Photo: Philip Ciantar
The Yamaha Music Europe Foundation (YMEF) 2023-24 auditions were held at the Department of Music Studies, School of Performing Arts (SPA), University of Malta, on Wednesday 31 January.
The jury awarded first prize to Steve Buttigieg for his rendition of Polonaise Op. 40 No. 1 in A major by Fryderyk Chopin. Congratulations, Steve!
Steve is a 20-year-old pianist from Gozo and is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music Degree at the University of Malta. He began his musical journey at the age of 6 when he first started studying piano. He now studies under the guidance of Prof. Michael Laus.
As a pianist, Steve collaborates with a number of local artists and bands, playing at concerts, gigs and various events all over the Maltese Islands. Aside from his love for instrumental music, Steve has a keen interest in musical theatre and operatic music.
He has participated in numerous opera and theatrical performances, showcasing his versatility as a musician. Currently, Steve is also a piano teacher at The Clef House, where he imparts his knowledge and passion for music to aspiring young musicians.
The scholarship is aimed at students who are preparing for a professional musical career at a recognised educational institution within Europe. Participants must be 25 years of age or younger at the time the annual grant is awarded. The scholarship takes the form of a one-time payment of €1000, and can be used for any purpose, as long as it contributes to the advancement of the winner's studies.
The discipline for the 2023-24 scholarship was piano playing.
The jury of the 2023-24 scholarship auditions consisted of Prof. Philip Ciantar and Dr Jeremy Coleman (both Lecturers in the Department of Music Studies, SPA). In total, three Bachelor of Music students auditioned for the scholarship, and each candidate performed one piece for solo piano.