Drama is important in singing because expression is always needed to engage an audience. So, on 25 and 26 September, my students and I welcomed once again to our studio Lucienne Camilleri. She conducted two drama workshops, one for my adult students and one for the younger ones.  Her workshops are popular for being energetic, fun-filled and a great learning experience. Over the years Lucienne Camilleri has contributed to the theatre as an actor and choreographer. She has also co-directed and directed several musical productions. For the past twelve years she has been tutoring acting skills and technique and is now employed by De La Salle College.

This year’s OltreOceano Festival Live was held on 7 August (Baby and Junior section) and 8 August (Senior section).  After organising the auditions for this festival in Malta throughout the year, I had the pleasure of taking up 10 singers from various local vocal teachers (1 singer was my student Anna Salimon) to Monreale (Sicily), and getting to know them and their families. What a wonderful group they were! We were welcomed at the fantastic Rocca di Monreale B&B by the Gionti clan, who really treated us like family and helped us so much throughout our trip.

I am pleased to say that all 10 singers sang wonderfully and fared very well in the results. Nathaniel Attard, who sang in the Baby section, won the Critics’ Choice Award and in the Junior section, Raisa Micallef came 1st (on the left) and Milena Bianco came 3rd (on the right).

There were four singers from my group in the Senior section. All sang excellently – Jessica Magro won the Critics’ Choice Award and Emma Muscat came 2nd. Here we all are celebrating on stage after the festival – from left, Emma Muscat, Livia Massa, me, Jolene Samhan and Jessica Magro.

The Head of Jury was none other than the famous backing vocalist of the late Lucio Dalla, Iskra Menarini.  During this trip, she also conducted a master class for all the participants.

My long-time loyal student Antoine Farrugia has finally reached his goal! He has passed his audition for the Margaret Howard Performing Arts School in London where he will be studying for three years starting September 2015. After dedicating many years to making this dream come true – passing Rockschool vocals exams up to Grade 8, passing piano exams up to Grade 6, passing his Grade 8 Musical Theatre exam this year, working part-time as an online music journalist and working as an animator/entertainer – his hard work and determination has got him to this stage. I wish him well and all the success in the world. He is a born entertainer and I am sure will make Malta proud!

This year PBS organised a festival to select Malta’s representative for the Junior Eurovision to be held in November 2015 in Bulgaria.
The participants sang a song of their choice, however the winner Destiny Chukunyere will have a song especially written for her and specifically suited for her voice.
One of the 20 finalists was my student Andy Shaw – here’s his interpretation of the song Breakeven by The Script.

A number of singers have enrolled for this semester’s Rockschool lessons. Three Grade 1s, three Grade 3s, and one Grade 6 are currently working on the new Rockschool syllabus, preparing for the exams which will be held in Malta this October. Lessons are fun, entertaining and educational!