Milica Lawrence
Pianist and Harpsichordist
Founder, Director, CEO at Malta Piano Academy
Founder, Director, CEO at Malta International Piano Festival
Kellyann Spiteri
Piano Assistant
Christine Muscat
Piano Assistant
Ilaria Debono
Piano Assistant
Ilaria Debono was born on the 8th of March, 2008. She started attending piano lessons at the age of 6 and never stopped since then. She completed her theory of music and performance grade exams and is currently reading for the ATCL Piano Diploma and tutored by Mr Francis Camilleri. Ilaria took part in various local piano concerts, including 2 Trinity College of London concerts. In 2022 she was also part of the Malta International Piano Festival competition, in which she was a second prize winner. She has also attended a masterclass led by Ms Corrina Simon in 2022. She is an active member of the Gozo Youth Orchestra as a pianist, and takes part in numerous concerts both in Gozo and Malta.
In September 2023 Ilaria was part of an Erasmus exchange with this orchestra and performed with the Gozo Youth Orchestra under the direction of Mro Joseph Grech and the Eurode Jugendorchester under the direction of Mro Martin Eibach. Ilaria is looking forward to this new venture as a Piano Teacher with the Malta Piano Academy to share her love and passion for music and piano with her students.
Adla Burza
Piano & Theory of Music & Head of Paola branch
Adla Burza was born in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. From an early age, she showed a deep passion for music, starting singing at the age of 4, beginning formal piano lessons at 11 and eventually writing songs at the age of 15. This early foundation sparked a lifelong journey in music, leading to a Bachelor's degree in Music Songwriting and Production at Earlham College, with piano as her primary instrument and guitar as her secondary. During her time at Earlham, Adla was recognized for her academic and musical excellence, receiving the prestigious Dorothy C. Trayer Music Endowed Scholarship, awarded annually to the top music student. She explored a range of subjects, including music theory, solfeggio, and pop piano, with a special interest in film scoring and singer/songwriter genres.
After completing college, Adla joined the renowned dueling piano bar, Howl at the Moon, where she performed across major U.S. cities such as Indianapolis, Orlando, Louisville, and Philadelphia. Her high-energy performances, featuring her skills on piano, drums, bass, and guitar, captivated audiences and showcased her versatility. This role required a keen ear for music, improvisation, and the ability to learn and perform an extensive and diverse repertoire, often based on audience requests. Her performance experience also inspired Adla to share her love for music through teaching, where she blends her classical training with modern styles to guide her students. Classically trained in piano, Adla’s teaching philosophy bridges classical techniques with contemporary pop music, allowing students to explore both structured fundamentals and creative expression. She encourages her students to master the technical aspects of music theory and solfeggio while finding their unique voice through pop piano, media composition, and songwriting.
Gerardo Lucero
Piano & Head of Victoria Branch
“Life is like a piano...what you get out of it, depends on how you play it.” Undeniably, Gerardo Lucero had been living with this quotation in mind. From the time he was five, he developed the talent of just playing the piano freely all by himself. He derived his inspiration from Chopin, Rachmaninoff and Beethoven- some of the greatest masters of music. With a degree of Bachelor of Music in Music Education and Piano Performance, Mr. Lucero graduated from the University of Santo Tomas, Conservatory of Music – Manila, Philippines. He began his career by working as a piano teacher at the Yamaha School of Music, Philippines and then moved to Dubai where he worked as a piano professor. Apart from being a regular teacher, he also performs as a solo pianist in Dubai. Mr. Lucero has also performed as a solo artist at the Cultural Center of the Philippines and at Paco Park Manila during the Philippine-German Month Week. He attended the Sewanee Summer Music Festival inTennessee, USA in July 2007. He has also participated in various piano master classes of both local and international artists, chamber music and piano ensemble groups. He also took part in the Junior Music Course conducted by Yamaha Music Foundation, Japan. Mr. Lucero is also a piano accompanist for the ABRSM, Trinity, LCM exams and also plays in various choir groups. He also served as a ballet accompanist in ballet examination. He earned his Master of Music degree in Piano Performance in St. Paul’s University Manila, Philippines.
Jelena Nedelkovski
Piano, Soleggio & Theory of Music
Piano, Solfeggio and Music Theory Teacher, who believes that it is hers responsibility to provids students with a strong foundation in music fundamentals that will enable them to succeed in their piano studies and beyond. Her teaching philosophy is centered around creating a dynamic
and engaging learning environment that creates love and understanding of music. She loves making lessons creatively, combining many teaching methods to cater to the needs of diverse students. Throughout her career, Jelena had the privilege of teaching Piano, Solfeggio and Music Theory in both private and public Music Schools, as well as teaching Music in Elementary School and High School.
Slavica Azzopardi
Piano & Jazz Piano, Theory of Music & Head of Mosta Branch
Sandra Cupic
Solfeggio & Theory of Music
Sandra Cupic was born in 1994. She graduated in 2017 with Honors from the Music Academy in Nis, Serbia. Her main studies included Music Pedagogy, Harmony with Harmonic analysis, Piano, Music theory, and Solfeggio. During her studies, she was privileged to be the Ambassador of Culture in Serbia. She has a gift and love for teaching, passing on her passion for music to her students and tailoring their lessons to meet their needs and goals. Her teaching approach is tailored to suit each student's individual needs. Sandra is regularly invited to adjudicate at numerous International Festivals in Finland, Italy, North Macedonia, Spain, Serbia, Germany, Japan, Sydney, Cyprus, etc. She is also one of the Rock School and Trinity College London certified Vocal instructor based in Malta. Her students are winners of many local and international competitions. Currently, she works from her own studio MusicLand mentoring several upcoming vocal artists.
Manoel Pirotta
Solfeggio & Theory of Music
Manoel Pirotta DNESM (Lyon) [M.A.] Dip CNR (Lyon) [B.A. (Hons.)] Hon VCM LFIBA CT, FVCM (Hons.) FTCL FLCM FNCM LTCL
LMusLCM LMusTCL (Comp.) Ċert. (Qarrej tal-Provi) [Melit.] graduated in pedagogy and composition from the CNSMD(Lyon, 1994). Senior lecturer (University of Maltea ‘Ġ.F. Abela’ Junior College). Nominated International Musician of the Year for his outstanding musical achievements (IBC Cambridge, 2003). Awarded the Grand Prix des Arts for music composition and conducting (8 th Malta International Art Biennale, 2007). Conducted the Catholic Institute Youth Orchestra (1987-9), Maltese Youth Orchestra (1994-6), and The Euro Academy Youth Orchestra (2002-8). Musical director of the College Orchestra since 1998. Works played in Belgium, Dubai (during the first round of the second edition of the Classic Piano International competition organized by the EUFSC in collaboration with the Dubai SAMIT Event Group), England, France, Germany, Italy, Malta, Serbia and Spain; included in piano anthologies: Kinder Garden; A Musical Tribute to Mozart from Malta;
Contemporary Piano (VCM, London); Piano Music from Malta [Murray MacLachlan] (CD). A regular adjudicator on inter/national music competitions. As a certified proof reader, he is also the author of a large number of articles/studies in the Maltese language: (OAR@UoM
( https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/ )
Michael Pirotta
Solfeggio & Theory of Music
Michael Pirotta started his musical career during his teenage years at the Peace Band Club of Naxxar. He joined the band back in 1985 and furthered his clarinet studies privately with the renowned Maltese virtuoso Freddie Mizzi. Under Mizzi’s tuition he obtained various diplomas,
including a Fellow from the London College and a Licentiate from the Trinity College. During the same time Michael Pirotta won “Musician of the Year” award twice in 1996 and 1998 in a local competition organised by the Society of Arts, Manufacture and Commerce. This enabled him to further his studies abroad at the London College of Music with Linda Merrick and David Campbell. Back in Malta, Pirotta started to teach clarinet at the “Johann Strauss” School of Music in Valletta and joined on various occasions the Malta National Orchestra. He had the opportunity to play with the Orchestra as a soloist and also joined a newly founded clarinet quartet under the supervision of the late Ronnie De Battista. “The Valette” clarinet quartet was very active locally and travelled to Germany back in 2000 to deliver numerous concerts. Michael participated regularly as a soloist in the “Malta Cultural Institute” and other established venues promoting works penned by Maltese composers like Carmelo Pace, Charles Camilleri, and Joseph Vella. Pirotta’s clarinet career spans over three decades in which he met various international figures and till today he is active in chamber music and teaches woodwind at the Leone Philharmonic Band in Victoria, Gozo. Pirotta is also establishing himself as a budding composer under the supervision of the prolific Maltese composer Ray Sciberras, under whose guidance he obtained an A Mus TCL in 2021 and an LLCM in composition in 2023. Recently, Michael also studied at the University of Malta under the guidance of numerous professors, namely Professor Michael Laus. Professor Laus’ enthusiasm for the piano influenced Pirotta to give birth to‘Constellations’. Michael Pirotta is weaving his clarinet career with that of composition and up to this date he is the author of various other chamber works, including an elaborate clarinet quartet and various other pieces for wind band. This year, Michael’s solo trumpet work and wind band under the name of ‘Due Amici’ is much in vogue. Occasionally Michael has consultation lessons with Geoffrey Thomas and in the coming months he will be having a new experience as a Maestro di Capella in a modest chapel.
Raúl Romero
Piano Online
“Raúl Romero, born in Bogotá, Colombia, is a professional pianist and piano educator with extensive experience in delivering personalized instruction to students of all ages and skill levels. With a keen ability to identify and develop each student’s unique strengths, Raúl designs tailored lesson plans that optimize educational outcomes and foster exceptional musical growth. In addition to his teaching career, Raúl has performed extensively as a soloist and chamber musician, showcasing his versatility and deep musicality across various genres. His performances have been well-received, adding to his reputation as a dedicated and accomplished pianist. Raúl has held prominent teaching positions at various institutions. From 2021 to 2024, he served as a piano lecturer at the Petrozavodsk State Glazunov Conservatoire in Russia, where he instructed undergraduate and master’s students in advanced piano performance. During his tenure at the conservatoire, he developed lesson plans aligned with the academic curriculum, evaluated and graded coursework and performances, and organized recitals to showcase student progress. Additionally, Raúl taught piano, music theory, and music history to children at the Sinisalo Children’s Music School in Petrozavodsk from 2021 to 2024. There, he designed and implemented customized lesson plans to meet each child’s learning needs, coordinated with parents and guardians to ensure effective communication, and provided regular progress updates along with advice on practice routines. Regarding his academic background, Raúl holds a Bachelor’s degree in Piano Performance and a Master’s degree in Piano Performance, both from the Petrozavodsk State Glazunov Conservatoire in Russia. He has also completed postgraduate training in Piano Performance at the same institution and is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Music Pedagogy (Piano) at JAMK University of Applied Sciences in Jyväskylä, Finland. Among his publications, Raúl authored "The Legacy of José Antonio Abreu: The Orchestral System in Venezuela," published in the Music Journal of Northern Europe № 4 (28), 2021. This article explores Venezuela’s National System of Youth and Children’s Orchestras and Choirs, a social and cultural initiative founded in 1975 by José Antonio Abreu. Raúl is a native Spanish speaker, proficient in Russian, advanced in English, and currently learning Finnish. His key strengths include his adaptability in adjusting his teaching style to suit students’ needs and his intensive experience in music pedagogy.
In recognition of his contributions to culture and the arts, Raúl was awarded the Medal "For Contribution to Culture and Art" by the All-Russian Union of Arts in 2023, as well as a Letter of Thanks from the city administration of Petrozavodsk for his pedagogical contributions in piano education.”
Vincenzo Pinturo
Piano Online
Born in Catania, Italy, Vincenzo started early in his study and practice of the piano and later the flute. He completed his classical studies at the Conservatory “Vincenzo Bellini” in his hometown, receiving his degree in 1997 and later continued with Jazz at the “ARTEMUSICA” Academy of Mº Enrico Scandurra. Vincenzo perfected his studying with Alessandro Bruno, Nuccio Sferro and has attended workshops, interpretation seminars and music education with Franco Donatoni, Giovanni Bietti, Gabriella Cosentino. All the while he continues to work as a professional musician playing in various groups of Jazz, Big Band and chamber ensembles, among which include “Universal Studio’s Penitence Big Band” (Spain) and “The Blue Eyes Orchestra” (Germany). Vincenzo also works as a session musician on tour, on theatrical and musical productions and as the national director of a polyphonic choral. Vincenzo has performed piano recitals in Italy, Germany and Spain, playing as a guest artist at the International Competition “Maria Canals” of Barcelona and the Salonhalle at the “Kurt Müllenhaupt Museum” in Zepenick Berlin.
His multifaceted musical ability has been channeled into teaching which is delivered with passion and a creative methodology. His many years of musical experience as well as being the author of didactic pieces, studies and written arrangements translates well to suit the individual needs of each of his students.
Stefano Vagnini
Organ, Improvisation & Jazz Piano
Composer, organist, harpsichordist and music theorizer with a long and varied career in classical and contemporary music.
Stefano obtained degree in Organ and Organ Composition from the "G. Rossini" Conservatory of Music in Pesaro in 1986, completing a ten-year program with full marks. In the same year, he got a master at the Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. In 1988, I earned a degree in Electronic Music from the "G. Rossini" Conservatory. Between 1983 and 1985, he participated in organ masterclasses with internationally renowned organists such as Monserrat Torrent (early organ music), Liuwe Tamminga (organ improvisation), Andre’ Isoir (early French music), and Michael Radulescu (J.S.Bach organ works). From 1988 to 1992, Stefano worked as a professor of Organ and Composition at the "A. Casella" Conservatory of Music in L'Aquila and the "E. F. Dall’Abaco" Conservatory of Music in Verona. He conducted the Slave Song gospel choir in from 2000 to 2008 and for the Mezio Agostini opera choir from 1999 to 2006. Stefano has performed organ concerts in Italy and abroad, in countries such as the USA, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Russia, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, China, Spain, England, Scotland, Denmark, Poland, Finland, Nerland, South Korea, Japan, and France. From 1986 to 2014, He served as the artistic director of the prestigious Santa Maria Nuova International Organ Festival. Stefano has published numerous works, including LPs, CDs, and books. Some of his notable works include: Isola di Koch recorded at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris (Nautilus ed.), the Nicolaus (Bongiovanni ed.), the book The modular method in music (Falcon Valley ed.); the modular oratorio Via Crucis (Falcon Valley ed.); Messa Picena; De revolutionibus (for organ and soprano) and in 2018 the book Ergo sum, a deep music experience. In 2007 the Campanotto editions published his book of poems Salmodiesubliminali together with a DVD of his works. In 1997, Stefano developed a new composition methodology called Modular Music which is also applied to other art forms under the name ModulArt. He has conducted monographic research on artists such as Giorgio Gaber and Samuel Beckett. Stefano has conducted masterclasses and conferences at various universities and cultural centres internationally (West Georgia University Georgia-USA; G.D’Annunzio Chieti-Italy; University of Strathclyde Glasgow-Scotland), sharing his experience and knowledge on modular music and other compositional techniques.
References:
Giorgia Ragni
Piano, Solfeggio & Theory of Music
Soprano, pianist and linguist, Giorgia Ragni studied piano at the G. Rossini Conservatory in Pesaro, (Italy) and graduated with a Bachelor in Vocal studies in 2007 with a thesis focused on the duets of the Mozart trilogy: Don Giovanni, Le Nozze di Figaro and Così Fan Tutte. Simultaneously, she obtained a university bachelor’s degree in foreign languages and literatures at the Alma Mater Studiorum University in Bologna with a thesis focused on Children learning and language development. She taught piano, and vocal studies both in private and public schools: at the Conoscendo music school, at the Piano summer camp school of Nataliya Bazhanova, and Choir at the G. Nolfi High School in Fano (Italy). She composed 5 CDs of songs for children for the Learn with Mummy English School, Verona, Italy She has been performing opera, church music and chamber concerts, in duo with organist Maestro Stefano Vagnini, in theatres and cathedrals in Italy and abroad: U.S.A. (‘99, ’08,’09,’10, ’11, ‘12), Spain (’05, -’07 Tenerife-), France (’06, ’12,’19), Switzerland (‘10), England (’11), Germany (’12,’24), Scotland (’12), Holland (’12), Poland (’12), Finland (’12), Denmark (’12), Korea (’12, ’13,’14,’15,‘16), China (’17,’18), French Polynesia (’19).In the Academic year 2011-2012 she performed and presented new composing/ performing experimental projects based on a new methodology called Modul Art to the University of west Georgia (Georgia U.S.A.) as Artist in Residence, and the following year to the Strathclyde University in Glasgow (Scotland). Throughout the years she has been organizing prestigious Festivals in Italy and America, such as: The Zoo World Modular Project. The Zoo Project Miami 2009 involved 15 composers worldwide in collaboration with Sunny Isles Beach Government Center, Miami Arts Charter School, Arts Ballet Theater of Florida, and Fine Art for Youth, Sunny Isles Beach, Miami FL, USA, 2009. The MCube Festival -Movie, Music Modul Art-: in collaboration with the University of West Georgia, Carrollton GA, USA, 2012. The Sono Ergo Sum Festival: Baroque, Contemporary and Modular Festival at the S. Domenico Pinacoteque, Fano Italy, 2014.