The University Vocal Ensemble is part of the Music Studies Programme of the Mediterranean Institute of the University. It is composed mainly of students of that same department, even though quite a number of students from other faculties opt to take the vocal ensemble as part of their optional credits. This year, in fact, many foreign students signed for this ensemble.

Apart from their visit to Italy, this year's main concerts included a Christmas concert at St John's Co-Cathedral as well as a Passion and Eastertide concert which included the Requiem by Fauré. Anybody interested in joining should speak to the co-ordinator of the Music Studies Programme, Mro Dion Buhagiar.

MusicAteneo 2004 organised by the University of Bologna was dedicated to groups from the new EU countries. The University Vocal Ensemble (together with their director and lecturer Mro Buhagiar) was invited to join the University of Bologna choir together with those coming from Kaunas (Lithuania) and Prague as well as the orchestra from the University of Budapest.

Each choir took part in two performances individually (one secular and one sacred).

The secular concert was held in Rimini S. Giuliano at Piazza della Marina, on the same stage where Lucio Dalla had to perform the following evening. All choirs sang a cappella and included works by their national composers. The University Vocal Ensemble, conducted by Dion Buhagiar, sang negro spirituals as well as Maltese music, such as Tfajla Samra, composed by their director. At the end of the concert, all choirs sang together the Gaudeamus Igitur.

The next concert was held at the church of the Annunciation in Bologna. It included Gregorian chant, early polyphony (Palestrina, and Croce) as well as works by Heanley Willan and Dion Buhagiar. O Bone Jesu, also by Buhagiar, was sung by the University Vocal Ensemble together with the Bologna University Choir, under Mro Buhagiar.

The climax of this singing tour was reached on June 1 where musicians from Bologna, Budapest, Lithuania, Prague and Malta sang Dvorak's Stabat Mater at the Aula Magna di S. Lucia of the University of Bologna. It was an incredible experience for all - a beautiful rendering given to a solid packed auditorium. The students from Malta together with the Music Studies co-ordinator left a good impression. Only two weeks after their return, the Vocal Ensemble was again invited to take part in another music festival organised by Bologna University in December.