Applications are now open for two courses starting in January and February 2025 for children born between 2014 and 2018, and young adults. The courses are being organised by the Academy of Sacred Music Francesco Azopardi of the Archdiocese of Malta, designed to enhance the skills and knowledge of individuals involved in music ministry within the Church.
The Award in Choral Singing for the Liturgy course is open to boys and girls aged 7 to 14. This programme provides children with musical training focused on sacred choral singing, as well as liturgical and spiritual formation to support their role as choristers. Applications for the introductory programme that starts in February 2025 are now open for children aged 7 to 11. During the first year, the introductory programme for children aged 11 or those who have recently turned 12 will run from February to September 2025, preparing them to begin the accredited Award course in October 2025.
The course includes choral practice with Pueri Cantores Cathedralis Jubilate Deo, participating in approximately 10 liturgical services, held at the Cathedral and Co-Cathedral of the Archdiocese, and performing in about three concerts annually.
The course Ħarbex, in collaboration with the Pastoral Formation Institute, and the Malta Catholic Youth Network, is intended to offer practical aides and musical preparation to composers and songwriters of contemporary Christian music for the liturgy. The course opens in January 2025 and is spread over 3 seminars, leading to a certificate at level 3 of the Archdiocese Framework.
These courses are being conducted in collaboration with renowned international institutions in the field of sacred choral music such as the Cappella Musicale del Duomo di Milano – Europe’s oldest, cathedral choir – and Accademia AERCO (Associazione Emiliano-Romagnola Cori) that encompasses 246 associated choirs from all over the Emilia-Romagna region in Italy.
The Academy aims to provide professional training for quality music ministry, opportunities for students to join the choirs and musicians of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Malta, and to transmit and strengthen the Catholic faith through sacred music. It is named after Maltese composer and pedagogue Francesco Azopardi (1748-1809), who, after studying in Naples, served as Maestro di Cappella at the Mdina Cathedral and St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta. Through his musical treatise Il musico pratico, he was among the first to place Malta on the international music map.
Interested applicants can find more information at asm.mt.