Jubilate Deo Choir - Naxxar Malta

Christopher Muscat (b. 1977) is a Maltese conductor and composer of mostly chamber and choral works that have been performed in Europe and elsewhere. After having studied violin and viola as a child in Valletta Muscat studied composition with Joseph Vella and Charles Camilleri and conducting with Michael Laus at the University of Malta from 1995-99, where he earned his B.A. in music studies with Honours. Later he studied composition with Sebastian Forbes and Steve Goss and orchestral conducting with Nicholas Conran at the University of Surrey in 1999-2000 and there earned his M.Mus with distinction.

As a conductor, Muscat is equally at home in both the standard and the contemporary repertoires and has guest-conducted various ensembles and orchestras in Malta and the UK. He has been responsible for various Maltese or world premieres of compositions by contemporary composers. Performance highlights include Mozart's Clarinet Concerto with internationally renowned clarinettist David Campbell ("there was lots of understanding between the internationally acclaimed clarinettist David Campbell and the conductor which translated itself into appropriate balance" - The Sunday Times) and Dvorak's Symphony No. 9 'From the New World' in a Concert for Peace organised to commemorate the tragic events of September 11, 2001 ("definitely one of the best performances by the National Orchestra of Malta ..." - The Times of Malta). Muscat's "clear conducting style" (It-Torca), "high quality conducting" and "accomplished conducting technique" (The Sunday Times) have received constant critical and public praise.

Muscat has been described by the local press as "a young composer of outstanding talent" (The Sunday Times) and the "stark originality" (The Malta Independent) of his works has earned him an increasing reputation. Among his honours in composition is First Prize in the Joyce Dixey competition in Surrey (2000, for Titrida). Christopher Muscat is also very much active in other positions. He has served as composer-in-residence to the Linoi Ensemble in the UK since 2000. Moreover, he founded the Malta Stock Exchange 20^thCentury Music Series in 2001, the first of its kind in Malta, and served as its artistic director in 2001-02. Muscat is a member on the executive committee of the European String Teachers Association (Malta). Muscat has taught composition, counterpoint, harmony, orchestration and polyphonic conducting on the Sacred Music course at the University of Malta since 2003.

The Music Director

Christopher Muscat (b. 1977) is a Maltese conductor and composer of mostly chamber and choral works that have been performed in Europe and elsewhere. After having studied violin and viola as a child in Valletta Muscat studied composition with Joseph Vella and Charles Camilleri and conducting with Michael Laus at the University of Malta from 1995-99, where he earned his B.A. in music studies with Honours. Later he studied composition with Sebastian Forbes and Steve Goss and orchestral conducting with Nicholas Conran at the University of Surrey in 1999-2000 and there earned his M.Mus with distinction. As a conductor, Muscat is equally at home in both the standard and the contemporary repertoires and has guest-conducted various ensembles and orchestras in Malta and the UK. He has been responsible for various Maltese or world premieres of compositions by contemporary composers. Performance highlights include Mozart's Clarinet Concerto with internationally renowned clarinettist David Campbell ("there was lots of understanding between the internationally acclaimed clarinettist David Campbell and the conductor which translated itself into appropriate balance" - The Sunday Times) and Dvorak's Symphony No. 9 'From the New World' in a Concert for Peace organised to commemorate the tragic events of September 11, 2001 ("definitely one of the best performances by the National Orchestra of Malta ..." - The Times of Malta). Muscat's "clear conducting style" (It-Torca), "high quality conducting" and "accomplished conducting technique" (The Sunday Times) have received constant critical and public praise. Muscat has been described by the local press as "a young composer of outstanding talent" (The Sunday Times) and the "stark originality" (The Malta Independent) of his works has earned him an increasing reputation. Among his honours in composition is First Prize in the Joyce Dixey competition in Surrey (2000, for Titrida). Christopher Muscat is also very much active in other positions. He has served as composer-in-residence to the Linoi Ensemble in the UK since 2000. Moreover, he founded the Malta Stock Exchange 20^thCentury Music Series in 2001, the first of its kind in Malta, and served as its artistic director in 2001-02. Muscat is a member on the executive committee of the European String Teachers Association (Malta). Muscat has taught composition, counterpoint, harmony, orchestration and polyphonic conducting on the Sacred Music course at the University of Malta since 2003.