Pictured above: Italian pianist Giuliano Mazzocante

The Malta International Music Festival (MIMF) 2015 is offering a wonderful array of international performers and compositions. Eight top musicians will headline the Festival 3rd edition at the Opening Concert being held on Monday 27 April at 7.30pm at Teatru Manoel, Valletta. Entrance for the concert is free of charge.

The highlights of the Opening Concert will be performed by the Moscow Conservatory Professor Yuri Didenko, Professor Andreas Frölich and Professor Nina Tichman from the University of Music and Dance Cologne in Germany, Professor Leonel Morales from the Conservatory Superior of Castellón, Spain, Professor Giuliano Mazzocante from the Conservatory in Campobasso, Italy, who will be performing a very versatile and contrasting selection of solo pianoforte works by Beethoven, Chopin, Liszt, Rachmaninov, Debussy, Piazzola and Cervantes. Professor Hayrapet Arakelyan, who is on the Board of Professors for Saxophone, Professor Lars Mlekusch from Zurich University of the Arts, Switzerland, and Russian saxophonist Professor Sergey Kolesov performing works and arrangements by De Falla, Louis Mayeur, Rachmaninov and Khachaturian.

 American pianist Nina Tichman

 Russian saxophonist Sergey Kolesov

Russian pianist Yuri Didenko

Organised by the European Foundation for Support of Culture, the MIMF aims at putting Malta on the map of Classical Music Festivals and Competitions. “Our aim is to present an international music festival and competition on the same lines of similar classical music festivals abroad. This is achieved together with the provision of quality teaching, performances, concerts and competitions of high standards and competitive levels,” said MIMF Artistic Director Mro Alan Chircop.

“We augur that the Festival will enable Maltese students, teachers and music-lovers to benefit from this international opportunity in Malta,” added Mro Chircop.

Several international acclaimed professors will be conducting master-classes, attracting over 70 participants from different countries, including Malta, who will also perform during the daily concerts between the 27 April and 6 May. A number of participants will take part in the International Music Competitions for Piano, Strings and Wind instruments between 6 and 10 May. The daily concerts are open to the public and also free of charge.

MIMF is a member of Alink-Argerich Foundation, and is organised in collaboration with the Johann Strauss School of Music – Malta, Alink-Argerich Foundation, Choral and Orchestral Society “Maria Bambina”, and the Malta Band Clubs Association.

The Festival is sponsored by The Moscow Government, D’Addario Woodwinds, D’Addario Orchestral, Henri Selmer Paris, Luna Holiday Complex in Mellieha and Maritim Antonine Hotel&Spa. Air Malta is the Official carrier of the Festival.

Reservations of tickets for the Opening Concert to be held on 27 April, can be done from Teatru Manoel Booking Office, www.teatrumanoel.com.mt or from the theatre at 115 Old Theatre Street, Valletta.

The MIMF continues with free daily concerts, master-classes, competitions till 10 May.

Further information can be found on http://www.maltafest.eu” www.maltafest.eu or call 7772 7222.