Appreciation : Maestro Professor Joseph Vella (1942-2018)

Abstract

Mro Vella (born 9th January 1942, died 25th February 2018) was a highly successful music composer and conductor. He became the first Maltese citizen to graduate Bachelor of Music, from the University of Durham, UK and continued his studies in London, Venice and Siena, particularly with Franco Donadoni in Composition and Franco Ferrara in Conducting. His first major composition presented to the public was an orchestral suite Three Mood Pieces op 4 at the Manoel Theatre, Valletta in 1958. Together with Verena Maschat, he set up the School of Music in Valletta in 1972. In 1994 he was appointed Associate Professor of Music at the University of Malta.