Rita Dimech (Soprano)

Rita Dimech, who hails from Gozo, started her vocal studies with Mrs. Eirioes Thomas Jones who until recently was still her vocal instructor. She also worked with Mrs. Alice Horne and with one of Malta's top singers Paul Asciak. She participated in various concerts in Malta and Gozo, as well as appearing in United Kingdom, North America, Germany and Holland and has now established herself as one of Malta's leading soloists. She is also very active in Gozitan choral circles being a soloist with the Chorus Ecclesiae Cathedralis and the Gaulitanus Choir.

As regards operatic field her debut occurred in 1997 when she interpreted the role of Suzuki in Puccini's Madama Butterfly. Subsequently she interpreted the roles of Floria Bervoix in Verdi's La Traviata and the role of the High Priestess in Verdi's Aida. In 2000 Dimech interpreted the demanding role of Micaela in Bizet's Carmen while in October 2001 she interpreted the role Giovanna in Verdi's Ernani which was produced at the Aurora Opera House.

Joseph Aquilina (Tenor)

Aquilina started his early vocal studies with Antoinette Miggiani and Blagovesta Karnobatlova Dobreva and later with Paul Asciak. In 1997 he was the winner of the Melita-Rossiya competition for lyrical singers, and in 1999 he placed 9th during an international contest 'Premio Scienza e Musica', held in Salerno, Italy. As a matter of fact he is a regular singer of opera, operetta, oratorio, other sacred music, romantic and modern song.

Having performed in numerous concerts and recitals, one finds his participation during the Valletta History and elegance Festival, The Malta International Arts Festival, The Birgu Fest, and during the Millennium Activities. He also performed to the President of Malta on various occasions.

Aquilina has given creditable interpretations of various roles during operatic productions such as Compostella, The Maltese Cross, Tosca, Il Trovatore, Macbeth, Rigoletto, Norma and I Martiri. Apart from having sung leading roles in the operettas L'Acqua Cheta, La Vedova Allegra, I Paesi dei Campanelli and La Principessa della Czarda, he has also performed Haydn's Missa Brevis, Handel's Messiah, Mozart's Coronation Mass, Messa da Requiem and Messa Brevis, Beethoven's 9th. Symphony (together with The Beethoven Choral Society of Sydney Australia and St. Monica Choir), Puccini's Messa di Gloria (together with the Swabian Youth Choir of Germany), Joseph Sammut's Messa da Requiem and Colin Attard's oratorio Guzeppi ta Nazaret. He has also performed the premiere of Joseph Sammut's cantata In Hymnis Et Canticis (together with the Societa Filarmonica La Vallette) and Joseph Magri's Missa da Requiem.

Aquilina participated with great success in the 'Manoel on Tour' concerts held in the theatres of Grosseto, Cecina and Terme di Chianciano in Italy. He even had singing engagements in Milan and Montecorvino Rovella.

Aquilina has a recording on CD of works by John Galea together with the Colliery Brass Band of Nottigham, UK. Other recordings released include, Magri's Malta War Requiem and Tu est Petrus, Attard's Guzeppi ta' Nazaret and Camilleri's Dun Gorg!.

Noel Galea (Bass)

After studying vocal technique under the tuition of Prof. Dobreva, bass Noel Galea appeared in various concerts, operas and oratorios. He has also performed in notable performance venues which include St. Peter's Basilica, San Lorenzo in Damaso and in Sala Nervi in the presence of Pope John Paul II (Rome), Worksop College and St. Barnabas Cathedral (Notts.) and in Sofia (Bulgaria).

Furthermore, he has admirably interpreted numerous roles in operatic productions in Malta together with international casts namely in La Traviata and Macbeth at the Astra Theatre; Cosi Fan Tutte, La Ciambiale di Matrimonio, Le Nozze di Figaro, Compostella, Il Barbiere di Seviglia, Tosca and Werther at the Manoel Theatre; and the Maltese Cross at the MCC. Galea has also sang Stabat Mater by Carmelo Pace, Rossini's Stabat Mater, Mozart's Coronation Mass, and lately Verdi's Requiem Mass.

In 1999 Galea sung with the Sofia Symphony Orchestra in the recording of 2 CD's; in Nicolo Isouard's Messa Leggera and John Galea's Ggantija.