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New horizons for the Klezmorimalta Foundation
While celebrating its first anniversary, the musical NGO is proud to announce many new developments, including the creation of Malta’s first Klezmer band.
Basil Bunelik, Jakob Lakner and Chris Haigh playing outside Pjazza Teatru Rjal
Following the successful run of its workshop in Klezmer music, the Klezmorimalta Foundation is now busy working on many of its current and upcoming projects. These include the launch of a Maltese Klezmer band and the organisation of an international Klezmer workshop in 2016, as well as taking part in this year’s Farsons Great Beer Festival and Notte Bianca.
“This time last year the Klezmorimalta Foundation was still in its infancy,” says Birgit Albrecht, one of the co-founders of the NGO. “It’s been a great first year though. With a national concert, the Klezmorimalta Nights, and our first workshop under our belts, we are now ready to take that much-needed leap of faith.”
‘A Workshop in Klezmer Music’, which was held between 20 and 25 April at Palazzo de La Salle, was attended by 20 professional Maltese musicians. Tutoring them were Jakob Lakner, Chris Haigh and Basil Bunelik, the three international musicians who came to Malta especially for this event. The week was brought to a close with a well-received and well-attended Klezmer music recital.
“The feedback we’ve received from participants and audiences has been overwhelming, and we’re now more certain than ever that we want to create and push Malta’s very own Klezmer band,” Birgit explains. “So we are currently working closely with a number of musicians who attended our workshops to finalise the list of seven professionals to make up the band.”
Beyond that, the Klezmorimalta Foundation is now preparing to present an acoustic programme at this year’s Farsons Great Beer Festival in Ta’ Qali, as well as working with the organisers of Notte Bianca for its upcoming edition in October.
“We’re thrilled to see things coming together as they are, and we’re very excited to get audiences and artists to interact,” Birgit adds. “After all, Klezmer is a genre in which art and entertainment literally do come together!”
The Klezmorimalta Foundation is now also working on the second edition of its Workshop in Klezmer taking place in May 2016.
“We’ve only just started prepping for this so nothing has been confirmed yet, but would like to invite people to keep up-to-date on all that’s happening through our recently-launched portal: www.klezmorimalta-foundation.com.”
