Stefan Calleja

SCHOLAR DESCRIPTION

Born in 1995, Stefan Calleja is the Principal of the Second Violins with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra. He was nominated for the Young Artist of the Year award in 2018 and 2019 for his contributions to Maltese music.

Stefan started his violin studies with Fiona Giambra and later with Mario Bisazza, achieving the Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music (LRSM). He earned a Bachelor of Music from the University of Malta in 2017, studying under Natalia Filipenko, and completed a Master of Music at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music in 2020 under Clare Thompson.

Stefan has performed with several prestigious orchestras, including the European Union Youth Orchestra, Mediterranean Youth Orchestra, and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in a side-by-side concert. He has also played with the Commonwealth Youth Orchestra and the University of London Symphony Orchestra. In 2019, Stefan won the Sir John Barbirolli Chamber Competition with the Malkonia Quartet.

In 2023, Stefan founded Nova Sinfonietta, a string ensemble promoting Maltese musicians who studied abroad. He has also performed as a soloist with the London Symphony Orchestra, Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, and Malta Youth Orchestra.

Stefan plays on a violin by Ednei Zuccati, sponsored by the BOV Joseph Calleja Foundation, and is grateful for continuous support from the foundation, Ms. Janatha Stubbs, and the Malta Arts Scholarship.