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Mark Vassallo - OrganMark Vassallo, at 19 years of age is the youngest of the few organists on the Maltese islands. He started pursuing his interest in music at the age of 7 and then focused solely on Organ music at the age of 11.
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Although Mark is a self-taught organist, he has been assisted by various other organists namely Mro. John Aquilina. He has attended masterclasses by Diego Cannizzaro, Erwin Wiersinga and Christian Schmitt during the past editions of the Malta International Organ Festival.
Mark also attended various courses within the 'Oundle Music Trust' which, through its program 'Oundle For Organists', offers a guide to young organists. This program is offered by prolific and renowned organists like Mr. Robert Quinny (Organist and Director of music at New College Oxford) and Mr. Frederic Blanc (Titular organist in the church of Notre-Dame of Auteuil in Paris and a student of Durufle). In 2015, Mark was awarded a Mentorship award by the 'Oundle Music Trust' at St. George's Chapel, Windsor castle where he was mentored by Richard Pinel. Pinel has now been appointed as Director of Music at Jesus College, Cambridge and to this very day still mentors Mark.
Mark is the resident organist of ‘Coro Bel Canto’, directed by Mro. Hermann Farrugia Frantz. With Coro Bel Canto he actively plays during more than 10 feasts a year, apart from various other concerts all year round of a liturgical and a secular nature. Together with Coro Bel Canto, Mark accompanied the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra during the premier of the oratorio ‘Canticum Vitae’.
In 2017, Mark was also appointed as Organ Scholar at St John’s Co-Cathedral. Here he accompanies the ‘Coro Cathedralis’ directed by Mro. Hamish Dustagheer during all the important liturgical celebrations and feasts in the church calendar.
Mark also attended various courses within the 'Oundle Music Trust' which, through its program 'Oundle For Organists', offers a guide to young organists. This program is offered by prolific and renowned organists like Mr. Robert Quinny (Organist and Director of music at New College Oxford) and Mr. Frederic Blanc (Titular organist in the church of Notre-Dame of Auteuil in Paris and a student of Durufle). In 2015, Mark was awarded a Mentorship award by the 'Oundle Music Trust' at St. George's Chapel, Windsor castle where he was mentored by Richard Pinel. Pinel has now been appointed as Director of Music at Jesus College, Cambridge and to this very day still mentors Mark.
Mark is the resident organist of ‘Coro Bel Canto’, directed by Mro. Hermann Farrugia Frantz. With Coro Bel Canto he actively plays during more than 10 feasts a year, apart from various other concerts all year round of a liturgical and a secular nature. Together with Coro Bel Canto, Mark accompanied the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra during the premier of the oratorio ‘Canticum Vitae’.
In 2017, Mark was also appointed as Organ Scholar at St John’s Co-Cathedral. Here he accompanies the ‘Coro Cathedralis’ directed by Mro. Hamish Dustagheer during all the important liturgical celebrations and feasts in the church calendar.
