Pictured above: Saxophonist Philip Attard and pianist Christine Zerafa (photo by Jonathan Borg)

Two up and coming musicians have come up with the idea of raising funds for the newly set up Research Innovation and Development Trust (RIDT) of the University of Malta by organising a sax-piano recital.

Batera Duo, composed of saxophonist Philip Attard and pianist Christine Zerafa, will debut their repertoire at the Music Room of St James Cavalier Centre for Creativity in Valletta on Sunday 29 April at 7.30pm.

The pezzo forte of the evening is a rare saxophone piece of Maltese origin, the Sonata op. 109, composed by Maltese composer Joseph Vella. The programme includes works by Darius Milhaud, Roberto Molinelli, Astor Piazzolla, and Pedro Iturralde.

Philip Attard is currently reading for a bachelor degree in music at the University of Malta, majoring in saxophone performance under the tutelage of Godfrey Mifsud. He has also studied with saxophonist Joseph Vella and attended master classes with Gilles Tressos, Masakata Hirano, Sylvain Malezieux and Fabrizio Mancuso. As a soloist, Philip performed in Spain, France, Austria, Italy, UK and the Maltese islands. He is a member of the Sassofoni Saxophone Quartet and the Big Band Brothers, and has also performed in concerts with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, with whom he made his debut as a soloist last March.

Christine Zerafa is establishing herself as a solo concert pianist, chamber musician and piano tutor.  After having studied with Joanne Camilleri, she went on to obtain her Masters degree in Solo Performance at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) under the tuition of Paul Janes and Norma Fisher. She is currently furthering her studies with Andrea Lucchesini at the Scuola di Musica di Fiesole in Florence. Christine is a recipient of various awards, including first prize in the 11^th Bice Mizzi Competition, and the prestigious RNCM Clifton Helliwel Memorial Award. She has performed in Malta, UK and Poland, both as a soloist and chamber musician.

“One admires the commendable spirit with which Philip and Christine have embarked on this initiative. This is the first example of the various types of initiative s that can be taken by University students and graduates to raise much needed funds for RIDT in order to finance more research at University. Their idea to devote their time and to give back something to their Alma Mater is to be lauded,” said Wilfred Kenely, CEO of RIDT. The Trust has been set up to attract funds and to support the further development of high-calibre research projects.

Booking for the Batera Duo in Concert is open and tickets can be purchased from St James Cavalier Centre for Creativity in Valletta, tel. 21223200 or via email: boxoffice@sjcav.org; or website: www.sjcav.org