This first International Children and Youth singing festival event was held on the 16th, 17th and 18th September 2004 at the Sir Temi Zammit Hall, University of Malta. This was a global turn on to singers to explore and exhibit their talents. This festival has received an enormous response from eight different countries around the world. The foreign singers participating in this Festival were from Sicily, Italy, Macedonia, Bosnia, Poland, Russia, Bulgaria and Moldavia, making up a nicely formed group of 12 participants. Maltese participants amounted to 35.
The Festival was adequately formed to cater for Maltese singers, singing both original and cover versions of songs composed by Maltese composers and lyric writers, who had the opportunity to compete with international singers.
The contest was divided into three categories. Category ‘A’ held singers aged 6-9, category ‘B’ corresponds to singers aged 10-12 and in last category ‘C’ singers were 13-15 of age. The Maltese and Gozitan singers were chosen to sing either on Thursday 16th September or Friday 17th September 2004, while the foreign participants sang on both days. During the final day, Saturday 18th September, winners were announced and sang their song. This final day was recorded and transmitted on Super 1 TV.
The results were:
GRAND PRIX WINNER - Annabelle Debono (Malta)
|
PLACING |
CATEGORY
A |
CATEGORY
B |
CATEGORY
C |
|
1st |
Danika Muscat (Malta) |
Simeon Zhelyazkov (Bulgaria) |
Magdalena Zimny (Poland) |
|
2nd |
Tatiana Zhelyazkova (Bulgaria) |
Raisa Piscopo (Malta) |
Weronika Zielinska (Poland) |
|
3rd |
Salaia Gerada (Malta) |
Dimitriy Kolesnikov (Russia) |
Dario Bezzina (Malta) |
|
4th |
Daniela Chiorescu (Moldovia) |
Ishmael Grech (Malta) |
Jessica Muscat (Malta) |
|
5th |
Nicole Azzopardi (Malta) |
Brooke Borg (Malta) |
Jessica Magro (Malta) |
FIDOF AWARD - Klinsman Coleiro (Malta) BEST NEW SONG - Cherise Grixti (Malta)
BEST PUBLIC OPINION - Deborah Cassar (Malta)
Dancing groups from Analise Dancing Studio also took part during the festival shows. The comperes of Thursday and Friday were Romina Mamo, Neville Refalo and Amanda Mamo, while that of the Gala Night of Saturday were Ivan Gaffiero and Gabriella Grech. The opening Song of the festival was sung by Gabriella, Christian and Alexia Grech who were also guest singers.
The main sponsors for this first edition of The Golden Cross International Singing Festival 2004 were the Ministry of Education & Youth, V & F Portelli & Sons Ltd agents for JOVI art products, HSBC Bank (Malta), Malta Tourism Authority and La Grotta, Gozo.
