The Artists
Jacob Portelli
Musician: Harp, Baroque Cello, Violin, Organ & Psaltery
Jacob Portelli is the resident harpist of the Archdiocese of Malta and has occupied this position since 2020. He is a founding member and violist of the Cordia string quartet that regularly performs at private and state functions. In 2016, Cordia performed for H. M. Queen Elizabeth II during the 2016 Commonwealth Day celebration at Marlborough House, London. Jacob holds an LRSM in harp and violin, and a Diploma in viola. He plays the baroque violin, baroque cello, and is a member and leader of the continuo section of the Valletta International Baroque Ensemble. Jacob released four studio albums in 2020: ‘Kinnor’, ‘Nevel’, ‘The Christmas Song’ and ‘We Three Kings’. Jacob’s lifelong passion for music has led him to perform in various European cities including Athens, Caltagirone, London, and Torino.
Dorothy Baldacchino
Soprano
Maltese Soprano, Dorothy Baldacchino has a voice with a pure, crystal quality, making her instrument particularly suited for baroque, classical, neoclassical and contemporary classical music. An Associate of the Royal Schools of Music with Distinction in 2018 for her Singing Diploma, Dorothy is currently under the mentorship of Claire Debono, having commenced her studies with Miriam Cauchi and Joan Busby. Dorothy read a BA (Hons) in Theatre Studies at the University of Malta, with Distinction for her dissertation tracing the pedagogical approaches for the actor-singer-musician. She frequently appears in concerts and recitals, mostly specializing in baroque sacred music and in the French art song repertoire.
Dorothy Bezzina
Soprano
Dorothy Bezzina’s vocal flexibility allows her to sing across different genres. She is a regular performer in various annual and commemorative concerts, as well as in private and musico-literary events at some of Malta’s most prestigious venues. Dorothy has worked as artistic director for several locally produced events, with her recent production of The Band’s Visit earning her two nominations for Premju għall-Arti. Apart from her Trinity College Licentiate and Malta School of Music diplomas in Classical Performance, she holds a BA in Maltese and English, a PGDip in Interpreting, a PGCE, an MA in Maltese, an MA in English, and is currently reading for an MA in Marketing.
Hannah Tong
Soprano
Soprano Hannah Tong graduated from the Malta School of Music in 2016. She is the winner of The Gozo Classical Voice Festival and Competition 2023. She has given operatic performances in lead female roles at the Manoel Theatre and concerts both locally and overseas and has participated in masterclasses with internationally renowned operatic artists including Barbara Frittoli and Maija Kovalevska. Hannah is a hospital and clinical pharmacist and is furthering her music studies under the artistic guidance of sopranos Juliette Bisazza and Miriam Cauchi.
Gabrielle Portelli
Soprano
Gabrielle is a 24-year-old Soprano from the island of Malta. She has been singing and performing since the age of 8. Since the age of 16 she has been studying classical voice at the Malta School of Music under the tutelage of Soprano Miriam Cauchi. She is currently pursuing a voice performance Diploma at the Malta School of Music. Gabrielle also possesses a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre Studies and Psychology. Aged 12, Gabrielle was a soloist in two concerts accompanied by the Malta Youth Orchestra. She was a finalist in the Charles Camilleri Music Competition 2018 and was part of the adult choir in the opera film: “Blat: City of Humanity” in 2021. She has also taken part in a variety of solo recitals such as “Songbird’s Tunes” in Notte Bianca 2019 and most recently: “Chamber Fest at Pjazza Teatru Rjal”, “Serenata: Works for Soprano and Violin”, “Tra Amore e Follia: The Art of Bel Canto” and “Chansons d’Amour”. In April 2023, Gabrielle has also made her debut at Malta’s National Theatre: The Manoel Theatre during “An Evening of Italian Opera Scenes” where she interpreted the role of Rita from Donizetti’s “Rita” together with the Malta School of Music Opera Studio, which she is an active member of. At the end of 2023, Gabrielle sang during a Maltese mass held at St Peter’s Basilica in Rome and performed during the Christmas concert “Venite Adoremus” at the Sant’ Andrea della Valle Basilica, also in Rome. In 2024, Gabrielle was a winner in Malta School of Music’s Concerto Competition and as a result, will be singing as a soloist during Malta Youth Orchestra’s 20242025 season. She has also been an active participant during master classes with opera singers such as Maestra Sumi Jo, Jennifer Larmore, Luis Aguilar, Bernhard Hansky, Snezana Nena Brzakovic and Carlos Conde Gonzalez and Opera Directors Vivien Hewitt and Lars Franke. Gabrielle was also one of 12 chosen participants in a threeweek masterclass in Germany called “Oper Oder Spree” 2022 and was awarded a scholarship to attend the masterclass again in Summer 2023, which she did. She was supported by the BOV Joseph Calleja Foundation on both occasions, along with her attendance to the masterclass with Sumi Jo in Vienna in August 2024. Gabrielle took part in Notte Bianca 2024 as both director and performer in an original bilingual operetta called “Kummiedja Operistika” along with three other upcoming singers. She is also a part of the Opera Nova Project 2024/25 led by Gillian Zammit and Denise Mulholland. Gabrielle is now working on two solo roles in the operas Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” with Opera Nova Project and Gluck’s “Il Parnaso Confuso” with Festivals Malta.
Althea Troisi
Soprano
Althea Troisi completed her Bachelor’s degree in Vocal Music at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music in 2022. From 2018 to 2022, she worked at the Latvian National Opera where she sang the roles of Soeur Mathilde in Poulenc’s Dialogues des Carmelites and Tisbe in Rossini’s Cenerentola. Althea participated in international festivals including the Sigulda Opera Festival in 2019 (Latvia) and the Breath of Baikal Festival in Irkutsk (Russia) where she sang the role of Adalgisa in Bellini’s Norma. Locally, Althea sang the roles of Sorceress (Dido & Aeneas) and Public Opinion (Orpheus in the Underworld) at the Teatru Manoel. Althea is a scholar of the BOV Joseph Calleja Foundation and Ms Janatha Stubbs.
Jeremy Grech
Actor
Jeremy Grech is a local artist and tourist guide who has been passionately performing for almost a decade. His passion for storytelling and history has brought him closer to creating new concepts and is grateful to be doing what he loves. His most notable roles in theatre were in Sette (Teatru Malta), The Bards Farewell (ZiguZajg) and Ellie (Teatru Manoel). In the last couple of years, he created Theatourism which is the beautiful marriage of Theatre and Tourism. This venture has led him to create a memorable theatrical tour at Teatru Manoel, the Mosta Rotunda and other localities. Apart from being a theatre practitioner and guide, Jeremy is also a drama tutor with a passion for the italian form of art Commedia dell' Arte. Il-Pirata, as locally nicknamed, has trained professionally with Teatru Manoel under the tutorship of Denise Mulholland, the Drama Centre with several tutors and quite recently with theatre veteran Narcy Calamatta. His main aim as an artist is to make theatre and history more accessible to a wider audience and also pass on his enthusiasm to the audiences that come to his shows!