Malta Society of Arts to hold Piano Concert at Palazzo de la Salle
On Saturday 21 October, the Malta Society of Arts (MSA) will be holding a significant piano concert at Palazzo de la Salle in Valletta. Pianist Milica Lawrence will be performing a set of musical pieces by composer Andrew M. Wilson, including “THE PEACOCK Opus 372”, which he wrote specifically for her. For a complete detailed programme, you can visit MSA’s official site. But before I redirect you to the tickets, here’s some background information on these two impressive artists.
Andrew M. wilson
Born in 1960, Andrew M. Wilson is an English composer who studied at Trinity College of Music. Prior to taking a position as Vice Principal at the National College of Music, London, he was Director of Music at Kelly College. From Paris to Tokyo, his vocal, chamber, and orchestral compositions have been recorded, published and performed all around the world, as well as broadcasted on BBC Radio 3.
He is rather renowned in the global music scene, having received numerous international awards. Hence it comes to no surprise that he has an impressive repertoire of commissioned compositions, with some of his latest works including “A Requiem for Peace” for the South West Chamber Choir, “The Pilgrim Fathers” for Southampton’s Mayflower 400 festivities, and “The Morgowr” for the Cornwall Youth Orchestra.
Numerous eminent groups, including the Chamber Ensemble of London and the Dante String Quartet, have performed and recorded his chamber music. In 2021, he received an honorary doctorate from Johann Pestalozzi University in Miami, Florida. A year later, he was a composer-in-residence at the Cornwall Horn Festival in Truro. This year, a significant new piece is scheduled to be performed in the City of London in 2023 to mark the 300th anniversary of English architect Sir Christopher Wren’s passing.
Milica Lawrence
Milica Lawrence is a Serbian pianist who has been playing the piano since she was five years old. In Belgrade, Serbia, Milica Lawrence finished her studies on the piano and harpsichord at the Faculty of Music Arts. At the same Faculty, she obtained her Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) with a focus on chamber music. She participated in master lessons on the piano and harpsichord taught by a variety of acclaimed Serbian and international musicians, including Yuri Kot, Maria Luisa Baldassari, Huguette Dreyfus, Egon Mihajlovic, Jegor Chugaev, Pavel Nersessian, and Sergei Dorensky.
Milica has received numerous awards at both domestic and international contests for her solo and ensemble performances. In addition, she has held several chamber music concerts and solo recitals in such countries as Italy, Switzerland, Greece, Hungary, Montenegro, Macedonia, Libya, and more. Actually, her recital at the Italian Cultural Centre in Tripoli was the first concert in Africa to be performed by a Serbian pianist.
Milica moved to Malta in 2019 and established the Malta Piano Academy in Mosta and Gozo, while continuing her solo performing career. For three years, she served as an accompanist and piano instructor at Mikiel Anton Vassalli College, then in August 2022, she organised the inaugural Malta Piano Festival in Gozo. At the moment she is developing a digital and print magazine called “Pianist.mt”.
Both Andrew M. Wilson and Milicia Lawrence have had incredibly impressive careers, with Dr Lawrence in particular having played a big part in creating opportunities for pianists in Malta. Tickets are priced at €15 and can be bought online. The concert begins at 7 pm, and if you’d like more information you can send an email to team@pianoacademy.mt or call on 79403742.
