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In 2004, to commemorate the 40th
Anniversary of its foundation, the choir launched a comprehensive website and a documentary on DVD encompassing forty years of existence and achievements. The choir's Easter and Christmas concerts were used to raise funds for religious missions. In 2006, the St Monica
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founded in 1964 by Sr
Beniamina Portelli. The choir was known for its polyphonic performances in Malta. The choir's music repertoire deviated from sacred to popular, early to contemporary. In 2018, following the retirement of Portelli, the choir was taken over by two long-serving members, Attard and
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Portelli has taught students including composer Ray Agius, pianists Mark
Darnford and Stefan Cassar (who also teaches music in France), John Attard (who teaches music in Austria) and Fr Aurelio Mule’ Stagno. Others include Claire Massa, Simone Attard and Maureen Galea, graduates of the
216:. Two years later, the choir was once again invited to participate in the “XIII Festival de Musica en Navidad” organized by the Cultural Department of Madrid. The St Monica Choir, the only foreign choir invited to participate, held its concert at the Sagrada Familia church in
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The choir was founded in 1964 by Sr
Beniamina Portelli. For over 20 years, it collaborated with other entities, exchanging visits with foreign choirs and travelling to European countries. The choir presented concerts at the Liverpool Philharmonic Theatre, the
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In Linz, Austria, the choir attended the official opening ceremony of the 1st
Edition of the Choir Olympics at the multifunctional Design Center. During the Friendship Concert and the qualifying competition the choristers met with participants from
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St Monica Choir participated in the 11th Malta
International Choir Festival in November 1999. The final night was held on 12, November 1999, at the Mediterranean Conference Centre. Other participating choirs included the
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Voice-leaders sub-committee were headed by a coordinator acting in liaison with the committee. Leaders from each voice-section were selected by
Portelli in consultation with the coordinator and the committee president.
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together with
Orkestra Nazzjonali (the national orchestra) and Mro Michael Laus. Early 2007 saw yet another collaboration come to fruition, this time together with Vocalise, when, for the first time in Malta,
209:. Delegated to represent Malta during the first edition of the choral Olympics held in Linz, Austria in 2000, the choir was awarded bronze from amongst over twenty participants in the mixed choirs’ category.
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In late 2018, the
Augustinian sisters ceased their involvement with the choir, which led to its disbandment. Many former members subsequently joined its successor, the St Monica Vocal Ensemble.
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Local
Council bestowed upon Portelli “Gieh il-Mosta”. In November 2000, she was awarded the Society Music Medal by the Council of Arts, Manufacture and Commerce. On 13 December, 2003, at the
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As of April 2024, the St Monica Vocal Ensemble is led by Jean Paul Attard, the current choir director, and Roanna Vella, who performs a dual role as assistant director and choir pianist.
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284:(1993). She received a Licentiate of the London College of Music (LLCM) for choral direction and was awarded the Society of Music Medal as the first successful candidate worldwide.
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The adjudicating panel awarded St Monica Choir the first prize and gold trophy, the first time ever that a Maltese choir had won the Malta International Choir Festival.
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Portelli joined the Augustinian nuns at the age of sixteen. She began piano lessons at the age of five, studied with Sr Teresina Saliba, and completed her finals and
250:, Sr Beniamina Portelli, born Marion Portelli, is the eldest of five daughters and a son born to Carmelo and Ines née Calleja. The Portelli family took refuge in
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On December 15, 2023, Sr Beniamina Portelli passed away. Her funeral was held on December 18, 2023, at the Church of the Augustinian Fathers in
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in May 1999. The St Monica Choir was also commissioned to premiere local compositions, such as Stabat Mater by prolific Maltese composer
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In September 2001, the choir released its first recording, titled Expressions. It was released in CD format for local distribution.
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Vella. This transition marked a new phase, during which the choir was rebranded and renamed as the St Monica Vocal Ensemble in 2019.
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Portelli attended various courses both in Malta and abroad. Her notable trips were to the Vatican City for choral singing (1953);
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The choir was an affiliated member of Förderverein Interkultur, organizers of the Choir Olympics and other Musica Mundi concerts.
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In 2002, the choir was invited to make a guest appearance during a choral festival at the Dorog House of Culture in
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The administrative committee was elected by the choristers for a two-year term and chaired by Portelli.
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and the Beethoven Society of Australia. With the latter, the St Monica Choir presented a production of
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554:""Oħtna Sr Beniamina Portelli Marret Tiltaqa' Mal-Ħallieq Tagħha" - Sorijiet Agostinjani"
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under the direction of international conductor and musicologist Hans JĂĽrgen Nagel.
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In November 1999, the St Monica Choir became the first Maltese choir to win the
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for her efforts in promoting music and establishing the St Monica Choir.
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with Orkestra Nazzjonali under the baton of Dr Steve Watson at the
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590:"History of the Festival – Malta International Choir Festival"
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In the early 1950s, Portelli spent a year teaching music in
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572:"Local and Canadian choirs join forces for Hospice Malta"
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and the St. Stythians Male Voice Choir, Cornwall, UK.
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482:"Choir Olympics 2000 – Linz: INTERKULTUR"
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604:"1st Choir Olympics Linz 2000 Results"
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518:"St Monica Vocal Ensemble in concert"
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385:Quam Dilecta Tabernacula Tua Domine'
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102:70–75
645:Categories
464:"Facebook"
450:References
442:Recordings
270:Derbyshire
248:Vittoriosa
226:Haddington
131:polyphonic
362:Lakatamia
274:Harrogate
164:Edinburgh
71:Classical
252:Siggiewi
230:Scotland
176:Scotland
170:and the
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214:Hungary
160:Hungary
141:History
128:Maltese
111:Website
99:Members
432:Greece
366:Cyprus
302:, the
218:Madrid
126:was a
79:Sacred
67:Genres
46:Origin
666:Mosta
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134:choir
61:Malta
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
