Local audiences have become more adventurous and different styles of music – baroque, lied, chamber and contemporary – have their own following, according to soprano Gillian Zammit.

Audiences, she believes, have become more open and people are being exposed to a wider variety of styles and performers.

Ms Zammit will be directing a performance today by young singers at the Museum of Archaeology at 10am as part of the Three Palaces Festival.

The performance by the Sopa (School of Performing Arts) Teens and Junior Company, with Ms Zammit as musical director, will include songs from popular musicals such as Mary Poppins, Cats and Les Miserables. The young singers will be accompanied by pianist Julian Dyson.

The third edition of the festival kicked off on Monday and will be running until Sunday at the three palaces, as its name implies: San Anton in Balzan, Verdala in Buskett and the Auberge de Provence, which houses the Museum of Archaeology in Valletta.

Ms Zammit, who is the principal of Sopa, began her vocal training in Malta with Antoinette Miggiani and Paul Asciak and went on to study in Italy with Carlo Bergonzi and Victoria de los Angeles at the Accademia Carlo Bergonzi and the Accademia Chigiana.

Compared to when she was still studying, she believes that nowadays there are more opportunities and scope for young musicians.

Still, singing is a very difficult profession, so she tries to instil in students an understanding of how important it is to be well prepared and mentally able to accept the many ups and downs they will encounter on their way to making a career of singing.

Aspiring singers have to understand that it is a long process and not a quick road to success, and students have to be prepared to sacrifice a lot, she believes.

See details at www.maltaculture.com.