PORTFOLIO
Performer | Researcher | Composer
VIOLIN
2006
A musical journey that started at the age of 7 by learning the violin. Thanks to my tutor Ms Sarah Spiteri, I started taking this career seriously.
SAXOPHONE ALTO
2011
Commencing theory lessons with one of the local band clubs in Malta in 2013. Choosing Saxophone Alto led me to start tuition with one of the most humble and dedicated teachers in Malta, Mro Edwin Pace. Within months into weekly lessons I was chosen to join several festive bands around the island.
VIOLA
2014
Having the most supporting tutor around, Ms Sarah Spiteri encouraged me to take up another instrument. Viola led me to the most amazing experiences of my life.
Violin
ABRSM Grade 8
Diploma level - University of Malta
Saxophone Alto
Grade 4 - London College of Music
Viola
Reading B.Mus music focusing on performance - Edinburgh Napier University
Grade 7 ABRSM PRIZE WINNER- Autumn 2017
Grade 8 PRIZE WINNER - Spring 2018
JOURNEY WITH ELENA MUSCAT
CONCERTS, TOURS AND PERFORMANCES
The viola experience
SOLO AND VARIOUS ORCHESTRAS PERFORMANCES
2013 - Present
Have been asked to perform solo pieces both on violin and viola during local events in Malta together with performances with the following orchestras:
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra - Side by Side Concert,
Edinburgh Napier Chamber Orchestra (2018),
Edinburgh Napier Contemporary Ensemble (2018),
Malta Youth Orchestra, (collaboration with Malta Philharmonic Orchestra) (2015 - present),
Malta Philharmonic Orchestra,
Malta Youth Orchestra Quartet,
Malta Concert Orchestra,
Various Quartet and duets,
Church Orchestras.
The Universities of Scotland Symphony Orchestra - Tour in May/June
BISYOC
Amabilia Ensemble (Edinburgh)
Edinburgh University Symphony Orchestra
VIBE - Valletta International Baroque Ensemble
NYOS - National Youth Orchestra of Scotland
The Palace String Orchestra
During these performances I was given the role of viola section leader many a times, increasing both responsibilities related to keeping things running smoothly, through communication skills with other musicians. I also had the opportunity to meet reputable musicians and conductors during such events, further adding to my social exposure and interpersonal skills exchange with both local and foreign individuals.
MALTA YOUTH ORCHESTRA
2015 - Present
The Malta Youth Orchestra offered me huge opportunities such as performing with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, tour in Austria, performing side by side concert with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and meeting various conductors and tutors from around the globe. In 2020 I was appointed as the section leader of the viola section and chosen to join the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra Academy under the supervision of Joana Nunes
EDINBURGH NAPIER UNIVERSITY
2018 - 2019
Section leader of the viola section in 2018 and 2019. A very fruitful experience which led me to familiarise myself with different repertoire and different concert opportunities in Scotland.
NATIONAL YOUTH ORCHESTRA OF SCOTLAND
2019 - 2022
Due to the pandemic, masterclasses and tuition were part of an online intense classes which led to a final video that was shared on the online social media. In the summer of 2020 The National Youth Orchestras of Scotland - NYOS premiered a recording of music video on BBC Radio 3. Music written and produced by C Duncan, the track is built together from hundreds of musical fragments submitted by the players from NYOS and the BBC SSO. In Spring we recorded a stunning rendition of Prokofiev’s Dance of the Knights from Romeo and Juliet. In 2022, The National Youth Orchestra of Scotland chose Elena as the viola section leader for the spring and summer 2022 tours.
BISYOC - EUROPEAN INTERCULTURAL YOUTH ORCHESTRA
2019
As a sub-principle/leader of BISYOC (2019) for the viola section and also leader of the Maltese contingent group, I was involved in managing the group logistics and requirements for our trip in Macedonia. This experience led me to experience a lot of management responsibilities associated with travelling abroad. Additionally I was also engaged in public presentations related to Malta and Music, delivered to other joining European member groups which were part of the intercultural exchange. I truly believe that this experience abroad helped me strengthen my interpersonal skills and discipline towards organisation skills.
THE UNIVERSITIES OF SCOTLAND SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
2019
Was an amazing opportunity to work on Stravinsky’s complete score to his ballet Petrushka and Dvořák’s Concerto for Cello alongside some of Scotland's best professional players. The viola section was under the supervision of Micheal Beeston.
VALLETTA INTERNATIONAL BAROQUE ENSEMBLE
2019 - 2021
Formed part of this ensemble during various concerts namley; Biber's Requiem in collaboration with Kor Malta under the direction of Stefano Molardi, Christmas Baroque Music and La Belle Danse in collaboration with Moveo Dance Company.
SOCIAL MEDIA VIDEOS AND LIVE CONCERTS
2019 - present
Elena also experienced, thanks to MYO - Malta Youth Orchestra and MPO - Malta Philharmonic Orchestra prominent social media exposer during filming of local and foreign cultural related media and programs, promoting local and foreign music traditional events. Such examples included: Mill-Palazz series on TVM, MYO scholarship video promotion, Muzika Muzika Festival, Movies to Musicals - Glasgow Philharmonia and Muża Karkarża.
4TH YEAR RECITAL
Violin, Viola and Voice recital
G. TELEMANN ~ FANTASIA NOS. 1
The first of twelve inventive and often surprising Fantasias by Georg Philipp Telemann, arranged by Alan Arnold especially for the solo Viola. This is known as an excellent source of repertoire, with each piece presenting fresh technical challenges for the confident Viola player.
C. STAMITZ - VIOLA CONCERTO NO. 1, D MAJOR
Carl Stamitz was a German composer with partial Czech ancestry. He is the most well-known figure from the second generation of the Mannheim School. Stamitz is credited with more than 50 symphonies, 38 symphonies concertantes, 60 concertos for more than 8 instruments as well as numerous chamber pieces. Stylistically speaking, Stamitzs’ music is frequently compared to the Galant style works of Mozart as well as the middle era of music by Haydn. The Concerto in D Major for Viola and Orchestra was first published in Frankfurt and Paris in 1774 while he was living and working in the two cities. Many scholars believe he wrote this piece to show off his own virtuosity on the viola, including the use of double stops, pedal notes, harmonics, and other techniques generously. Stamitz certainly utilizes all registers of the viola in this composition to effectively showcase the distinct, tonal colours of the instrument. Please enjoy an urtext version of this concerto edited by Henle Verlag production and cadenzas edited by Robert D. Levin.
OTHER PROJECTS
Composition and Research
OH MADONNA
TAL-ĦERBA ITLOB GĦALINA
Chamber Orchestra Music Composition
A chamber music composition called ‘Madonna tal-Ħerba, itlob ghalina’, (Our lady of tal-Ħerba, pray for us) which will focus on the prestigious story of the Great Siege of Malta and ‘tal-Ħerba’ Sanctuary located in Birkirkara, Malta. A cycle of dramatic narrative composition for chamber orchestra that dates back to the 1565, Great Siege of Malta; describing the life before the conflict, the siege battle followed by victory and finally back to the ambient of normal life
TRANSCRIPTIONS OF 18TH AND 19TH CENTURY CHURCH MUSIC.
Found in Mdina and Birkirkara Archives
Every music score found in an archive has a historical meaning attached to it and it is the researchers’ task to find the meaning behind a particular manuscript. This study explores Maltese sacred music that dates back to the 18th and 19th Century. Music references used for this project, were sourced from two different archives, located in two different prominent communities in Malta; the Mdina Cathedral archives and the Archivum Capitolare Birkirkara archives. The research document will take you through the journey of discovering the music and the process of cataloging it with discussions of the format and techniques used in the original music that are aligned with the transcribed and edited scores.