The 46th ESTA International Conference took place in Malta from Tuesday 10th to Saturday 14th April 2018.
The theme of the Conference was “Cross-Strings II”, a reminder of the previous Conference in Malta, in 2005, which also had “Cross-Strings” as its theme.
The Conference venues were the lecture rooms and theatre of the Catholic Institute Floriana and the nearby Robert Samut Hall, home to the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra. The Foyer of the Catholic Institute served as the Exhibition Hall, and also housed the Conference reception desk.
The evening of Tuesday 10th saw the Official Opening of the Conference and Exhibition amid a reception held at the Catholic Institute, which was followed by the first concert at the Robert Samut Hall.
Exhibitors:
Thomastik-Infeld Vienna (main sponsor of the Conference);
D’Addario strings, Warchal Strings, Cassia Harvey, Kathy and David Blackwell.
The Presidents’ Meeting took place in the Piano Room of the Catholic Institute on Wednesday 11th, and the Delegates’ Meeting in the same place on Friday 13th.
Lectures:
Albert Garzia/Antoine Frendo: A look at what was possibly Charles Camilleri’s last work
Sventha Danneberg: The start of the state school of music in Valletta.
Pedro de Alcantara (F): Four exercises to relax your bowing; Listening: the acquisitive and receptive ears
Lenneke Willems (NL): The Mini Violin method
Eylem Arica (with Ebru Ayata): How contemporary Turkish composers use traditional forms in their compositions for the violin
Claire Thomsen: From Kvæði to Skype a short introduction to the music life of the Faroe Islands in words and pictures
Johannes Lievaart (NL): Suzuki and sensory-motor teaching
Sergei Emelyanov/Irina Lapteva: Duets for violin and violoncello based on Tatar’s composers and folk pieces
Geza Szilvay: Introducing the Kodály philosophy-based Colourstrings
Gilvano Dalagna (P): Rethinking career development for performers: dilemmas and opportunities
Philip Ciantar: String playing and the professionalisation of Andalusian music in North Africa
Filiz Kaya: The kemençe: teaching technique to beginners
Jorge Alvez (P): The importance of managing the natural proportions in an equal temperament music culture
Erich Scheungraber (D): “Bartok´s laboratory”: a pedagogic approach to his 44 duos
Pierre-Henri Xuereb: Viola d’amore from baroque to contemporary music
Eva Belvelin (S): Little things for little strings; Finger pattern tunes for violin and viola
Clarissa Foletto (P): Developing autonomy: the role of parents and teachers in children’s practice
Simon Schembri: The guitar in dialogue with the orchestra and string quartets
Steve Bingham (UK): Technology in string teaching: the pleasures and the pitfalls!
Mauro Tortorelli (I): The unedited works for violin and piano of Mario Castelnuovo Tedesco
Masterclasses:
Wolfgang Klos (A) (with Andjela Sibinovic): Viola masterclass with emphasis on studies – focussed on Lilian Fuchs Etudes
Karl Peter Schöning: Cello Masterclass
Mauro Tortorelli (I): Violin Masterclass
Concerts:
Gjorgji Cincievski: Lecture-recital: Different phases in Bottesini’s compositions for the double bass (with Reggie Clews and Michelle Scicluna)
Steve Bingham: “Lines and Loops”
Eylem Arica, Ebru Ayata, Filiz Kaya: Traditional and contemporary Turkish music for strings
Karl Peter Schoening: Cello recital (at St. Lawrence Church Birgu) with Oskar Valeberg and Titus Johansson
Reuben Pace: “Listening to Orpheus Today”: clarinet + string trio (at Casino Maltese)
Eva Belvelin: Scandinavian Strings
ESTA Chamber Orchestra conducted by Jutta Seppinen: “North – West – South – East”: music for string orchestra
This project is financed by the ESTA Foundation: President – Werner Schmitt, Artistic Advisor – Kjell-Ake Hamren, Logistics and Administration – Katarzyna Theus [KLANGFORUM SCHWEIZ]
Workshops:
Geza Szilvay: Colourstrings (pre-Conference)
Marlies Muijzers (NL): Geza Szilvay Colourstrings (pre-Conference)
ESTA Italia Playday Team: A whole day workshop, conducted by Simone Genuini, organised in collaboration with ESTA Malta, culminating in a performance in the Catholic Institute Theatre.
The Cultural Programe:
The Excursion on Friday 13 th was graced with beautiful weather. The ferry across the harbour led to the old town of Birgu and included a tour of Fort St. Angelo, which in medieval times was the home of the Count of Malta. In 1531 it became the citadel of the Knights of the Order of St. John. It later withstood one of the most ferocious sieges in history.
On the Friday evening, the Conference participants filled the historic Casino Maltese in the centre of Valletta for a memorable Gala Dinner.
On Saturday lunch-time, Alfred Tonna, retired cellist of the National Orchestra, led a tour of the nearby St. Publius’s Church, describing the World War II bombing and reconstruction and explaning the riches contained therein. Saint Publius was the first Bishop of Malta.
Sponsors:
Principal Sponsors: Thomastik-Infeld Vienna
The Conference was also sponsored by: the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra; the Malta School of Music; D’Addario; Warchal; Pirastro; Kathy and David Blackwell Publications; the Corinthia Group of Companies and Petrolea Ltd.
The 46th ESTA International Conference was endorsed by Valletta 18, European City of Culture.
