an intimate view of each teacher’s technique and style of teaching, thus witnessing a process that normally takes place behind closed doors.

Participants from Germany, Italy, Malta, UK, Ireland, Poland, Ukraine, South Korea, China and Russia are taking part in the event, which is organised with the sole aim of encouraging budding musicians to pursue careers in music and to provide a forum for their talents.

The final gala concert and prize-giving ceremony will be held at the Manoel Theatre, Valletta, next Sunday at 7.30 p.m., when competition winners will receive medals, diplomas and other awards. For more info visit http://vfimf.com .