Gold Medal Award

Maestro Laus held a position as Director of the Maltese National Orchestra for 25 years. He is now a Resident Conductor. Under his auspices the Orchestra performed in Malta, Belgium and Italy. He also directed a number of operatic productions such as Handel’s Messiah, Mozart’s Requiem, Verdi’s Requiem and Jenkins Mass for Peace. His repertoire spans from the 18th, to the 21st century and also included a number of original compositions. In July 2016 he directed Arvo Pärt’s Greater Antiphons, in the presence of the composer himself. Laus was invited to inaugurate the first edition of the Valletta International Baroque Festival, in 2013, which he did with Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, along with the violinist Carmine Lauri. He also worked with the soloists Katia Ricciarelli, Cecilia Gasdia, Joseph Calleja, Brigitte Engerer, Pietro de Maria and Andrea Griminelli. He also regularly collaborated with his wife, soprano Miriam Gauci.

Michael Laus directed various other prestigious orchestras, such as the Bournemouth Symphony, the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Slovak Philharmonic, the Belgrade Philharmonic, the Symphonic Orchestra of Asturias, the Berne Symphony Orchestra, the Pesaro Symphonic Orchestra, the Sibiu Philharmonic Orchestra, the Moldavian Symphony Orchestra and the Croatian Chamber Orchestra. He has directed opera in theatres in Berne and Oviedo. Laus also performs on the piano and harpsichord. His recording of a piano concert featuring works by Cyril Scott was met by critical acclaim internationally. He also recorded piano and orchestral works for the brands Discover International, Unicorn-Khanchana and Cameo Classics. He has performed on the television stations Rai 3, France3 and Mezzo.

Michael Laus is an Associate Professor at the University of Malta and he is the founder and director of the National Youth Orchestra, as well as the Goldberg Ensemble, which is a group of singers and instrumentalists who specialise in both Baroque and Contemporary music.

First launched in 1896, the Committee of the MSA awards a Gold Medal to those whose work has influenced and left an indelible mark on the arts sector. This year, the Gold Medal was awarded to Ms Pisani Bencini, known mostly for her presence on local TV stations spanning a continuous period of 34 years. Her arts and culture programme Meander has effectively witnessed and visually documented the evolvement of the local arts and culture scene over a span of 27 years and continues to be popular and highly appreciated to this day.

Ms Pisani Bencini’s career includes researching, scriptwriting, producing, and presenting Meander for the 20 years during which it aired on TVM, and subsequently throughout the seven years it has aired on Net TV to date. The programme has received several key awards, including the Broadcasting Authority Award assigned to cultural TV programmes. She is also the prolific author of varied radio scripts and screenplays and has published two novels. Her first, entitled Tliet Nisa u Mara in 2004, won the Premju Nazzjonali tal-Ktieb in 2005, while her second novel, this time in English with the title We Belong, was published in 2018.

Joseph Paul Cassar’s artistic career seems to have originated at a very early age when he used to accompany his father visiting art exhibitions at the Museum of Archaeology. He attended the Government School of Art and studied under Harry Alden and Fr Marius Zerafa. To further his art studies he proceeded to Perugia at the Academia di Belle Arti Pietro Vannucci undergoing visual art courses under well-known Professors Romeo Mancini, Bruno Munari and Bruno Orfei.

Cassar is the holder of an M.A. in Art History and Criticism from Columbia Pacific University of California and a Ph.D. in Art History and Criticism from the University of Malta. Joseph Paul Cassar is currently professor of art in the Department of Art and Graphic Communications of the University of Maryland Global Campus.

Prof. Cassar is a prolific contributor to publishers in Malta, having covered conversations with, among others, Antoine Camilleri, Victor Pasmore and Jean Busuttil Zaleski. His publications are numerous and just to mention a few include Aldo Micallef Grimaud, the Art and Life of George Fenech, Art Nouveau and Malta. He has published several scholarly books and his research in Maltese Modern Art of the twentieth century has become a benchmark study in this field. Most notably are the two volumes entitled: “Pioneers of Modern Art in Malta” (Vol I: 2010 awarded best book prize for research; Vol II: 2019). Other important publications are “Carmelo Mangion: His Life and Works 1905-1997” (2008, also awarded Best Book Prize for Research), “Conversations with 12 Maltese Artists”, (2007), “Antoine Camilleri: His Life and Works 1922- 2005” (2006), “Caesar Attard” (2008), “Philip Chircop: Abstract Expressions” (2010), “The Art and Life of George Fenech 1926-2011” (with Lino Borg, 2012), “The Life and Works of Lewis Wirth 1923- 2010 and Helen Cavarra 1926-1978”, (2014).

Joseph Paul Cassar is a regular visitor to Malta and his several lectures abroad, mainly in the U.S.A., makes our Island renowned in the artistic and cultural fields.

Born in Żebbiegħ, Gatt is popularly known as ‘City’. His interest in both music and painting started more or less at the same time. He joined the Education Department in 1961 and pursued a training course at St Michael’s College of Education. He taught art from 1968 to 1975 when he joined the staff of the School of Music, teaching percussion. He served as principal of the same school (1995-2005).

Gatt furthered his studies at Berklee College of Music in Boston, USA in 1978 and 1979. He formed part of Andy Jaffe’s ensemble, played in David Kikoski’s trio and Joe Mahkolm’s Big Band, and was also a regular percussionist with Boston’s Melrose Symphony Orchestra. He also recorded works for solo percussion by Charles Camilleri whose music he performed at UNESCO-sponsored North-South Encounter in the Netherlands, at London’s Royal Festival Hall and the Barbican Centre. Gatt toured several cities in North Italy playing vibraphone with the Jazz Fantasy Trio from Bergamo. In 2004 he played the Jazzmandu, the Kathmandu Jazz Festival in Nepal. In 2014 he was part of the Ortigia Jazz Festival on vibraphone with the Rino Cirinna Sextet. He gave several master classes, workshops and performances at the Tollwood Festival in Munich and in other cities in Europe.

Gatt has accompanied artists like Albert Mangelsdorff, Bobby Shew, and the National Youth Orchestra from Britain in formal concerts and, in less formal situations, played with Steve Coleman, Joe Lovano, Trilok Gurtu, and Arto Tuncboyaciyan, among others. He played at the Bratislava Jazz Days in Czechoslovakia and at other festivals of contemporary music in Greece, Spain, North Africa, the USSR, and Australia. He has also composed music for jazz and percussion ensemble that have been used as dance routines in various musical situations.

Charles Gatt is probably best known locally as Malta’s “father of jazz”, having spearheaded the Malta Jazz Festival in 1991, acting as its musical director for its first fifteen years (1991-2005).

As a member of the local Art Group ‘Start’ his installations were part of exhibitions at ‘Cityspaces’ in Valletta, ‘Malta at War Museum’, Vittoriosa (2005), ‘Borders’ at Pinto Wharf (2004), curated by Raphael Vella Ph.D and ‘Escape’ at the Old Prisons, Citadel Gozo (2003) curated by Austin Camilleri. In 2013 he took part in ‘Re-Visit the Contemporary Face of Faith’ curated by Vince Briffa.

Gatt is a member of the European art group ‘Frequenzen’. Recent exhibitions and venues with this group include Borgo a Mozzano, Italy (2017, 2006) Vesprem, Hungary (2016) ‘Umshlagplatz Coburg’ Germany (2016), Neumarkt a.d. Raab Austria (2015, 2012, 2008), Higueras and Castellon in Spain(2014), Le Rocher d’Ongles , France (2013) Rosenheim, Germany (2009) Ascoli Piceno, Italy (2004, 2009), Triumphforte, Inssbruch (2003), Galerie Hallman Strauss, Munich (2010,2005), Chongju and Gaya, South Korea, Tuchersfeld Frankishe Schweiz Museum, Germany National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta.

Carmine Lauri has been awarded with the Malta Society of Arts’ 2015 Gold Medal in recognition for his outstanding international career.

Carmine Lauri was born in 1971 and started playing the violin at the age of four. In 1988 he was awarded the Associated Board scholarship to further his studies in London at the Royal Academy of Music with Maurice Hasson and other distinguished artists including Anne Sophie Mutter & Ida Haendel.

Lauri has performed extensively worldwide including performances in the presence of HM Queen Elizabeth II and other Heads of State. Since the year 2000 he has beeen Co-Leader of the Concertmaster of the Oxford Philharmonic and Guest Leader of the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra. He has also been guest concertmaster of various orchestras including the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, the London Philharmonic, the Rotterdam Philharmonic, the Bournemouth Symphony, Manchester Camerata and the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra under distinguished conductors such as Lorin Maazel, Bernard Haitink, Sir Colin Davis, Sir Antonio Pappano, Riccardo Chailly, Pierre Boulez, Valery Gergiev and many others.

Carmine regularly leads the London Symphony Orchestra and has led the orchestra in numerous recordings including music scores of several movies, including Star Wars, Harry Potter, The Queen, The Danish Girl, Suffragetteand is often the featured violin soloist in many films such as ‘As you like it’ and ‘Joyeux Nöel’

Throughout his career Carmine has performed concertos with many international orchestras including the LSO, LPO, the Czech Philharmonic and Czech State Phil of Brno, the Oxford Philharmonic, the Orquesta Municipal de Caracas, and the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra. He has also premiered two violin concertos with the LSO. Carmine is regularly invited to judge final rounds of music competitions held in London and to coach advanced students at the Royal Academy of Music and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He also regularly coaches students at the Royal Academy of Music as part of their orchestral training and conducts sectional string rehearsals to prepare the orchestra for their concerts.

In 2004 and 2006 respectively, Carmine was elected as Associate of the Royal Academy of Music (ARAM) and Fellow of the Royal Academy (FRAM) for his achievements in his career. Carmine currently plays a violin by Nicholas Lupot made in ca 1780. Carmine’s distinguished talents were acknowledged by his country which bestowed upon him the National Order of Merit – M.O.M. (F’Ġieħ ir-Repubblika).

Most recent performances have included performances of Wieniawski’s 1st Violin Concerto, the Bruch Violin Concerto, a number of solo performances accompanied the LSO including a joint duo performance of Monti’s Czardas with the world famous Roby Lakatos.

He recently directed and performed with the Baltic Neopolis Orchestra as part of their Great Concertmaster series in Poland. Last November Carmine was invited to give a recital at the Frankfurt Opera as part of the Malta Culture celebrations in Germany. Future performances include a performance of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons in Malta and Bottesini’s Grand Duo with the Oxford Philharmonic.

Carmine Lauri has two solo compact disc recordings to his credit, Bravura (1994) and Violin Extravaganza (2004).

“I find it difficult to write about my friend Gabriel Caruana, firstly because he is my friend and then because he is a wonderful artist. A wonderful artist cannot be classified and described with academic formulas. Caruana’s art is always fresh and free, always alive and bold: it possesses the same verve that gave birth to the modern independence in painting and sculpture”
                                                                                             VICTOR PASMORE

Gabriel Caruana (b. 1929) is recognised as perhaps Malta’s most inventive artist and his original approach in the art of ceramics makes him stand out singularly as the person who has worked so intensely in this genre on the local art scene. Through his contribution as an artist he made a name for himself within the mainstream of Maltese artists over the past fifty years and earned esteem on the international scene.

Caruana pursued his art studies from an early age at government schools and at the Malta Government School of Art, but had already decided he preferred complete freedom of expression and perhaps may essentially be classified as self-taught.

Apart from the influence of the Maltese cultural and social environment, it is especially the elements that have left their mark on his work. Also one must not ignore the influence imparted by a number of foreign personalities who settled in Malta, like Charles Sewter and Victor Pasmore who were to become mentors and friends and also his friendship with Maltese artist/architect Richard England.

His prolific output includes sculptures in bronze, wood, cement, stone and Perspex, paintings, drawings and prints. What he is mostly known for, is his own original interpretation of ceramic art that includes numerous large murals, free standing sculptures, plates and wall plaques with modelled relief, also a note worthy collection of columns.
For a good number of years, Caruana was an art tutor at the St Joseph Secondary School and later at the Targa Gap School of Arts and Crafts and under his guidance flourished a great number of local ceramic artists.

During his career Caruana has won various awards amongst which the Midalja ghall-Qadi tar-Repubblika (1999) and in 2014 the Gold Medal from the Malta Society of Arts.

Harry Alden stands out singularly as the person who in the 1960s introduced the hard-edge technique onto the local art scene and through his contribution both as an artist, as well as an art teacher, he made a name for himself within the mainstream of Maltese artists over the past fifty years.
Born in Valletta on the 15^th December 1929, Alden pursued his art studies from an early age at government schools and at the Government School of Art from 1953 to 1962 when he was awarded the School’s four-year art scholarship, to pursue further studies at the Croydon College of Arts, in the UK. In 1966 he obtained the College’s National Diploma in Design in three years instead of four, thus dedicating the final year of the scholarship to textile design and printing. At Croydon, Alden studied under the famed artists, Bridget Riley, Allen Jones and John Hoyland..

Alden was Lecturer in art at St Michael’s Training College between 1966 and 1973 and Drawing Master at the Government School of Art, becoming its Principal between 1987 and 1990. During his career Alden has won various art competitions including the Malta Trade Fair poster competition and in 1969 the first prize in the Human Rights art competition. In 1971 he won the De Soldanis postage stamp design competition, while in 1973 he won three commemorative stamps design competitions: WHO, FAO and the Charter of Human Rights, while in 1976 he also won the Olympic Games postage stamp design competition.

Alden’s works include murals for the British Council in Malta (1970), St Michael’s Training College (1971), The Via Sagra, and four large painings for the Carmelite Church in Balluta, Sliema (1988). In 2007 he was awarded the Midalja ghall-Qadi tar-Repubblika and in 2013 the Gold Medal from the Malta Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce.

Harry is married to Rose nee Pace and they have a son Marc, who is married to Anna Maria nee Cassano and they have two children, Andrew and Emma.

Trevor Żahra was born on the 16th December 1947 in Zejtun (Malta).  In 1971, Żahra married Stella nee Agius and they had two children, Ruben and Marija.

Stella died in 1989 at the age of 38. Żahra taught Art and Maltese in state schools for 33 years.

He has to date published more than 120 books, all written in Maltese.  His first children’s adventure, Il-Pulena tad-Deheb (The Golden Figurehead) was published in 1971. From then on he never stopped writing across practically all genres, including adventure stories, poetry for children, folk tales, workbooks, translations, adult novels and short stories.

In 1974 his adult novel Taħt il-Weraq tal-Palm  (Under the Palm Trees) was awarded first prize in a national literary competition. His fantasy novel Is-Seba’ Tronġiet Mewwija (The Seven Enchanted Citrusfruits) won the 1995 National Literary Prize. He was also awarded national literary prizes for his books: Ħolm tal-Milied (Christmas Dreams), Lubien (Drowsy), Taħt Sema Kwiekeb (Under a Starlit Night), Provenz (North-West Wind), X’Tixtiequ Jagħmel il-Fenek?(What would like the Rabbit to do?); while his book Din l-Art u Kulma Fiha (This Land and all it Embraces) won the special award for best illustration.  Żahra is the Maltese author who won the national literary prize the most times, for both children and adult fiction … fifteen times. In 2004 he was awarded the Medal for Services to the Republic by the President of Malta, in recognition for his literary career particularly in children’s literature.

His books throughout the years have outsold, by far, those of any other Maltese author in Maltese history.

His pleasant style of writing, unique in its marrying accessibility with artfully constructed, deceptively simple language, full of humour and imaginative thinking, and his clear illustrative drawings that complement his writings, make Żahra the most popular writer and illustrator of children’s books in Malta.

Fr. Marius J. Zerafa O.P., S.Th.L & Lic., Dr.Sc.Soc., B.A. Hons. (Lond), A.R.Hist.Soc. (Lond). born in Vittoriosa, Malta, 13th October 1929, son of Joseph Zerafa M.B.E and Maria (nee Boffa), nephew of Sir Paul Boffa Kt., O.B.E., M.D., Prime Minister of Malta.

Started education at the Government Primary School till Class III, when, at the age of 9, he entered the Malta Lyceum. With the encouragement of Dun Gorg Preca he joined the Dominican Order in 1945. He spent three years at the Dominican House of Studies in Rabat and was then sent to “Hawkesyard”, Staffordshire, and later to “Blackfriars”, Oxford (1948-1952). Went to Rome (1952-54) where he obtained his S.Th.B. and Dip.Sc.Soc. He returned to Rome for another two years and obtained his Lectorate and Licentiate in Sacred Theology and a Doctorate in Social Sciences. He also attended the State University in Rome and obtained a Diploma in Art History. Later he also obtained a B.A. Hons. Degree in Art History from the University of London.

He also followed courses at the Sorbonne and at the Ecole de Louvre, Paris, (1963 and 1966); at the University of Florence (1965 and 1968); at the Brera, Milan, and at the Fondazione Cini, Venice, (1965). Working on a thesis for the Degree of D.Litt. at Florence University.

In 1962 he was elected Associate of the Royal Historical Society, London. He is a member of the Accademia Tiberina and was awarded the French Decoration “Chevalier dans l`Ordre des Arts et des Lettres”, the Russian “Order of Lomonosov” and “Insignia of Merit”, and the Florence “Beato Angelico” Medal.

He is also Knight of Grace, O.S.J. Fr Zerafa was awarded Art Scholarships by the Italian Government on the occasion of Malta`s Independence and again in 1968. He visited museums in the United States on an International Visitors Program; worked at the Louvre, Paris, on a Council of Europe Fellowship; had a British Council Grant in 1967 and a German Government Bursary sponsored by Inter Nationes. He was also invited to the Soviet Union as Co-Founder of the Maltese-Soviet Friendship Society.

Fr Zerafa was Secretary and Senior History and Literature Master at St Albert`s College, Valletta, (1954-62); Professor of Social Philosophy and Sacred Art at the Dominican House of Studies, Rabat; Lecturer in Fr. Marius Zerafa O.P. Sociology in the Pastoral Course for the Clergy; Examiner in Sociology at the University of Malta; Lecturer in History and Appreciation of Art at the Malta School of Art; Lecturer in Sacred Art at the Major Seminary; at I.N.S.E.R.M.; Lecturer in Art Appreciation at St Edward`s College; taught English Literature and Art History at St Teresa monastery, Cospicua.

He also lectured regularly, mainly on Art, at the British Council Centre, the Italian Istituto di Cultura, the Alliance Francaise and other cultural centres. For many years he was sub-editor of “Scientia” and Archivist of the Maltese Dominican Province.

While studying in Florence, he was encouraged by Prof G LaPira, ex mayor of the City, to set up an Art Centre at S Marco, but had to return to Malta for family reasons. Fr Zerafa joined the Museums Department in 1970 as Assistant Curator of Fine Arts and was responsible for the setting up of the National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta and the Museum of Contemporary Art at St Julian`s. He became Curator of Fine Arts in 1975 and Director of Museums in 1981. He was responsible for the opening of a number of museums in Malta and Gozo. During this period he was involved in the recovery of the painting “St Jerome” by Caravaggio. His tactful contact with the thieves, over a period of eight months resulted in the successful recovering of this masterpiece.

Fr Zerafa has been invited to lecture at the Smithsonian, Washington; at Fordham University, New York; at the American University, Rome; at the Dominican Curia Generalizia, Rome; at Aspen Museum, Colorado; at the Moscow State University; at the Academy for Contemporary Art, Moscow; at the Academy for Design, Togliattigrad; at the Preti Museum, Taverna; at Budapest Museum, as well as other educational institutions.

He has taken part in International conferences in Quebec, Tunis and other cities and has helped organize numerous art exhibitions in London, Paris, Moscow and Palermo.

He was Chairman of Government committees and of other committees of various organizations. Until his resignation was Chairman of the Archdiocesan Commission for Sacred Art. He is a member of the Dominican Commission for Preaching through Art.

Fr Zerafa retired from the Museums Department at the age of 61. He is now lecturer in Sacred Art at the Angelicum University, Rome. He is also “Aquinas Visiting Scholar” at Toronto University, Canada. He lectures at Cultural centres in Malta, and often leads groups of students on cultural tours abroad.

He has restored works by Mattia Preti, Favray, and other Masters. His own paintings and sculptures are to be found in churches and collections in Malta and abroad. An exhibition of his works and projects was held at Gallery G in December 2007.

Publications:
“Developments in the doctrine of private property” (Rome, 1945)
“The Genesis of Marx`s realist interpretation of History” (Rome, 1962)
“Caravaggio Diaries” (Malta, 2004) Being translated into Italian and Russian.
“Memories” (In preparation)
Contributions to the Encyclopaedia of Contemporary Art, Florence: to Thieme Becker, Berlin: and other publications.

(The biography was referred to the period when the Gold Medal was awarded)

Miriam Gauci was born in Malta and started her vocal education with her aunt, soprano Hilda Tabone. At an early age, she obtained a scholarship to study in Milan, where she made her home. She obtained her diploma in singing from the Conservatorio ‘Giuseppe Verdi’ and the diploma from the Centro di Perfezionamento Artisti Lirici from the Teatro alla Scala. During this period her professors for singing were Lia Guarini and the world famous mezzo-soprano Giulietta Simionato. She also studied staging techniques with Marisa Flask at La Scala and Renato Zanella and Vladimir Delman at the Teatro Studio in Bologna.

She was the first Maltese singer to obtain a diploma from an Italian Conservatorio and from the Teatro alla Scala, thanks to the scholarship from the Italian Cultural Institute.
Miriam Gauci won various international competitions, such as the ‘Aureliano Pertile’ in Bologna and the ‘Toti dal Monte’ in Treviso, and the Concorso per il Centro di Perfezionamento Artisti Lirici of the La Scala Theatre.

In 1984 she made her stage-debut with Poulenc’s La Voix Humaine in Bologna followed by her first appearences at the Teatro alla Scala di Milano performing in Luigi Rossi’s  and in Bellini’s La Sonnambula. Miriam Gauci has sung at numerous international opera-houses such as the Teatro Comunale di Firenze, Teatro di Roma, Teatro Bellini di Catania, Teatro San Carlo di Napoli, the State Operas in Munich, Hamburg, Berlin, Dresden and Vienna, at the Opéra de Bastille in Paris, Theatre du Capitole de Toulouse, Teatro del Liceu in Barcelona, Teatro della Zarzuela in Madrid and at the opera-houses in Bilbao, Lisbon, Antwerp, Geneve and Zurich. In 1987 she made her very successful debut in the United States, singing Puccini’s Madama Butterfly at the Santa Fe Opera. She inaugurated the Los Angeles Opera season as Mimi` in Puccini’s La Bohème with Placido Domingo as Rodolfo the same year; she has also performed in Moscow, Tokyo and Santiago de Chile. Her debut with the San Francisco Opera took place in January 2000 with the role of Mimi`, and she sang the same role for her debut with the Metropolitan Opera in March 2001, with a live broadcast world-wide.

After having sung various roles such as Gilda in Verdi’s Rigoletto, Violetta in La Traviata, Lauretta in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi and Ilia in Mozart’s Idomeneo, Miriam Gauci concentrates nowadays on main-parts in operas by Giacomo Puccini (Mimi in La Bohème, Liu in Turandot, Cio-Cio-San in Madama Butterfly as well as the title-roles in Suor Angelica and Manon Lescaut) and Giuseppe Verdi (Elisabetta in Don Carlo, Desdemona in Otello and Amelia Grimaldi in Simon Boccanegra). She also sings Nedda in Leoncavallo’s I Pagliacci, the title-role of Massenet’s Manon, Contessa Almaviva in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro and Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni as well as Margherita and Elena in Boito’s Mefistofele. Miriam Gauci had a great success when making her debut in a new production of Boito’s Mefistofele under Riccardo Muti at the Vienna State Opera in 1997.

Her concert appearances include performances of Verdi’s Messa da Requiem in Zurich (conducted by Georges Prêtre and by James Conlon), Catania (conducted by Nello Santi), at the Vienna Musikverein (under Vladimir Fedosejev’s baton) as well with Riccardo Muti at the opening of the 2002 Salzburg Festival, at the Vienna State Opera and in Tokyo, the latter with the La Scala Orchestra. She sang the Verdi Requiem again with Georges Prêtre at the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome in 2001.

Miriam Gauci has been working with numerous conductors like Claudio Abbado, Gerd Albrecht, James Conlon, Gianandrea Gavazzeni, Fabio Luisi, Zubin Mehta, Riccardo Muti, Georges Prêtre, Wolfgang Sawallisch, Silvio Varviso and Marcello Viotti, with famous stage-directors like Franco Zeffirelli , Harry Kupfer  and Robert Wilson as well as with her stage-partners Roberto Alagna, Jaime Aragall, Francisco Araiza, Placido Domingo, Peter Dvorský, Ferruccio Furlanetto, Nicolai Ghiaurov, Samuel Ramey, Giuseppe Sabbatini and Neil Shicoff. She performs regularly with her husband Michael Laus in recitals and concerts.

She participated in DVD-recordings as Micaëla in Bizet’s Carmen (at London’s Earl Court Theatre) and as Puccini’s Manon Lescaut (at De Vlaamse Opera in Antwerp) and she has recorded the following complete operas on CD: Madama Butterfly, Manon Lescaut, Tosca, Suor Angelica, Gianni Schicchi, La Bohème, Pagliacci, Otello and Simon Boccanegra. Miriam Gauci recorded an album with Italian arias as well as the soprano-parts in Beethoven’s Egmont and his Symphony No.9, Brahms’ Deutsche Requiem,  Dvořák’s Stabat Mater and Te Deum as well as Verdi’s Messa da Requiem. Her latest release is a CD recording of duets with Ramon Vargas for RCA.

In December, 1993, Miriam Gauci received the membership of the Order of Merit from President Ċensu Tabone. In May, 2010, she was made a Cavaliere of the Italian Republic.
In February 2006, Miriam Gauci performed the role of Contessa d’Almaviva in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro in Giorgio Strehler’s famous production at La Scala. The première was broadcast live on RAI 3.

Ms Gauci was the stage director in the production of Rigoletto in the 2007 BOV Opera Festival at the Manoel Theatre and in Die Zauberflöte in 2009 in the same festival.  Her latest appearance in Malta was in January, 2009 in a concert at St John’s Co-Cathedral in honour of the President of Malta, Edward Fenech Adami.

In 2011, H.E. Dr George Abela, President of the Republic, bestowed the Malta Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce’s 2010 Gold Medal to Miriam Gauci in a ceremony held at the Casino Maltese. The award was given in recognition of Miriam Gauci’s outstanding career in the international field of operatic music.

(The biography was referred to the period when the Gold Medal was awarded)

Karmen Azzopardi is a leading actress in Malta. She trained for the stage at the Actor’s Studio in London and for broadcasting at the BBC. In a long career she played roles in both English and Maltese ranging from comedy to classical drama including the Greek Tragedies of Women of Trachis, Medea, Hecuba and the Phoenician Women.

She is co-founder of Atturi Theatre Productions, the Company which introduced audiences in Malta to international playwrights such as Eduardo de Filippo, Tennessee Williams and Luigi Pirandello. She led the Company to Moscow to perform two plays, one by Azbuzov and the other by Eduardo de Filippo, under the direction of Sergei Yashin and Anthony Bezzina at the Gogol Theatre. She was a member of the Malta International Arts Festival Committee and has adjudicated various drama festivals and scripts for the stage.

She was awarded the Manoel Theatre Award for the Best Actress, the Malta Drama League Award and twice the Golden Star for Best Actress on Radio. She has played numerous parts on radio and television and has appeared in various teleserials with Lino Farrugia as director. On December 13, 2002 she was awarded the Medal for Service to the Republic by the then President of the Republic, Professor Guido De Marco. She was awarded the Cultural Awareness Award by the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts. In 2005 the Manoel Theatre presented her in a one-woman show entitled ‘An Evening with Karmen Azzopardi’ with Jon Rosser as director.

She was married to the late Chev. Paul Naudi, formerly Malta’s Ambassador to the Russian Federation.

(The biography was referred to the period when the Gold Medal was awarded)

Joseph Calleja was born on the island of Malta in 1978 Calleja took up singing under the distinguished Maltese tenor Paul Asciak at the age of 15. He had his professional debut in 1997 at the Astra theatre in Gozo singing the role of Macduff in Verdi’s Macbeth. His first international competition was the Belvedere Hans Gabor that same year landing him a prize. He subsequently won the 1998 Caruso Competition in Milan and again prize-winning in the 1999 Placido Domingo’s competition, “Operalia.” Since then his engagements have taken him to virtually every European and North American major city where he appeared in more than twenty leading tenor roles in theatres such as the Royal Opera House – Covent Garden, Vienna State Opera, the Metropolitan Opera House, Chicago Lyric Opera, Washington Opera, Los Angeles Opera, Seattle Opera, Minnesota Opera, Zurich Opera, Communale di Bologna, Regio di Torino, Staatsoper Munich, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Liceo in Barcelona and festivals such as the Wexford Opera Festival, Rossini Opera Festival and both at the Salzburg Whitsun and Summer Festival.

He has also toured throughout Europe in both solo and duo concerts opposite colleagues such as Anna Netrebko, Renee Fleming and Bryn Terfel. He has worked with some of the world greatest conductors including Riccardo Chailly, Daniel Oren, Zubin Mehta, Kurt Masur and Antonio Pappano.

The youngest vocal artist ever signed exclusively by the Decca label, his fi rst album “Tenor Arias” conducted by Riccardo Chailly was released in Spring 2004 to international critical acclaim. He has since then recorded his second solo album “The Golden Voice” conducted by Carlo Rizzi with the same label. Recently he also took part in the New Year’s Concert broadcasted live from La Fenice live on Rai Television. The concert is available on DVD released by TDK. Prior to his signing with Decca he also recorded the role of Leicester in the complete recording of Maria Stuarda for Dynamic Records (DVD & CD), Puccini Discoveries (Decca – Riccardo Chailly) and a cameo appearance on Renee Fleming’s Decca CD release “By Request.” He was also featured on soundtrack of the Hollywood Film “No Reservations” which was later on released as a commercial CD by UNIVERSAL MUSIC another artist which features prominently on this CD is the late Luciano Pavarotti.

His future plans include Alfredo in Traviata at the Vienna Staatsoper, Macduff in Macbeth at the Metropolitan Opera and Tebaldo in Bellini’s Capuletti e Montecchi at the Vienna Konzerthaus to be recorded by Deutsche Grammophone for future commercial release. A regular guest on Europe’s major television stations he has been featureded regularly on stations such as Rai 1, ZDF, RTL, HR, Deutsche Welle and ORF. He also sung in private events for various personalities including the Queen of England.

To date Calleja has already appeared in 24 operatic roles. He was awarded with the MOM medal by the Maltese Government in 2006.

(The biography was referred to the period when the Gold Medal was awarded)

Born in Rabat, Agius (1.12.1933-19.10.2008) started his apprenticeship in Art under Jospeh Galea.  He studied art at the Malta Society of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce between 1950 and 1953.  He continued his studies at the School of Arts under George Borg.  In 1957, Agius won a Malta government scholarship at the Scuola del Nudo dell’ Associazione Artistica Internazionale at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Rome and to St Martin’s School of Art in London, where he was awarded the national diploma in design, modelling, sculpture and letter cutting.

Agius was an art teacher in secondary schools, lecturer at the University of Malta, examiner for Oxford ‘O’ Level Ceramicas and member of the Malta Aesthetics Board. He won first prize in the Human Rights Art Exhibition (1968), the first prize for the Trophy for the Best-Kept Village (1971), the Onorificenza Del Dio Pan in Florence (1979), the Artist of the Year Award (1980), the Targa d’Onore (1982) and the second prize of the First International Art Biennale in Malta (1995).

Several of Agius’s works are found in private collectiond in many parts of the world.  Among the artist’s major works are the Workers Monument at Msida, the 31 March 1979 Monument in Vittoriosa, the monument of Dun Mikiel Xerri u Shabu in Valletta, the monument of Mgr.G. DePiro at Rabat, the statue of Manwel Dimech in Valletta, the statue of Guze’ Elleul Mercer at Dingli, the monument commemorating the victims of the Sette Giugno riots in Valletta, the bust of Anton Buttigieg in Qala, Gozo and the sepulchral work of Kurcifiss ta’ Llum for the Dominican Order.
Anton Agius exhibited several works and these include a 1963 exhibition at the National Musuem, the Musuem of Fine Arts (1974 and 1979), the Maltese Sculptures and Ceramics Exhibition at the Galleria Fenici (1981), the Art ’84 – Malta Exhibition (1984) and the Public Service Week Art Exhibition (1996).

Agius was made member of the National Order of Merit in 2005.  In 2007, he was awarded the Gold Award Medal of the Society of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce.

Joseph FX Zahra B.A. (Hons) Econ., M.A., F.C.I.M., M.M.R.S.(b. 1955) graduated with a first class honours degree in economics in 1976 from the University of Malta, and a masters degree in economics in 1979. For over ten years he held the position of visiting lecturer in economics at the University of Malta, and since 2000 he has been visiting the Universita’ degli Studi di Messina as lecturer in managerial economics. He is a regular speaker on economic, financial and management topics in conferences and seminars in Europe, North America and North Africa.

He is a Chartered Marketer (U.K.), a Fellow of the Charted Institute of Marketing and a Member of the Market Research Society (U.K.), and the Gruppo di Studio per il Bilancio Sociale (Milan, Italy).

Joe Zahra is co-founder of Misco (Market Intelligence Services Co. Ltd., and Misco International Ltd.) and Impetus Europe Consulting Ltd. He has been Chairman of the Bank of Valletta plc (1998-2004) and Maltacom plc (2003) and their subsidiaries, besides a board director of the Central Bank of Malta (1992 – 1996) and the Malta Development Corporation (1995 – 1996). He is today board member of a number of public and private local and international companies based in Malta and overseas.

He has a strong personal interest in the arts and culture, having held the Chairmanship of the first Malta Council for Culture and the Arts (2002 – 2003), and a member of the Committee for the Guarantee of Maltese Heritage and Arts (2002 – 2005). Joe Zahra is a writer of poetry and plays. He published his first book of verse “Jien” in 1973. Two of his plays were produced at the University of Malta theatres in the 1970s. He is also a keen follower of Maltese visual arts.

He is at present also Chairman of the National Euro Changeover Committee. He is married to Lucienne (nee Naudi) since 1980 and has a son, David (b. 1982) and a daughter, Maria (b. 1986).

(The biography was referred to the period when the Gold Medal was awarded)

In 1977, Grech was appointed Archbishop’s Delegate for social and charitable work in the Church. Soon after, he became Director of Caritas Malta and introduced professional social services to Church institutions. He also set up The Caritas Agency and the community of volunteers trained to support the services.

In 1984, Mgr Grech founded the Caritas Drug Prevention and Rehabilitation Projects and in 1985 set up the first Therapeutic Community for drug abusers in Malta, set up the first Residential Shelter for men as well as women, and opened a House for the rehabilitation of Prisoners with drug problems. Mgr Grech was the Founder and first Chairman of the Caritas Foundation for the Rehabilitation of Drugs.

Oliver Friggieri was a Maltese writer, poet, philosopher, and academic who made significant contributions to Maltese literature and culture.Friggieri was a prolific writer, with numerous books of poetry, prose, and essays to his name. He was particularly known for his contributions to Maltese literature, including his novel “Fil-Parlament Ma Jikbrux Fjuri” (“In Parliament Flowers Don’t Grow”)
In addition to his literary work, Friggieri was also a respected academic and philosopher, and he taught at the University of Malta for many years.Friggieri was recognized with numerous awards for his contributions to Maltese literature and culture, including the National Book Prize for lifetime achievement in 2016. He was also a member of the Maltese Academy of Letters and was awarded the Order of Merit by the President of Malta in 2008.

Bonello began his legal career as a practicing lawyer, specializing in civil law and serving as the President of the Chamber of Advocates in Malta. In 1982, he was appointed to the judiciary as a judge of the Civil Court, and later served as a judge in the Court of Appeal and the Constitutional Court.

Bonello is known for his contributions to legal scholarship, particularly in the area of Maltese law. He has written numerous articles and books on various legal topics, including property law, human rights, and the Maltese legal system. He has also served as a visiting professor at several universities around the world, including the University of Cambridge, the University of Bologna, and the University of California, Berkeley.

In addition to his legal career, Bonello is also known for his contributions to Maltese culture and heritage. He has been involved in several initiatives related to the preservation of historic sites in Malta, and served as the chairman of the Valletta Rehabilitation Committee.

For his outstanding achievement as a dramatic and remarkable
operatic tenor in Malta and abroad.

Asciak’s operatic debut in Malta was as Turiddu in Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana in 1946.

He made his Italy debut in 1950 when he sang the part of Manrico in Verdi’s Il Trovatore in Catanzaro. After participating in concerts with the famous singers, Tito Schipa and Maria Caniglia, Asciak was encouraged by the latter, to continue his studies and in March 1950 he went Rome. Caniglia’s initiative led Asciak to be entrusted with teacher Alberto Paoletti of Teatro dell’Opera, Rome.

In 1951 he won the Concorso per Giovani Cantanti Lirici along with Franco Corelli, Anita Cerquetti and Gabriella Tucci. He was awarded a scholarship for voice training under the guidance of Giuseppe Bertelli, Luigi Ricci and Riccardo Picozzi at the Teatro dell’Opera in Rome. In 1951, italy sang the main parts in various operas.

In 1952, he joined the Royal Opera Covent Garden Company as a solo tenor. Until 1958, he has been seen over fifty times in various parts including Flavio in Norma with Maria Callas. He sang with the Welsh National Opera Company, The Dublin Grand Opera, and with the Carl Rosa Opera Company. He sang many times on the BBC and even on ITV (1952-59) as well as singing the parts main in various other operas in England. Asciak gave many concerts, which also included the Verdi’s requiem, most of them in Wales.

In Malta, he sang the main parts in Ernani, Il Trovatore, Aida, Otello of Verdi, Carmen and Pagliacci.

Asciak left the stage in 1961 and joined the Department of Education, until retiring as Head of the Music Department in 1984. In 1994, Paul Asciak was awarded the Medal for Serving the Republic, and in 2013 a Member of Honor.

For outstanding Management practices, and exceptional contribution to Malta’s economic development as its major exporter.

For his outstanding achievement in singing (bel canto) in Malta
and abroad

Oreste made his operatic debut on 25 February 1945 as Turiddu in Cavalleria Rusticana at the Radio City Opera House in Ħamrun (Malta).In 1948, he met Maltese baritone Joseph Satariano who encouraged him to start an opera career in the UK. Between 1949 and 1950 he continued singing opera with visiting Italian companies and appeared in concert with Tito Gobbi and Maria Caniglia.

In 1950 he moved to the United Kingdom and sang principal tenor roles with the Carl Rosa Opera Company, later with Sadler’s Wells (1952) singing Turiddu, Mario Cavaradossi, and Rodolfo in Luisa Miller. He appeared on BBC TV as Canio in Pagliacci.

In 1954, Kirkop made his Covent Garden debut as the Duke in Rigoletto and later as Rodolfo in La Bohème. A contract with Paramount Pictures led to the leading role of François Villon in the 1956 film version of The Vagabond King.

He sang opera at Las Vegas and the Hollywood Bowl and appeared on NBC TV in pioneering productions of Madame Butterfly, La traviata and Rigoletto.

On 4 August 1956 he performed at the Hollywood Bowl Concert in Los Angeles with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Roger Wagner Chorale under the direction of Carmen Dragon.

For his artistic achievement in sculpture.

He initiated his artistic training at the Malta School of Art where he studied between 1945 and 1953 before moving to the UK to specialise in ceramics at the Ceramics College at Stoke-on-Trent.  In 1954 he received a four-year scholarship to continue his studies at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Rome.  He completed other diploma courses at the Scuola d`Arte Ornamentale for wood carving, at the Scuola d`Arte della Medaglia and the Istituto Statale d`Arte di Roma for ceramics.

At a later stage he studied in England at the University of London Institute Of Education, the Slade School of Art, Leicester Polytechnic College of Education and Loughborough University of Technology.

Bonnici was responsible for a large number of public monuments in Malta and abroad.  These include St Joseph the Worker on the façade of the former St Joseph Secondary Technical School, Paola,  Madonna Regina for the Maria Regina Girls’ Grammar School at Blata l-Bajda, St Francis of Assisi (1974) and the Madonna of Porziuncola (1975) for the Porziuncola Retreat House at Bahar ic-Caghaq, and the monument to Dr Nicola Zammit at Siggiewi.

For his long and meritorious service to the Society since 1924 and for
his contribution to Maltese industry.

For the unstinted help given to the Society in organising the

“Annual Singer Competition’

For his invaluable service to the Society and for his outstanding
contribution towards the Performing Arts for so many years.

For his long and meritorious service to the Society and contribu-
ton to historical research.

On the First Centenary of its Foundation, for the contribution

and promotion of Music in general to the Western Civilisation.

For the zeal shown in promoting the increase in exports and the
stimulation of trade in general on the occasion of the 30th International Fair of Malta.

For his merits as Founder and President of ‘Din 1-Art Helwa’.

For his achievement in the local and international field of
Architecture, Art and Photography.

For his literary and artistic career.

For his merits as composer and director.

For his artistic achievement in painting and restoring works of art.

For his long and meritorious services to the Society.

For his valuable services to the Society and for his contribution in the
field of literature, Culture and Education 

For his valuable services to the Society and for his contribution in the
field of literature, culture and education.

For his artistic achievement in painting and sculpture

For his merits as composer.

For his artistic achievement.

For the artistic craftsmanship in silver.

Vincent Apap is recognized for his various notable works in Malta, Such as Triton Fountain (1959), the bust of Enrico Mizzi (1964), the statue of Paul Boffa (1976) and the statue of George Borg Olivier (1990). Other notable works by Apap include statues in the Rotunda of Mosta, the Church of St. Augustine in Valletta, the Mdina Cathedral, St. George’s Basilica in Gozo, the Qawra Parish Church , St Helen’s Basilica and the Jesus of Nazareth Parish Church in Sliema.
Some of Apap’s several awards and honours include :
Member of the Order of the British Empire (1956)
Cavaliere Ufficiale Repubblica Italiana (1968)
Order of Merit (1993)
He was nominated a knight of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta in 1963.

For his artistic achievement in painting.

For his long and meritorious services to the Society.

For her long and meritorious service rendered to the Society.

For his the development of the Marble Industry in Malta and for the
excellent execution of various marble works.

For the technical ability in the production of mirrors and the development of this industry in Malta.

For his long and meritorious service to the Society.

For his long and meritorious service to the Society and for zeal in promoting local exhibitions.

For his artistic achievements in the photographic art and the impulse
given to it by the use of Modern Machinery.

For the art of cabinet making. 

For the novelty in carpentry and furniture works. 

For the installation of modern machinery, hygiene, export and general layout of the factory (+Diploma).

For the manufacture of beer on technical basis and in a factory properly built for the purpose.

For 13 years of service as Honorary Secretary of the Society.

For the services rendered free of charge, as an Assistant to the class for Electrical Installation. 

For the success achieved at the British Preparatory Show Empire Exhibition held at Wembley.

For his artistic career and musical compositions. 

For his long and voluntary service as Master i/c Electrical Installation Classes.

For his painting in the Colombos Works, Valletta (and Diploma).

For his work in oil paintings. 

For the musical compositions, the opera ‘Redenta’ performed at The Royal Opera House. 

Carlo Fiamingo was the lead violinist of the Royal Theatre until it was demolished in World War II

For the processing and manufacture of tobacco.

For the manufacture of watches (and Diploma).

Sapiano is most known for large clocks which were made for churches, convents and sacristies in various towns and villages in Malta and Gozo and also for a large clock he made for the Church of Saint Catherine of Alexandria in Egypt.

For his Secretary services rendered to Society.

For his Patronage of the Society between 1899 and 1903.

For the success achieved by the company in the manufacture of pianos in Malta.

For gilding. 

For lace-making. 

For lace-making.

For his fine artistic and ornate work in marble and stone. 

For the creation of a variety of stuffed birds and mammals (£2.10s).  

For metal engraving.