The University of Malta Wind Ensemble blows away student and staff to open Freshers' Week
The University of Malta Wind Ensemble started the Opening Ceremony 2014 with a selection of diverse, upbeat music pieces that showed off the ensemble’s ability to play crowd pleasing favorites as well as diverse selections.
The choice to play shorter songs at the beginning of the festivities kept the crowd entertained and moved the morning forward with the only pauses being between songs for applause and getting everyone in the ensemble on the same page.
The performance was consistently high quality and featured arrangements for the wind and percussion group of popular songs like Happy, Skyfall and Game of Thrones. Playing It Cool had a retro-style ‘70s’ feel. Arabian Dream and Danza del Fuego injected some of the diversity of music into the concert.
Perhaps the most surprising selection was Hanukkah Dance (Sevivon). A Hanukkah song in a mostly Roman Catholic country in October? Music is universal, and it fits with the University of Malta’s statement that “Our differences that make the difference.”
After comments by the Rector and the President of University Student Council, the ensemble played a longer piece that showed the players had staying power to go with their earlier shorter piece performances. It was a great way to open the University - these winds can rock.
According to the program giving out at the event, the University of Malta Wind Assemble is a part of the DegreePlus program, designed to add value to students’ education. It is led by Dr. Philip Ciantar. Freshers' Week is specifically designed for first year students at the University to get a handle on how things work. Booths are set up in the Quad by banks, telecommunication companies and student and volunteer organizations.
The choice to play shorter songs at the beginning of the festivities kept the crowd entertained and moved the morning forward with the only pauses being between songs for applause and getting everyone in the ensemble on the same page.
The performance was consistently high quality and featured arrangements for the wind and percussion group of popular songs like Happy, Skyfall and Game of Thrones. Playing It Cool had a retro-style ‘70s’ feel. Arabian Dream and Danza del Fuego injected some of the diversity of music into the concert.
Perhaps the most surprising selection was Hanukkah Dance (Sevivon). A Hanukkah song in a mostly Roman Catholic country in October? Music is universal, and it fits with the University of Malta’s statement that “Our differences that make the difference.”
After comments by the Rector and the President of University Student Council, the ensemble played a longer piece that showed the players had staying power to go with their earlier shorter piece performances. It was a great way to open the University - these winds can rock.
According to the program giving out at the event, the University of Malta Wind Assemble is a part of the DegreePlus program, designed to add value to students’ education. It is led by Dr. Philip Ciantar. Freshers' Week is specifically designed for first year students at the University to get a handle on how things work. Booths are set up in the Quad by banks, telecommunication companies and student and volunteer organizations.