Third edition of the Malta Jazz Contest launched

The Malta Jazz Festival in collaboration with the Valletta 2018 Foundation is proud to present the third edition of the Malta Jazz Contest. The contest gives young Maltese jazz soloists the opportunity to perform in front of a distinguished foreign jury as part of the prestigious annual jazz festival.

The Contest will be held on Sunday 19 July at Ta’ Liesse during the Commonwealth Jazz Day and is open to jazz soloists of Maltese nationality up to the age of 35. Participation is free of charge. The winner will participate in the 2016 edition of The Malta Jazz Festival and in events abroad in collaboration with CdPM (Bergamo) and Jazz Happening in Sicilia.

Participants are required to send a CV and an mp3 recording of a number from the jazz standards repertoire or an original composition to the following email address isabelle.gatt@maltaculture.com. A pre-selection will result in a shortlist of finalists. Deadline for submission is 10 June 2015. The pre-selection results will be notified in early July.

Finalists will perform two numbers - one from an imposed list of the jazz standards repertoire and another one free of choice. The jury will consist of foreign jazz musicians participating in the Malta Jazz Festival. Finalists will be accompanied by members of the jury. No rehearsals will be possible.

Francesca Galea was the winner of the 1st edition of the Malta Jazz Contest. As first prize winner she was invited to play at the Les Sons d’Une Ile festival in Paris in 2013. Guitarist Warren Galea won last year’s edition of the Contest. Saxophone player Carlo Muscat won second prize.

The Malta Jazz Festival is organised by Arts Council Malta in collaboration with Valletta 2018 Foundation and supported by CHOGM Malta 2015, Phoenicia Hotel, Cyberpass, MTA and TVM. maltajazzfestival.org