Programme

L. van Beethoven (1770 – 1827)          Sonata no. 17 in C Minor for Violin and Piano Op. 30 no. 2

C. Schumann (1819 – 1896)                Three Romances for Violin and Piano op. 22                                                             

W. Walton (1902 – 1983)                      Two Pieces for Violin and Piano

                                                              Canzonetta; Scherzetto

E. Ysaÿe (1858–1931)                          Caprice d’après l’Étude en forme de Valse op. 52 no. 6

(after Saint-Saëns)

Stefan Calleja is currently the Principal of the Second Violins with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra. In both 2018 and 2019, he was nominated for the Young Artist of the Year award, recognising his growing contributions to music in Malta. After studies in Malta, Stefan graduated with a Master of Music from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music, where he studied with Clare Thompson. 

Over the years, Stefan has performed with several well-known orchestras, including the European Union Youth Orchestra, the Mediterranean Youth Orchestra, and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in a side-by-side concert. He has also played with the Commonwealth Youth Orchestra, the European Union Campus Orchestra, the Stoneleigh Youth Orchestra, and the University of London Symphony Orchestra. As a chamber musician regularly performs with Deste Trio and Muża String Quartet. In 2019,  Stefan won the Sir John Barbirolli Chamber Competition with the Malkonia Quartet. In 2023, Stefan founded Nova Sinfonietta, a string ensemble made up of Maltese musicians who have studied abroad, aiming to highlight local talent. He has also appeared as a soloist with orchestras including the London Symphony Orchestra, and the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, among others. Throughout his career, Stefan has worked with renowned conductors such as Gianandrea Noseda, Manfred Honeck, Vasily Petrenko, Alain Altinoglu, and Daniele Gatti. He has also attended master classes with leading violinists, including Salvatore Accardo, Igor Petrushevski, Gottfried Schneider, Carmine Lauri, and Brian Lewis. In addition to performing, Stefan is an active violin tutor. He has taught at the Malta School of Music and led Teatru Salesjan – Sally Strings, a youth string ensemble, for several years. 

Stephanie Quintano started her music studies at a young age obtaining the LRSM and FTCL Diplomas in piano performance in 1982. Stephanie proceeded to London for tuition at the Royal Academy of Music under Professor Alexander Kelly. In 1985, Stephanie participated in the Enna International Piano Festival, Sicily. At St. John’s Co-Cathedral, Stephanie was the soloist in Carmelo Pace’s Meditazione for Piano and Orchestra, together with the Antonio Scontrino Conservatory Orchestra, Trapani. She has also performed the piano concertos by Grieg, Mozart, Beethoven, Carmelo Pace, and Mendelssohn. A major performance in Germany saw her accompanying her brother, violinist Carmine Lauri, during a recital at Adenau. More recently, Stephanie performed with her son, violinist Augusto, at the E.C.U.M.E. meeting in Salonica, Greece. She currently gives public recitals together with Deste piano trio formed by her daughter, cellist Desirée, and violinist Stefan Calleja.

Photo Credit: Joseph Amodio