From Humble Beginnings To The Opera Stage: A Journey Of Perseverance And Passion

1. Do you remember your first steps in singing?

I’ve always sung either at home, or in my city town hall, in choirs.. not so much in school, I was always shy to sing at school.. but I do remember taking my first singing lessons. Singing always came very natural to me.

2. How were your teenage years influenced by this experience?

Once I’ve met other teenagers my age who were into music, I felt at home, we travelled, had concerts in Italy, Germany, France and we always had something to look forward to or a rehearsal/concert to attend to, and new music to learn..

3. This passion for music was nurtured alongside a degree in tourism and subsequently being ground crew for AirMalta. How did you merge both worlds?

I started studying singing while I was finishing my degree at Uni in Malta, that meant that I rarely had any free time. And usually deadlines were always pressing, but somehow I found a way to do both. Of course once I started studying singing full time in London, the airport life was then over. But I have to say working for AirMalta back then gave me a set of tools which I still find useful nowadays. I worked as a turn around coordinator as well, so I’ve learnt how to tackle certain delicate situations with high pressure. And of course to make it into the music industry you cannot just know how to sing.

4. A milestone moment was getting accepted at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music in London. What induced you to go for this pathway change, and are there moments you fondly cherish?

At the time, I remember thinking “I’ll give it a shot” it was more of a gut instinct.. since of course I didn’t really know what it means to become a professional opera singer or what the gypsy/travel life would look like.

Once I started I had to catch up with everyone else who had been studying music for much longer than I have, so I had to worker harder to catch up, but somehow the end result was always to the professors’ satisfaction, always improving and understanding a bit better. It’s a slow process.

There are many fond memories and friendships that I’ve built in London, it’s always a joy to go back to London. Other experiences not as pleasant, as every learning curve not everything is plain sailing, but that is what helps you grow.

5. How demanding is it to establish your name in the opera world? What are your future aspirations and what are the upcoming project you are relishing?

Competition nowadays is very hard. There is a lot of talent out there. And talent alone is not enough. You have to meet the right people at the right time. You have to look the part, need to be flexible and accommodating to the directors’ needs which nowadays have become much more demanding especially when the performance is being filmed/recorded for broadcasting.

It took me 9 years to actually start working(covid interrupted of course), it takes a lot of perseverance and determination..but when you believe you have something to offer, I guess you keep at it until you find the right path for you.

My future aspirations, are simply to keep working with international conductors/directors, I’ve been very lucky these past two years, I have been working with some of the best conductors that exist nowadays, in some of the great opera houses in Europe, with incredible colleagues..

I’m very looking forward to my debut at Theatre de La Monnaie in Brussels , singing at the Opera Garnier and Bastille with Paris Opera, going back to Firenze’s Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino and also coming back to the Royal Ballet & Opera House in London.

6. Despite your age, you’ve already achieved so much. What are your words of advice to young local artists?

Work hard, sacrifice is inevitable, don’t limit your dreams, the world is full of possibilities.
Keep moving, no matter how small a step, always keep moving as one thing leads to another.

Follow your gut instinct!