On Saturday 8th November, the Gaulitanus Choir gave a concert at San Anton Palace in honour of H.E. Myriam Spiteri Debono, the President of Malta.
The choir was thus returning to the Palace, having already given a number of similar concerts to previous heads of state. This time, however, all sounded more special as the occasion was very fittingly one of the main events marking the choir’s 35 years of music-making, as well as the fact that H.E. is herself Gozitan.
Indeed, the choir made it a point to perform excerpts essentially composed or arranged by Gozitan composers (Joseph Vella, Stephen Attard, Colin Attard, Pierre Louis Attard) and penned by a number of Gozitan poets (Mary Meilak, Can Joe Meilak, Gorg Pisani) – most of whom are personally known by Her Excellency. Thus, the concert’s programme – entitled ‘Sacred Meets Profane’ – consisted of 4 sections: ‘A Gozitan Sacred Opening’, ‘A Taste of Maltese Community Hymns’, ‘Art Song from Gozo’, and a final section which also celebrated the Gaulitanus’s past international collaborations, namely the grand medley ‘Discovering Europe through Traditional Song’ – wherein the choir performed 9 excepts from 9 different countries in 9 different languages.
Conducted and accompanied by its founder-director Colin Attard, the concert prominently featured 2 of the choir’s soloists, namely sopranos Annabelle Zammit and Anna Bonello, with soprano Antonella Portelli, mezzo-soprano Mary Grace Portelli and tenor Joseph Calleja sharing the spoils in the final medley.
H. E. the President of Malta – who had delivered a most significant welcome address at the beginning of the concert (which can be seen in full below) – was offered a memento by the choir’s president Joseph Calleja towards the end of the concert.
The Gaulitanus Choir and guests were then treated to a post-concert reception.
Welcome Address by H.E. Myriam Spiteri Debono, President of Malta
Gaulitanus Choir Concert – Saturday 8th November 2025 – San Anton Palace
Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is with pleasure that I welcome you today to San Anton Palace for this choral concert organised by the Gaulitanus Choir.
This concert comes at a significant moment for the choir as this year marks thirty-five (35) years since its inception, highlighting how the choir has consistently delivered musical excellence and enhanced our nation’s artistic reputation well beyond our borders.
In its very humble beginnings, the Gaulitanus choir was the only choir in Gozo which was not aligned to a church, theatre or band club. Under the guidance and leadership of Maestro Colin Attard, the choir slowly built a solid reputation both locally and internationally as an acclaimed cultural institution.
Today, the choir boasts a high reputation. It is considered one of the island’s most popular mixed choirs, offering a broad, diverse repertoire spanning secular, sacred, operatic, and light classical music. Locally, the choir dedicated itself to organising annual concerts, including its traditional Christmas engagements and the yearly opera as part of the Gaulitana Festival of Music.
Internationally, the figures alone reflect their dedication and achievements. To date, the choir has conducted twenty-six international concerts in Europe and has showcased Maltese music and culture to audiences across Europe and beyond. Gaulitanus Choir has acted as our nation’s most melodious ambassadors in countries such as England, Germany, Greece, Poland, and Portugal, consistently showcasing the best of our artistic heritage while fostering bridges of friendship and cultural understanding.
Just last month, the Gaulitanus Choir broadened its international musical repertoire with a notable concert tour of the Czech Republic in the heart of Europe. Their performances delighted audiences whilst it strengthened the cultural ties between Malta and this vibrant European nation, reaffirming the choir’s role as passionate ambassadors of our culture.
Vocal music has seen a sharp rise in Malta over the years, and this is thanks to the efforts put forward by choirs such as Gaulitanus Choir, to allow more individuals, especially youth, access to perform vocal music.
The fact that the Choir operates voluntarily adds value to the cause and showcases how the efforts made by the members and the organisation genuinely come from the heart.
As we gather tonight, we celebrate not just thirty-five years of the Gaulitanus Choir, but also thirty-five years of promoting Malta’s culture, bringing its voice to concert halls across the continents.
The Gaulitanus Choir embodies the very best of what we aspire to as a nation – dedication, perseverance, and an unwavering commitment to sharing our cultural heritage with the world.
I thank all of those who have been part of this incredible journey, particularly Mro Colin Attard. To all members, past and present, I congratulate you all on your thirty-five-year anniversary.
Thank you
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Photos Credit: OPR
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