About

Recipient of first prizes in the Joyce Dixey Competition (UK) in 2000, the Jaume Dotras Serrabella Polyphonic Composition Competition (Spain) in 2006 and the APS Bank Composition Competition (Malta) in 2012, Christopher Muscat has been described by the local press as “a young composer of outstanding talent” (The Sunday Times) and the “stark originality” (The Malta Independent) of his works has earned him an ever-increasing reputation. His works have been performed in many important European music centres in Italy, England, Finland, Czech Republic, Spain, Belgium, Poland, Russia, Germany and the USA. Career highlights include a performance at the prestigious Philharmonie in Berlin (2006) and performances of his works at International Festival L’Europe en Musique held in Brussels (2012 and 2013).

As a conductor, Muscat was mainly responsible for the revival of Maltese romantic composer Paolino Vassallo and over the years has also premiered a number of works by contemporary composers. His “clear conducting style” (It-Torċa), “high quality conducting” and “accomplished conducting technique” (The Sunday Times) have received constant public and critical praise: “there was lots of understanding between the internationally acclaimed clarinettist David Campbell and the conductor” (The Sunday Times of Malta); “[Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9] was definitely one of the best performances by the National Orchestra of Malta” (The Times of Malta); “Christopher Muscat at the helm of the brilliant Orkestra Nazzjonali showed the joy of playing Pergolesi’s delightful baroque music and demonstrated the timeless emotional validity of this emotionally-charged composition” and “under Christopher Muscat the National Orchestra of Malta conveyed Cimarosa’s joyful passion to the desired effect” (Opernnetz).

Muscat is very much active in the field of sacred music having taught on the sacred music course at the University of Malta amongst other activities. He currently teaches sacred musicat the Archbishop’s Seminary (Major) and is the Music Director of the Jubilate Deo Choir. Muscat has conducted numerous special occasions at St John’s Co-Cathedral and Mdina Metropolitan Cathedral in Malta as well as Westminster Cathedral in London and St Peter’s Basilica (Vatican).

For many years he was the chorus master for operas held at the Teatru Manoel and as founding conductor of VOCALISE (a voluntary organisation aimed at providing training and opportunities for talented singers), Muscat has coached and conducted a number of productions, amongst these Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas and Saint-Saëns’ Christmas Oratorio, entirely made up of young Maltese singers.

Christopher Muscat holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in music studies from the University of Malta as well as a Master of Music degree (with the rare honour of pass with distinction) from the University of Surrey where he studied with Sebastian Forbes composition and choral conducting), Steve Goss (composition) and Nicholas Conran (orchestral conducting). Muscat is a much sought after teacher of composition and conducting and is regularly invited to judge international vocal, instrumental and composition competitions.

In 2018 Chrisopher Muscat has been appointed as Music Director of the Archdiocese of Malta and Maestro di Cappella of St. Paul’s Cathedral in Mdina and St. John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta.

The future of our choir is here! Jubilate Deo has established in 2010 a children’s choir, the Pueri Cantores Jubilate Deo, with the aim of training children and youths in music, especially sacred music, and develop their singing abilities to eventually join the adult choir. The children’s choir rehearses once a week under the direction of choir mistress Daniela Callus. Along these last years the Pueri Cantores have built a sound and varied sacred music repertoire which is performed during liturgical services and in the annual festive concerts of the Jubilate Deo choir. In addition, the choir has already ventured in ambitious projects as regards the contemporary choral repertoire, especially with their participation in the 2013 performance of Karl Jenkins’ ‘The Peacemakers’, directed by the composer himself alongside the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra. This was an unforgettable experience!

Children from the age of 6 years are encouraged to be part of this project and join the Pueri Cantores. They will be offered musical tuition for free and an experience not to be missed! If interested please contact Daniela on  info@jubilatedeo.com

In 2004, the choir’s current music director embarked on a project to revive the performance of gregorian chant during liturgical services and sacred music concerts. The male sections of the choir started training in gregorian chant notation and repertoire and the Cappella Gregoriana Jubilate Deo was formed. The Cappella performs regularly in liturgical services especially during Christmas and Easter festivities. It has by now become a standard for Jubilate Deo Choir concerts to feature gregorian chant and in recent years the Cappella Gregoriana was also invited to perform plainchant during concerts and festivals.