Editorial

Work and satisfaction
September 2011

The festivities are now over. Over the last months we have been preparing to what is the most time consuming and busy time in our Societies calender. Of course all this activity does not fall out of the sky, many people are involved, long hours in preparation and organizing has to take place.The satisfaction in the end result comes to those who dare and prepare. This years 1st September program had the ingredients of being one of the most positively appreciated and enjoyable activity in these last years.The religious masses and hymns during the feast under our responsibility also should be mentioned .  Merit goes to the committee who have shown leadership, to our musical director Kenneth Fenech for his tireless effort, to the members of the choir and orchestra for their dedication , to the junior choir and orchestra led by Micheal Bonnano and Susanne Bonello to whom our young students look up to. One must mention the volunteers who prepared our club weeks before hand to accept the many visitors of whom donated a tile for the bar area in our club and the volunteers who manned the bar during the feast, the ice cream stand during Mellieha nights and the folk group Simar who also took part in the same activity. All in all it has been a very positive period for our musical society, not to give in to further improvement we must stay focused in our goal, that being the further advancement of our Society to that being the most advanced, musically sound, most popular organization in our town.

Joseph DeBono
President

Previous editorials…

A busy Summer
October 2010

August and September have always been very busy and important months for our society.  They are a period of activity, with rehearsals and concerts, masses and processions. I can say that throughout this time our members have always come through to what was expected of them. Some might have thought the 1st September programme would not take place this year because of the major building project we have undertaken for the last two years, but we had other ideas.

The Parish Street side of the new club which will house the bar was temporarily open during the five days of the feast period for all to get a feel of  the new complex. We then moved our attention to the extension and restoration of the World War Two Shelters that have been entrusted to us by the Mellieha Local Council, now all 500 metres of the shelter system is open for the public to explore. With all this activity we have not turned our backs to what is the  main reason for our being , that is the choir and orchestra and musical education. I am very proud of the Junior Choir and Orchestra that now number over forty persons, most of who are learning theory, musical instruments and are or have sat for examinations by the Associated Board  of the Royal Schools of Music. This is the reason for the many volunteers we have who are giving up their spare time to keep this Society on the move.

We have always been open to new ideas and invite you to seek out how you too can be of help. Music has a way of bringing people together  and  is the corner stone on which our organisation is built on.

Joseph DeBono
President

Choosing the right musical instrument for your child
April 2010

As a child grows certain influences and interests are brought to their attention from time to time. When it comes to learning a musical instrument many factors come in to play. The young student should be well informed with physical and academically sound foundations needed in choosing what is in the offering for the individual child. Every one is capable of learning, some start at a very young age and are quite comfortable, while others might need that little extra to understand what is needed. At the moment piano and violin are the most popular instruments but did you know that our society can also help  with viola, cello, flute, clarinet, trumpet, trombone and singing instruction. One good idea is for the young student to start a pre theory class where music is made to be fun. This way the different sounds and methods of the particular instrument, with the help of senior musicians and instructors , may help in starting the love and the drive needed to succeed.

Another idea is for the future student to visit the senior or junior orchestras during rehearsals or to the many concerts held  through out the year. One should always know that we here at the Choral and Orchestral Society are always ready to help in any way to see as many students  gain good certification from The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music of which our Society is associated.

As a parent we all want what is best for  our child , the opportunity of playing a instrument does open many doors, making new friends,  being invited to the party so to speak and  music is international. It is good to listen to what your young one has to say and with  a little encouragement you too can make the best chose of instrument for their future.

What a day the open day turned out to be. Not only giving an opportunity to the public to see the first phase of our newly restored club but also through music, exhibitions and presentations we have shown who really is the winner in this worthy project. The launch of our new website, www.choirandorchestra.org,  fits in well with our goals to give the web the importance it merits in keeping all informed.

Being a Society we must take decisions that favours the common good so that no one will feel left out. A building alone does not make these aspirations a reality. The Committee is now working on a long term action plan that will organise the many musical and cultural programmes held throughout the year keeping people in foremost in mind. These same people who through time, support and contributions are making all this a reality.

The road will be long and it will take time but in the end its all about making one’s destination that counts.

Joseph DeBono
President

The building project, one year on
February 2010

We’ve come a long way since the first stage of the rebuilding of our club which started on the 9th of February 2009.  With over 365 tons of rock spoil dug out using hand tools and two wheel barrows, we come to the date the 1st of August 2009 to inaugurate the first stone.  We have seen the building now reaching Parish Street, this being the third story from four of our new club.  Our members and volunteers helping in the project have been great, the momemtum has not faultered, while some people might think that everything is at a standstill, little do they know that deep downstairs workmen are using their holidays, spare time and staying up late to see our next goal, that being, the return of our young students in a more workable, welcoming club.  I must mention the rest of the team that is making this possible, our architect Joseph Attard and the builder Silvio Pace who together with the building committee meet to plan ahead the many ends needed to make this project possible.

Although we are very selective in the way we are spending money collected so far, this building project comes at a very high price, so high that we are calling upon you, the general public, to help us in our quest for a better premises to serve culture in our town.

It is with these aims and qualities that I present the Committee, Musical Director, members, teachers, students and friends all coming together to form the Choral and Orchestral Society ‘Maria Bambina.’

Joseph DeBono
President

 

Another brick in the wall
September 2009

It is with pride and satisfaction that the demolition, excavating and carting of the rock stage of our building project has come to an end.  After five and a half months of hard work by our society’s volunteers, we are moving on to have the first stone being laid and a brick wall rising along the first floor like a phoenix rising from the ashes.

One might ask why now?  Why this ambitious project by the Choral and Orchestral Society of our town?

The answer lays in the need of more space for our members’ activities, for students learning a musical instrument, singing and a place to perform.  Another reason is that of finding the volunteers needed to work in a particular building trade.  We need to see this project through, prolonging this time would indeed make our financial targets impossible.

At no time have I heard discouragement from volunteer members and friends.  Many of them using their holidays, spare time and staying late to advance the work forward.  To their families and especially people neighbouring our club, we know you have put up with so much.  I must mention our architect Joseph Attard and builder Silvio Pace who together with the building committee are striving for the best solutions in seeing this project through.

Of course every building project comes at a price, we need to organise ourselves better to collect funds needed, through appeals, door to door collections, sponsors and special events. To those who have already contributed we give our thanks and encourage you also to help us in our quest for a better premises to serve music in our town.

It is with these aims and qualities that I present the Committee, Musical Director, Assistant Director, Members, Teachers, Students  and friends all coming together to form the Choral and Orchestral Society Maria Bambina.

Joseph DeBono
President