Véronique Vella

Véronique Vella obtained a PhD in Music Composition in 2008 from Edinburgh Napier University under the tutelage of Stephen Davismoon and Ken Dempster.  She is the first Maltese woman to be awarded a Ph.D in Music Composition. After winning two Ian Tomlin Napier Music scholarships as well as generous funding from The Janatha Stubbs Foundation, Véronique read Music at undergraduate and postgraduate level. In 2003 she graduated with a First Class Bachelor of Music Honours degree with piano as her first study. Her piano tutors were Nicholas Ashton, Peter Evans, Colin Kingsley (UK), Martti Rautio (Finland), Yvette Galea and Michael Laus (Malta). In 2002 and 2006 respectively, Véronique was invited to participate in an Erasmus Exchange at Tampere Conservatoire and attend the Summer Electronic Music Course at CCMIX Studios in Paris.

As composer and performer, Véronique has collaborated with several world-class musicians including the Orchestra of Scottish Opera, the Edinburgh Quartet and the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra.  Her compositions have earned her rave reviews both locally and abroad, most recently in Classical Guitar magazine, following the commission of Bidla, premiered by the highly acclaimed flute and guitar Agnew McAllister duo.  Véronique’s work for small ensemble, Epilogue won her second prize in the Louis Mac Neice Centenary Competition, while her Ritratti, for piano and orchestra, won the Teatru Manoel Young Composers Competition 2011.

While in Scotland, Veronique was on the board of the Centre for Contemporary Arts in Glasgow and held various lecturing and examining posts at Edinburgh Napier University, Stevenson College Edinburgh, Heriot-Watt University and University of Glasgow.  She is frequently invited as guest speaker at international conferences, festivals and workshops including ‘Toi Toi Talks’ at the Teatru Manoel (Malta 2011); the Guitar Retreat Festival (UK, 2011), the Musica Scotica Conference at the Royal Scottish Academy Music and Drama (UK, 2010) and the Victoria International Arts Festival (Malta 2009).

Véronique holds a Bachelors degree in English and Psychology from the University of Malta but chose to pursue a career in music.  She is not only interested in composing and performing music for the concert hall, but also enjoys writing for film, theatre, dance and gaming companies.

Symphony orchestra

Chamber music

Solo 

Vocal 

Electronic 

Film music 

 CDs  – Live recordings

Young Composers Concert (MALTA)
CD featuring live recording of Ritratti, a 4 movement work for piano and orchestra by Veronique Vella. Performed by Veronique Vella (piano) & Malta Philharmonic Orchestra Teatru Manoel, Valletta
© Orkestra Filarmonika Nazzjonali 2011

Edinburgh Quartet – Ian Tomlin School of Music – Napier University – St. Giles at Six
CD featuring Gelsomina, for flute & string quartet. Performed by Heather Tait and Edinburgh Quartet
© Napier University 2007