Red and White 2026 celebrates artistic collaboration between Mikiel Anton Vassalli College (MAVC) and The Maxime Orchestra (Poland) through a concert that combines professional orchestral performance with strong educational objectives.
The event is conceived as the second edition of what is planned to become an annual concert, creating an ongoing platform for cultural exchange and artistic development within the MAVC – The College of the Visual and Performing Arts.
A central focus of the concert is the opportunity it provides to student-composers from the MAVC Malta School of Music to hear their works performed publicly by a professional orchestra. This experience allows students to translate the compositional and orchestration techniques studied during their programme of studies into a real concert setting.
Student Composers and New Music
The 2026 programme features new compositions by three students currently reading for the MQF Level 5 Diploma in Composition at the MAVC, Malta School of Music:
Federica Agius
Claudia Abdilla
Edric Micallef
Federica Agius and Claudia Abdilla have composed variations based on Polish folk themes, while Edric Micallef presents Three Miniatures for Orchestra, bringing together key techniques explored during his studies.
The three students have also prepared orchestral arrangements of Mazurkas by Polish composer Karol Szymanowski, originally written for piano. These arrangements form part of their orchestration studies and offer an important opportunity to hear their work performed by a professional orchestra.
Polish and Maltese Repertoire
Alongside the student works, the programme includes music by the Polish composers Mieczysław Karłowicz and Henryk Czyż, introducing audiences in Malta to repertoire that is rarely performed locally.
The concert will also feature the world premiere of Concerto for Orchestra by Maltese composer Reuben Pace, composed in 2025 and dedicated to the Maxime Orchestra.
Educational Impact
By presenting students’ compositions alongside established orchestral repertoire, the concert highlights the work of the Composition Department at the MAVC Malta School of Music and demonstrates the importance of practical performance opportunities within music education.
“Performing student works in a public concert with a professional orchestra represents a significant educational milestone, inspiring current students and encouraging future composers to pursue studies within this College” said Mr Victor Galea Head of the College.
Programme
Mieczysław Karłowicz — Serenade for Strings, Op. 2
Edric Micallef — Three Miniatures for Orchestra (World Premiere)
Karol Szymanowski — Mazurka No. 7 (arr. Edric Micallef)
Claudia Abdilla — Variations (World Premiere)
Karol Szymanowski — Mazurka No. 13 (arr. Claudia Abdilla)
Federica Agius — Variations on W moim ogrodecku (World Premiere)
Karol Szymanowski — Mazurka No. 8 (arr. Federica Agius)
Henryk Czyż — Triptych for Mezzo-soprano and String Orchestra
Reuben Pace — Concerto for Orchestra (World Premiere)
The concert shall take place on the 2nd May 2026, starting at 8:00pm at St.Paul’s Anglican Pro Cathedral, West Street, Valletta. Admission is Free.
