Kantamagħna - First Edition - 2019
Kantamagħna – A singers’ festival
On Saturday 23 November 2019, the very first edition of Kantamagħna – A Singers’ Festival, took place at the Astra Theatre in Victoria, Gozo.
The festival was presented by DCapitals Big Band in collaboration with the Ministry for Gozo and Distinct Homes. The main aim of this festival was to give exposure to young talent in Gozo and Malta and give them the opportunity perform accompanied by a live 18-piece big band. The band was under the direction of Mro George Apap.
Submissions
There where a good total of 48 submissions in this festival, who where judged in the eliminatory auditions by Mro. George Apap and Francesca Sciberras. down to 24 finalist songs.
Category
24 Finalists who went through the auditions were divided in three categories:
- Category A: singers aged 9 (Born 2010) – 12 (Born 2007)
- Category B: singers aged 13 (Born 2006) – 16 (Born 2003)
- Category C: singers aged 17 (Born 2002) – 25 (Born 1994)
Here are all the contestants:
Section "A" (Singers between 9 to 12 years)
Here are the 9 Songs featured in the final Category A:-
No | Singers | Songs | Age | Placing | Video |
01 | Kristen Grima | Viva Malta | 12 | ||
02 | Rachel Bonello | Time After Time | 12 | ||
03 | Benjamin Attard | Se jkolli Nemmen | 11 | Runner-Up | |
04 | Anneka Xerri | You Raise Me Up | 9 | ||
05 | Elly Cutajar | Isn't She Lovely | 9 | ||
06 | ELisa Buttigieg | Hallelujah | 10 | ||
07 | Kaitlyn Vella | Believe | 12 | ||
08 | Francesca Borg Ferranti | Valerie | 12 | ||
09 | Faith Bondin | I Will Survive | 11 | 1st.Place |
Section "B" (Singers between 13 to 16 years)
Here are the 10 Songs featured in the final Category A:-
No | Singers | Songs | Age | Placing | Video |
01 | Carol Ann Camilleri | A Thousand Years | 13 | ||
02 | Hannach Elkekli | Hello | 15 | ||
03 | Alicia Azzopardi | Purple Rain | 14 | ||
04 | Elisa Andrea Muscat | Fejn Tħobb il-Qalb | 14 | Runner-Up | |
05 | Martha Tonna | Proud Mary | 15 | ||
06 | Julia Azzopardi | Sway | 15 | ||
07 | Alexia Miscallef | Make You Feel My Love | 16 | ||
08 | Loredana Agaius | Can't Take My Eyes | 16 | ||
09 | Nathaniel Attard | Marija l-Maltija | 14 | 1 st. Place | |
10 | Albert Lauren Agius | The Wonder Of You | 14 |
Section "C" (Singers between 17 to 25 years)
Here are the 5 Songs featured in the final Category C:-
No | Singers | Songs | Age | Placing | Video |
01 | Bianca Vella | You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman | 24 | ||
02 | Paolo Micallef | New York New York | 17 | Runner-Up | |
03 | Sarah Micallef Muscat | I Will Always Love You | 24 | 1st. Place | |
04 | Maria Spiteri | Smoke Get In Your Eyes | 25 | ||
05 | Charlene Rae Muscat | Titanium | 25 |
The Winners
All winners, and runner-ups of the three categories were awarded trophies:
- Distinct Talent Award: Benjamin Attard
- Category A runner up: Benjamin Attard
- Category A winner: Faith Bondin
- Category B runner up: Elisa Andrea Muscat
- Category B winner: Nathaniel Attard
- Category C runner up: Paolo Micallef
- Category C winner: Sarah Micallef Muscat.
- Overall Winner: Nathaniel Attard
Overall winner Nathaniel Attard was given a one year contract with DCapitals Big Band, and the singer will have the opportunity to keep on working with the band and participate in the numerous events locally and even abroad during the upcoming year.
Jury
The Categories’ winners and runner-ups were decided by the jury who were:
The musicians of DCapitals Big Band voted for the Distinct Talent Award.
Minister for Gozo Dr. Justyne Caruana, said that it was a splendid project to give an important artistic platform to young talent, together with an excellent performance by the DCapitals Big Band.
Comperes
The festivals was presented by well know radio presenter Joe Tanti and the singer Miriam Debono Curmi
DCapitals Band
Fomred by:-
- Trumpets: David Portelli, Jason Borg and Theo Farrugia
- Trombones: Josef Attard, Oliver Sciberras, Joel Cassar
- Sax Alto: Emi Vella
- Sax Tenor: Robert Mallia
- Sax Baritone: Anthony Kitcher
- Percussion: Eugene Bajada
- Drums: Ino Busuttil
- Bass Guitar: Patrick Grima
- Lead Guitar: Mario Buttigieg
- Keyboard: Stephanie Curmi
- Conductor: Mro. George Apap
Resident Singers: Fabian Galea; Francesca Sciberras & Jolene Samhan. (Dawn kantaw waqt l-għadd tal-voti mill-ġurija)