A Story Through Sound: A Composition Masterclass by Geoffrey Thomas

In the lead-up to Mikiel Anton Vassalli College’s (MAVC) annual production, this year’s multidisciplinary triptych L-Aħħar Bastiment: Stories from the Grand Harbour is introduced through a series of masterclasses. These masterclasses are offerred and organised by the Department of Multidisciplinary Arts Studies within MAVC offering students a glimpse into the craft and collaboration behind a professional theatrical production. Geoffrey Thomas, one of the composers involved in the Mikiel Anton Vassalli’s upcoming production L-Aħħar Bastiment: Stories from the Grand Harbour gave a masterclass on composition.

This masterclass introduced a group of 6 young composition students to the delicate craft of shaping music from words, exploring the essential elements of composition and the subtle art of setting text to sound. The tutor, Geoffrey Thomas, who is one of the composers in L-Aħħar Bastiment: Stories from the Grand Harbour, invited participants to reflect on where creation begins (whether in language or melody) while engaging deeply with text, its rhythm, structure, and emotional weight. Attendees were asked to explore elements of music in more depth and some of their own works were shared and examined, alongside examples by established composers, revealing both the strengths to be nurtured and the pitfalls to avoid.

Attention was given to the voice itself (its range, contour, and phrasing) as well as to the finer details of notation and presentation. Participants were encouraged to expand their musical ideas through variation and contrast, order of voices or instruments and to discover new possibilities within their own compositions. The session concluded with individual feedback on their compositions and an invitation to create anew: a short musical setting of an original Maltese verse, carrying forward what had been learned into personal expression.

L-Aħħar Bastiment – Stories from the Grand Harbour will be staged on Saturday 9 May 2026 at St. Agatha Auditorium, Rabat. Admission is free, but tickets must be reserved in advance via: https://www.ticketline.com.mt/bookings/Shows.aspx?ProductionId=1293