Argotti Trio, comprised of violinists Maria Conrad and Nemanja Ljubinkovic and pianist Philip Walsh will this evening perform for us a concert of demanding and wonderful works by Vivaldi, Moskowski, Milhaud and Sarasate. Well-known for their high-level musicianship and virtuosity, we’re in for a lovely time!

Maria Conrad was born in Germany and started her pianoforte and violin studies at the young age of seven. She graduated in Music and German from the University of Malta, furthering her violin studies at the famous Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London, completing her postgraduate Diploma in 2000 under the tuition of Krzysztof Smietana. She pursued higher study, including master classes with Erika Klemperer and Saschko Gawriloff and chamber music coaching with the Vellinger Quartet. She was a full-time member of the National Orchestra between 1997 and 2001, after which she worked largely in Spain. In 2004 she was awarded a full-time post with the Orquesta de Extremadura, with whom she worked for five years. Maria has performed in over twenty countries world-wide, in both orchestral and chamber formations, and for the past thirteen years she has also been Malta’s Representative for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music.

Nemanja Ljubinkovic was born in Belgrade and commenced his violin studies at the young age of six. He studied at the Hochschule fũr Musik und Theater, Munich, as well as with Zakhar Bron in Moscow, Ida Handel in Chicago and Ami Flamer in Paris. He has performed widely as soloist, in chamber music formations, and as an orchestral player. In the former capacity he has given concerts with the Belgrade Sinfonietta, Belgrade Philharmonic, and the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, apart from gaining valuable orchestral experience with the Bayerische Rundfunk Sinfonieorchester and the Bayerische Staatstheater Orchestra. He is the recipient of numerous prestigious competitions, including the Yamaha Scholarship Competition, Città di Genova Violin Competition, and the Jeunesse Musicale Competition. He also spent four years as a member of the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra.

Philip Walsh was born in Southampton and studied pianoforte and organ graduating with honours from Cambridge University, U.K. Spending a number of years in New Zealand, he was Music Director of the Wellington Youth Orchestra and director of music at Wellington Cathedral. As a conductor he has conducted performances of works by Gershwin in many cities in Italy with the Filarmonica Arturo Toscanini and world-renowned pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet. He has been Music Director of the French opera festival Lyrique-en-mer/Festival de Belle-île for over ten years during which he has conducted more than one hundred performances. He has also worked with the London Sinfonietta, and the City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong, amongst others. Philip is a passionate advocate of new music and has commissioned and conducted numerous premiere performances.  He is also a much sought-after piano accompanist performing both the classical repertoire and jazz.

The concert, which starts at 8pm, will take place in the Aula Mgr G. Farrugia. See you there!