Young Gozitan brothers Jean Noël and Pierre Louis Attard recently took part in an orchestral masterclass with Venezuelan world-renowned conductor Gustavo Dudamel held at the Albert Halls, Stirling, Scotland.

Both violinists formed part of the Sistema Scotland Pop-Up Orchestra – made up of some 80 young people selected, mostly, from all over Scotland.

Sistema Scotland, inspired by Venezuela’s El Sistema, promotes music among youth in socially-deprived areas.

This Pop-Up Orchestra – of which Jean Noël was the leader – initially rehearsed Beethoven’s Egmont Overture and the Eroica Symphony with Sistema’s musical director Francis Cummings. Eventually, they were joined by around 40 members from Dudamel’s own Simon Bolivar Orchestra – which was touring the UK – for a rehearsal session with Dudamel’s assistant before being taken over by the charismatic Dudamel himself (with Jean Noël being sub-leader alongside the Bolivar’s leader).

Jean Noël has very recently terminated a four-year degree in music at Edinburgh Napier University, graduating with first class honours, and also awarded the university’s prize medal.

He will now move on to a two-year Masters degree at London’s Royal Academy of Music.

Pierre Louis has just finished his post-secondary studies and intends to continue his musical studies at tertiary level.