My violin
Since April 2025, I have been fortunate to play on a beautiful Johannes Bernardus Cuypers violin from the NMF, built in The Hague in 1818. It has a powerful and soloistic sound, still enriched with a warm sense of depth across all registers. I am incredibly grateful to be given the opportunity to pursue the next important phase of my life - starting my master's studies in Amsterdam - with this wonderful new companion. I am sure that we will have a beautiful journey together!
About me
I began playing the violin at the age of five in Malta, and continued my tuition with Marcelline Agius, leader of the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO), and later with Nadia Debono, former principal viola of the MPO. In May 2025, I completed my bachelor's degree at the Royal Conservatoire The Hague, receiving the highest grade of 10 and being awarded a special distinction for 'Overarching Musical Personality'. From September 2025, I will be continuing my master's studies at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam under the tutelage of Vera Beths.
I have been a member of the Malta Youth Orchestra since 2018, and have led the orchestra as concertmaster on several occasions. During the 2020-2021 season, I pursued an internship with the MPO and have since become a regular substitute. Additionally, I have also performed with several different ensembles in Malta, including the Valletta International Baroque Ensemble and the newly formed Nova Sinfonietta.
I have featured as a soloist with several orchestras, including the Almere Youth Symphony Orchestra and the MPO, on several occasions. One of my biggest achievements has been my solo performance with the prestigious Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra during the 'Klassiek Op Het Amstelveld' festival in Amsterdam. This followed my winning of the 'Spotlight Concours' in 2023. Most recently, I performed as a soloist in Max Richter's 'Recomposed: Vivaldi - The Four Seasons' during the Three Palaces Festival in Malta.
My musical ventures have taken me to perform in some of the most renowned concert halls in the world, including Carnegie Hall (New York), Concertgebouw (Amsterdam), Konzerthaus (Berlin), Usher Hall (Edinburgh) and the Lucerne Culture and Congress Centre. With orchestras, I have had the opportunity to work with distinguished conductors, including Iván Fischer, Gianandrea Noseda, Peter Stark, Ivan Meylemans, Johannes Klumpp and Wayne Marshall. Some recent orchestral endeavours include: co-leading the second violin section of the Jong Metropole in the Netherlands, performing alongside the Orchestre Français des Jeunes for an operatic production of Béla Bartók’s “Bluebeard’s Castle”, performing as concertmaster of the Koninklijk Conservatoriumorkest, and being selected for the second consecutive year as a member of the European Union Youth Orchestra.
I am passionate about chamber music and the holistic music-making experience it offers, so I actively seek opportunities to perform in various chamber group formations, and have had the privilege of sharing the stage with world-renowned professionals like Rosanne Philippens, Georgy Kovalev, Quirine Viersen and David Cohen. I have also collaborated with professional chamber orchestras, for example, recording Mozart symphonies with the Folkwang Kammerorchester Essen.
I have participated in masterclasses with several acclaimed violinists, some of which include: Dmitry Sitkovetsky, Rosanne Philippens, Daniel Rowland, Mari Samuelsen and Tobias Feldmann and Kees Hulsmann. With my previous 'Mesdag Quartet', I also worked with musicians including all members of Cuarteto Casals, Petr Prause, Peter Brunt, Ásdís Valdimarsdóttir and Patrick Jüdt. I regularly take part in masterclasses and projects held by the Davidsbündler Academy in The Hague.
In 2024, I won the 2nd prize at the 'Rijnmond Muziekprijs' in the Netherlands, in an open competition for violinists and pianists aged 10-30. Other achievements include my appearance as a Jonge Held on the famous Dutch TV programme 'Podium Klassiek' in 2023, and giving a solo recital at the Concertgebouw Kleine Zaal, which received great acclaim.
