The Gozo Youth Orchestra within the Gozo Youth Wind Band & Orchestra, in collaboration with the American Embassy and the Culture Office of the Ministry for Gozo, is presenting an open-air concert on the 4th of August at 8.15pm. The concert is entitled ‘Opera vs Pop Under the Stars’ and will include the participation of guest Soprano Pamela Agius (New York) and Bass Noel Galea (Gozo). An exhibition of works by well-known Gozitan artist Paul A. Stellini will compliment the evening.

The Orchestra consists mainly of fifty Gozitan Youths who after having pursued their musical studies both in Gozo and Malta on an individual basis, meet regularly in a group to prepare an exciting and varied repertoire to be performed later on in concerts throughout the year.

In fact this is the 5th year since the inception of these two ensembles, namely, The Gozo Youth Orchestra and the Gozo Youth Wind Band.

Opera vs Pop Under the Stars will be held at the Gozo Ministry’s Courtyard, Victoria and will be hosted by the Minister for Gozo, Giovanna Debono, and under the distinguished patronage of the American Ambassador, H.E. Molly Bordonaro.

The Orchestra will be under the direction of Founder and Music Director Mro Joseph Grech and will include a selection of operatic arias from Mozart’s Don Giovanni, Verdi’s Un Ballo in Maschera, Macbeth and Simone Boccanegra and Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi, in the first part of the programme followed by an array of lighter pop arrangements from soundtracks and musicals including Porgy and Bess, Pirates of the Caribbean, Jesus Christ Superstar, Chicago and John Willams’ Movies.

Entrance to concert is free of charge and patrons are invited to an after-concert treat, compliments of Abraham Supplies Ltd.

Art connoisseurs can acquire works exhibited that would partly go to finance expenses incurred in connection with the event.

The Gozo Youth Orchestra said it is highly grateful to the Main Sponsors: Bank of Valletta, American Embassy, Gozo Cultural Office and Joseph Portelli Projects together with Xuereb Glass, Grand Hotel (Gozo), Abraham Supplies Ltd and The General Soft Drinks Co Ltd without whom the evening would not have been possible.