Opera Nova

Malta and Gozo are home to some exceptionally talented young classical singers. These emerging singers often encounter a lack of support, training, and performance opportunity at home. Many choose to pursue training at conservatoire level, and although they may be of a commensurate standard vocally, they often find themselves at a disadvantage in terms of musical education and experience.

Singers who wish to remain in Malta and pursue a professional career here struggle to find performing experience or the kind of advanced, holistic tuition that will allow them to attain the level required by top cultural entities locally. We aim to provide the next generation with the skills to face a career in the performing arts both on the local and international scene. We feel very strongly that whilst encouraging students to go abroad to further their studies and attempt to establish a career abroad is important, it is equally important to raise the level of classical and operatic performance in Malta and Gozo. Moving to another country might not be the right choice for a lot of singers, and until now, those singers who choose to stay in Malta are faced with a lack of a higher degree of tuition, similar to that in Conservatoires abroad.

Experienced performers and educators Gillian Zammit and Denise Mulholland, seek to address those needs by offering a training programme that will provide these young artists with a pre­conservatoire level of tuition. This programme will expose local emerging artists to noted international tutors, to collaborations and exchanges with established international cultural entities and to performance opportunities so essential to their development.

This type of training programme will be a first for the island and, as with all firsts, will require a new perspective. We believe this is possible and feel there is no reason why we cannot provide such an education for our locally based singers.

Weekly sessions will cover fundamental aspects of vocal training and will be combined with weekend masterclasses with international artists. There will be regular performing opportunities including recitals, concerts and fully staged operas. As the project grows we wish to entice international students to come to Malta for residency programmes with renowned international tutors.

We will offer young artists the chance to grow artistically and musically, and also to grow as people. We aim to help these young artists fulfil their potential and to open their eyes to the possibilities of their future and will challenge the students to study their craft on all fronts. We aim to provide an environment in which students can develop as artists, equipped with the skills and values that will enable them to enter the music profession and associated disciplines.

We feel that this type of programme will not only benefit young singers but will also create a greater awareness amongst the educational and cultural community as a whole, thus promoting the status of the artist. A career in the performing arts can and should be perceived as a profession. The rights of artists need to be respected and mental well-being needs to be a priority. Apart from the musical and technical aspect of their training, artists need to be made aware of the financial and legal aspects of their chosen career.