|
|
Muscat, Christopher (b. 1977, Mosta). Maltese composer of mostly chamber and choral works that have been performed in Europe and elsewhere; he is also active as a conductor.
Mr. Muscat studied viola and violin as a child in Valletta. He studied composition with Charles Camilleri and Joseph Vella and conducting with Michael Laus at the University of Malta in Msida from 1995-99, where he earned his BA in music studies with honors. He then studied composition with Sebastian Forbes and Steve Goss and orchestral conducting with Nicholas Conran at the University of Surrey in 1999-2000 and there earned his MMus with distinction in both subjects.
Among his honors is First Prize in the Joyce Dixey competition in Surrey (2000, for Titrida). His music has been performed in Bolivia, France, Italy, Malta, and the UK.
As a conductor, he has led the National Orchestra of Malta in both classical and contemporary music and has guest-conducted ensembles and orchestras in Malta and the UK. He has also performed as a violinist and violist in ensembles and orchestras in Egypt, France, Malta, and the UK, including a term as principal violinist of the National Youth Orchestra of Malta in Valletta from 1994-96. In addition, he founded the Opus 4 String Quartet in Valletta in 1998 and served as its violist from 1998-2000.
Mr. Muscat is also active in other positions. He has served as composer-in-residence to the Linoi Ensemble in London since 2000. Moreover, he founded the Malta Stock Exchange 20th Century Music Series in Valletta in 2001, the first of its kind in Malta, and served as its artistic director in 2001-02.
He has taught composition, counterpoint, harmony, orchestration, and polyphonic conducting at the University of Malta since 2003.
CONTACT INFORMATION
E-mail address: christophermuscat@hotmail.com
Street address: Mr. Christopher Muscat, 42 'Diapason', Triq Hal Dghejf, Naxxar NXR02, Malta
Telephone: + 356 2141 9427
Website: http://www.christophermuscat.com/
SELECT LIST OF WORKS
ORCHESTRAL: Elegy, 2004
CHAMBER MUSIC: Eternal Memories, violin, piano, 1997; Klepsydra, string quartet, 1999; Titrida, clarinet, piano, 2 percussion, digital delay system, 1999-2000; Impressions at Sunset, harp, viola, percussion, 2000 (also version for flute, oboe [+ English horn], bass clarinet, harp, percussion, double string quartet, double bass, 2003); Epitaphium (in memoriam the victims of September 11, 2001), string quartet, 2001; Ashraam, flute, oboe, clarinet, harp, string quartet, double bass, 2003; Dirge, French horn, piano, 2003 (also version for cello, piano, 2004); Images, flute, harp, 2004; Fakriet, clarinet, violin, piano, 2004
CHORAL: Stabat Mater, soprano, speaker, mixed chorus, organ, 1998; Symphonic Metamorphoses (texts from various psalms), soprano, tenor, male speaker, mixed chorus, organ, large orchestra (82 players), 2000; Ave Maria, mixed chorus, 2003
PIANO: Larmes Tristes, 2000
(Last updated on March 10, 2005)
T