St Paul Choral Society
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Founded on 1 May 1998 The St Paul Choral Society is one of Malta’s leading polyphonic choirs; its repertoire ranges from the 16th century to the present day. Established in 1998, it has around sixty members who meet every Wednesday for practice either in the Undercroft of St Paul’s Anglican Pro-Cathedral in Valletta or at the Divine Mercy Sanctuary in Naxxar. Since its inception it has been under the musical direction of Dr.Hugo Agius Muscat.
In its early years the choir quickly gained a good reputation after successful concerts at St Paul’s Anglican Pro-Cathedral, Mdina Cathedral and the President’s Palace. It regularly performs at St John’s Co-Cathedral, were it presented a concert of French sacred music (including Louis Vierne’s Messe Solennelle) in 2000, a Christmas concert with the Cantores Sancti Juliani in 2001, the oratorio The Crucifixion by John Stainer in 2003, the oratorio San Gregorio Magno by Carmelo Scerri in 2004, a concert in aid of the Malta Hospice Movement in 2005, the Mozart in Salzburg concert in 2006, the O Praise the Lord concert in 2008, the Dona eis Requiem concert in 2010, a Christmas Concert in 2011, the Best of Karl Jenkins concert in 2012, and the Gounod concert in 2014.
To date it has performed in over two hundred singing events in Malta and abroad. In Advent every year since its inception, the SPCS has led the singing in the traditional Anglican Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols held at St Paul’s Cathedral and at Holy Trinity Church in Sliema.
In 2008, as part of its tenth anniversary celebrations, it issued a highly successful CD of Christmas carols with the name O Ġesù, Ħelwa Tarbija.
In 2009 it took part in the Malta International Choir Festival and Competition, organised by the Interkultur Foundation. The choir was the only Maltese one which competed with the visiting choirs from abroad. It won a Silver Diploma (Level V), at that time the highest ever placing earned by a Maltese choir ever since Interkultur established its global choir ranking system.
In 2011, the choir travelled to London, where it took sang at several prestigious venues, including St Paul's Cathedral, St Michael's Parish Church Cornhill and Westminster Cathedral.
In 2013, the choir toured in Austria, singing in five elite venues: St Stephen's Cathedral and the Votive Church in Vienna, Melk Abbey, the University Church in Salzburg and St James Cathedral in Innsbruck.
In 2015, the choir toured Paris, singing at the Madeleine, at St Sulpice and the Cathedral of Notre Dame; the first Maltese choir ever to do so.