Cecilia Sultana de Maria is a familiar name to Maltese music-lovers. She is an exceptionally talented young Anglo-Maltese harpist, who is trying to create life-changing opportunities for deserving Commonwealth musicians while sharing her skills with them. She needs understanding and support to realise her vision.
She wanted to help bring as many musicians as possible to Malta – especially those from poverty-stricken regions of Africa and Asia who could not afford to travel- Albert Storace
Sultana de Maria has been invited to travel to Australia on October 30 to represent Malta and the UK in a special Commonwealth Observance at St George’s Cathedral, Perth, which will be broadcast nationally there.
Also taking part are Maltese tenor Joseph Aquilina, the St George’s Cathedral Choir and other Commonwealth musicians.
The event is a service of praise and thanksgiving for the nations of the Commonwealth, their unity and diversity.
While in Perth, she will give other concerts and run outreach workshops in schools, hospitals and care homes.
Sultana de Maria is a very experienced young outreach entrepreneur, and has worked with children in schools throughout the UK, especially in the more remote parts of Norfolk and Cornwall where musical opportunities are limited.
Many remember that when aged only 15 and still a pupil at the prestigious Purcell School, Hertfordshire, Sultana de Maria helped create a new musical organisation called The Commonwealth Resounds!
This was in 2005, when Malta hosted the biennual Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings (CHOGM). She wanted to help bring as many musicians as possible to Malta – especially those from poverty-stricken regions of Africa and Asia who could not afford to travel. She set up a special fund in her name called ‘Cecilia’s Fund for Young Musicians’. This has helped the work of the African Children’s Choir in Uganda, and Sultana de Maria hopes to support more disadvantaged musicians in future.
Sultana de Maria’s musical talent is such that she reached the finals of the BBC’s Young Musician of the Year competition in 2007, and also gained a scholarship to the Royal College of Music. In 2009 she participated in the CHOGM and had the opportunity to perform for the prime minister of Trinidad.
Sultana de Maria took her harp all the way to Trinidad. Her instrument was the only concert harp most musicians from the Caribbean schools and communities had ever seen, and they were absolutely fascinated, deeply impressed and overjoyed to hear Sultana de Maria perform.
Now Sultana de Maria needs help for two reasons, the first being to be able to afford to travel with her harp to Perth, Australia in October and present her ideas and musicianship to an international audience.
The other is to let people know about her special fund to create opportunities for disadvantaged young musicians in Africa and Asia. For this reason a pre-CHOGM gala concert will be held at the Princess Alexandra Hall in Overseas-House, Piccadilly, London on September 25 at 3 p.m.
There will be a feast of Commonwealth music celebrations featuring Sultana de Maria, ROSL soloists and other musicians from The Commonwealth Reso.
Sultana de Maria said: “When I travelled to Malta and Trini-dad with The Commonwealth Resounds I was fortunate enough to meet some incredibly inspirational and truly talented people. Having the opportunity to share my knowledge and music with others is so important to me and this is a wonderful chance for me to do so.
“There is so much for me to learn from others and I feel I have a lot I can give back.”
This excellent young musician deserves help to achieve her goals and vision. Those who are willing to give a helping hand can contact Alison Cox, founder and music director of The Commonwealth Resounds! on tcr2011@btinternet.com or +44 7816 10 3194.
www.commonwealthresounds.com