VIAF 2016

Cosmos Wind Ensemble performing on Sunday

One of Malta’s highly-gifted and versatile ensembles, the Cosmos Wind Ensemble will be performing on Sunday 12 June at St Augustine Church, 8pm. Cosmos have chosen an eclectic programme featuring works by Haydn, Camilleri, Agay, Ibert, and Farkas. Cosmos is made up of Rebecca Hall (flute), John McDonough (oboe), Godfrey Mifsud (clarinet), Ulrike Buhlmann (bassoon), and José García Gutiérrez (horn). Established soloists in their own right (Godfrey has just given a superb rendering of Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto in VIAF’s opening night earlier this week), the musicians also excel at teamwork and their performances attest to their musicianship and finesse.

Cosmos Wind Ensemble is entering its second decade as Malta’s most dynamic chamber music ensemble. Comprised of principal and guest principal players of the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, the group has a special commitment to the commissioning and performance of works by Maltese composers.  Their most recent CD, Premieres, jointly sponsored by Valletta 2018 and the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, contains commissioned and first performance works by Charles Camilleri, Ruben Zahra, Albert Garzia, and Veronique Vella. In addition to Maltese music performance, musicians of the ensemble, Rebecca Hall (flute), John McDonough (oboe), Godfrey Mifsud (clarinet), Ulrike Buhlmann, (bassoon), and José García Guttiérez (French horn)) have collaborated with leaders of the Vienna Philharmonic (2015 and again in 2016), the London Symphony Orchestra, and as soloists on tour around the globe.  Highlights of their recent tours include representing Malta in Canada in 2014, the CHOGM Outreach concerts in Australia (October 2015), and the European Central Bank’s Malta days (December 2015).  They are featured artists in the Malta Showcase series for 2016-2017.  As solo recording artists, they have been heard on CBC, BBC, ABC, RTVE, German national radio and television, as well as Maltese broadcasters.