Desirée Calleja

SCHOLAR DESCRIPTION

Desirée Calleja (née Quintano) is a full-time cellist with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra. She began her studies with Mario Psaila and earned her LRSM under Peter Flanagan. In 2020, she completed her MMus at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, studying under Naomi Butterworth and Richard Markson.

She led the cello section of the Malta Youth Orchestra and has toured internationally, performing with prestigious ensembles like the Commonwealth Youth Orchestra in London and the Festival Junger Künstler Orchestra in Germany. She participated in the European Union Baroque Orchestra and performed with the Stoneleigh Youth Orchestra. Desirée has collaborated with the London City Philharmonic, the University of London Symphony Orchestra, and has played in concerts with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, and Philharmonia Orchestra.

As a chamber musician, she was part of the Malkonia String Quartet, winning the 2019 John Barbirolli Competition, and was a finalist with the Attacca Piano Quartet in the 2020 Carne Trust Chamber Competition. Her chamber ensembles have performed in prestigious venues like Wigmore Hall.

Desirée received the 2018/19 Bibby Award from the Worshipful Company of Cutlers and has benefited from support by the BOV Joseph Calleja Foundation, Janatha Stubbs Foundation, and others. Beyond music, she holds a BA in History of Art and Maltese and an MA in Baroque Studies. She has tutored at the Malta School of Music.