Joseph Lia
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Joseph Lia (born 13 June 1979) in Birkirkara is a classically-trained Baritone vocalist from Malta.
Early career
Joseph started singing in choirs from an early age. He joined the St. Monica Choir at the tender age of 10, were he sang with them the Caro Gesu Bambino solo during the choir’s annual Christmas Concert at the Casino Maltese. Later he joined the St. John's Cathedral Choir, several choirs of the various Maestri di Cappella around Malta, the Aurora and Astra Opera Houses Choirs, and the Manoel Theatre Choir during the BOV Opera Festival.
Joseph Lia is a graduate of the N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov St. Petersburg State Conservatory of Russia. He also graduated with a BA (Hons) Degree in Music from the University of Malta, with the Diploma in Sacred Music from the same University and with the ALCM Diploma from the London College of Music. He attended St. Paul's Missionary College in Rabat, where his love for music was nurtured along with other academic subjects.
In 2003 and 2004 he was the first Maltese ever chosen to take part in the World Youth Choir, where he toured with this choir in Austria, Slovenia and Switzerland working with Johannes Prinz and Maria Guinand in 2003 and in S.Korea and Japan working with Georg Grun and Anthony Leech in 2004.
Joseph is a winner of vocal competitions in Russia and Finland, and took part as a soloist in operas mainly in Malta, Italy and Russia. He also took part in several concerts both in his native country and abroad.
In Russia
At the Opera Studio of the St Petersburg Conservatory Joseph sang the main roles of Germont and Baron Douphol in Verdi’s Traviata and Ebn-Haki in Tchaikovsky’s Iolantha.
During his stay in Russia he was appointed as a member of the judging panel for the Shostakovich Competition (Youth Section Voice and Choirs) 2013, and coached the Gatchina Choir for the 45th Montreux Choir Competition, in which competition the Choir won the prize for the Best Interpretation of the Test Piece. Joseph was also appointed as Artistic Director of the concerts Window to Europe at the Glazunov Hall of the St.Petersburg Conservatory.
Promoting Maltese music
Joseph is fond of his native country and has done a lot to promote Malta and Maltese Composers, especially in St. Petersburg and Moscow with the concert series Musica Melitense. He is the co-founder of the Malta Art Music Association and PRO of this new association. Joseph is currently recording a CD with the IM Lab Label (St.Petersburg) of compositions by Maltese Composers for organ and organ and baritone.
In 2013 he was nominated by the world renowned Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja to participate in the summer academy at the Mozarteun University of Salsburg.
In 2014 Joseph will premier in Malta the role of L-Għassies in Albert Pace’s new opera in Maltese – Antigone, which opera will be then performed in Germany too.
Appearances
- 27 October 2013 - Concert at Narodnij Teatr in St. Petersburg, Russia
- 24 November 2013 - Guest artist at Voce della Vita 30th Anniversary Concert of Tenor Brian Cefai at The Xara Lodge, Rabat Malta. Conductor Michelle Castelletti
- 12 December 2013 - Guest Soloist at the St. Monica Choir Christmas Concert, St. Augustine Church, Rabat Malta. Conductor Sr. Beniamina Portelli
- 14 December 2013: Viva Verdi Concert with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Mro Michael Laus