Christine Vella
Assistant Music Director & Saxophone Tutor at the George Vella Music school within Għaqda Mużikali Marija Bambina, Banda Vittorja, Naxxar
Christine Vella is a saxophonist, music educator, conductor, and musical director from
Malta. She began her musical journey at the age of eight at the Għaqda Mużikali Marija
Bambina, Banda Vittorja, Naxxar, under the guidance of Edwin Pace. She later
continued her studies with Noel Beck, Lawrence Borg, and Yvette Maria Galea,
achieving both the Fellowship of the London College of Music (FLCM) and the ABRSM
Advanced Certificate. In 2015, she earned the Licentiate of Trinity College London
(LTCL) with distinction, following advanced studies in Paris with Antonino Mollica. Most recently, she completed the Diploma in Wind Band Studies at the University of Malta with distinction.
In 2001, Christine won the mature category of the Young Musicians Competition,
earning a scholarship to the London College of Music at Thames Valley University,
where she studied with Steve Cottrell. She has participated in masterclasses and
workshops with leading saxophonists including Fabrizio Mancuso, Sylvain Malezieux,
Gilles Tressos, Mario Ciaccio, Pascal Bonnett, Lars Mlekusch, Sergei Kolasov, Massimo
Mazzoni, and Hayrapet Arakelyan. She also took part in an ensemble masterclass with
the acclaimed saxophone quartet Quatuor Habanera.
Christine has performed extensively both locally and internationally, collaborating with orchestras, bands, and chamber ensembles. A regular performer with the Malta
Philharmonic Orchestra, including appearances as guest soloist, she has worked under the direction of distinguished conductors such as Wayne Marshall, Sergey Smbatyan, Jean-Marc Burfin, Brian Schembri, Michael Laus, and Kelly Kuo. She is also a member of the renowned Big Band Brothers. Her international appearances include performances in England, Italy, France, Germany, and Tunisia, where she premiered The Contested Land by Maltese composer Gordon Zammit. In 2015, she represented Malta at the World Saxophone Congress – SaxOpen in Strasbourg with I Sassofonisti del
Mediterraneo.
Deeply committed to music education, Christine founded the Malta Saxophone Festival in 2013, the country’s first event dedicated solely to saxophone education and performance. Since then, she has organised numerous workshops, masterclasses, and festivals in Malta and abroad, collaborating with a wide range of local and international musicians.
Christine is also active in conducting and musical direction. She studied conducting with Mro Joseph Sammut and attended workshops with Mro Gianpaolo Lazzeri and Mro Roberto Beltrán-Zavala. She completed conducting study-units under Malta Philharmonic Orchestra resident conductor Mro Michael Laus and, in October 2024, participated in the Silent Conducting Course led by internationally renowned conductor Peter Stark in England, supported by the Training and Development Scheme of Arts Council Malta. In August 2025, she further expanded her artistic practice by attending a course in directing and theatre-making at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London.
Since 2000, she has served as Assistant Music Director of the Għaqda Mużikali Marija Bambina, Banda Vittorja, Naxxar, where she coordinates annual concerts and productions featuring young musicians. She also serves as Coordinator of the George Vella School of Music within the same organisation, which she helped establish with the aim of providing holistic and high-quality music education within the community. In addition, she tutors the school’s saxophone class, mentoring young musicians and supporting their artistic development. Christine is also Principal of the Pinto Music Academy within the Għaqda Mużikali Pinto, Qormi, where she contributes to the development and delivery of music education programmes. In April 2022, she also coconducted the Civil Workers Wind Band in a special televised concert organised by the Public Service of Malta.
Christine has worked as Assistant Music Director on several major pantomimes produced by Masquerade at the Manoel Theatre. She has also established herself as a Music Director with Hoi Polloi Theatre Company, leading the musical direction of Hocus Pocus – The Pantoween and Muzikids’ Harmonies of the Holidays, and is currently preparing the company’s upcoming production, The Panto of the Opera. Her projects have received support from Arts Council Malta through both mobility and project-based grants, as well as support from the Cimetta Fund.
Christine is currently a Senior Lecturer at the Institute for the Creative Arts (ICA) within MCAST, where she teaches music-related study units within the Performing Arts programmes. She has directed and organised numerous student recitals, showcases, and performances, while also collaborating closely with production lecturers and theatre practitioners. In addition, she serves as coordinator of a major collaborative initiative between MCAST and the Għaqda Nazzjonali Każini tal-Banda, aimed at enhancing training and professional development opportunities for local band club students and educators, ensuring Malta’s wind band music schools continue to evolve in response to contemporary cultural and educational needs.
Alongside her artistic career, Christine also holds a Master’s degree in Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence, reflecting her broad interdisciplinary interests and commitment to lifelong learning.