We are ENSEMBLE
We are ENSEMBLE
We are ENSEMBLE
We are ENSEMBLE
A closer look into the project and its main partners
A closer look into the project and its main partners
A closer look into the project and its main partners
A closer look into the project and its main partners
What is ENSEMBLE
all about?
What is ENSEMBLE all about?
What is ENSEMBLE all about?
What is ENSEMBLE all about?
ENSEMBLE (short for “Encouraging Neighbourhoods to Support European Mental Health By Leading through European Song”) is a European Small Cooperation Project funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union.
The project brings together the Maltese choir VOCA, the Spanish vocal ensemble Voces Blancas del Nalón and the Portuguese artistic collective Ondamarela with Tim Steiner with the aim of using the power of music to raise awareness on the importance of mental health as from a young tender age. In so doing, the project aims to break the stigma and taboo that is usually associated with this field, in conformity with the EU's comprehensive approach to tackle mental health.
More specifically, the project shall entail the joint creation and production of a new music composition and song, inspired by those directly involved in the mental health sectors of the countries involved, with its dissemination to a wide and diverse audience. This shall be facilitated through the translation of the eventual song into the 24 EU official languages, Ukrainian and sign language, fostering therefore further social inclusion and encouraging further outreach.
ENSEMBLE (short for “Encouraging Neighbourhoods to Support European Mental Health By Leading through European Song”) is a European Small Cooperation Project funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union.
The project brings together the Maltese choir VOCA, the Spanish vocal ensemble Voces Blancas del Nalón and the Portuguese artistic collective Ondamarela with Tim Steiner with the aim of using the power of music to raise awareness on the importance of mental health as from a young tender age. In so doing, the project aims to break the stigma and taboo that is usually associated with this field, in conformity with the EU's comprehensive approach to tackle mental health.
More specifically, the project shall entail the joint creation and production of a new music composition and song, inspired by those directly involved in the mental health sectors of the countries involved, with its dissemination to a wide and diverse audience. This shall be facilitated through the translation of the eventual song into the 24 EU official languages, Ukrainian and sign language, fostering therefore further social inclusion and encouraging further outreach.
ENSEMBLE (short for “Encouraging Neighbourhoods to Support European Mental Health By Leading through European Song”) is a European Small Cooperation Project funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union.
The project brings together the Maltese choir VOCA, the Spanish vocal ensemble Voces Blancas del Nalón and the Portuguese artistic collective Ondamarela with Tim Steiner with the aim of using the power of music to raise awareness on the importance of mental health as from a young tender age. In so doing, the project aims to break the stigma and taboo that is usually associated with this field, in conformity with the EU's comprehensive approach to tackle mental health.
More specifically, the project shall entail the joint creation and production of a new music composition and song, inspired by those directly involved in the mental health sectors of the countries involved, with its dissemination to a wide and diverse audience. This shall be facilitated through the translation of the eventual song into the 24 EU official languages, Ukrainian and sign language, fostering therefore further social inclusion and encouraging further outreach.
Meet the Partners
Project ENSEMBLE involves the concerted effort of three main partners
VOCA
VOCA
VOCA
VOCA is nowadays regarded as on one of Malta’s leading choral ensembles. Formed back in 2010, the Choir now consists of circa 40 voices, organised in four-part harmony (SATB). Moreover, the Choir has its resident musicians who accompany it during its performances, consisting of keyboardists, guitarists, and a drummer/percussionist. The choir is under the musical direction of Ms. Nathalie Camilleri, a seasoned pianist and a teacher of music for more than thirty (30) years, and Ms. Lara Bonnici, with an Associateship (ATCL) and Licentiateship (LTCL) in Musical Theatre and a grade 6 in piano and musical theory.
The choir's mandate is to make a diversity of choral music, performed to the highest standard, accessible to a growing audience. VOCA performs in various styles and genres including spiritual, gospel, pop and folk, always aiming to engage and entertain, whether locally or abroad. On an international level, VOCA members have, over the past years, performed in Holland, Ireland, Brussels, as well as in Rome back in June 2023 during the International Choir Festival.
On a more local level, VOCA took part in the Malta International Choir Festival where it performed in the final night at the Mediterranean Conference Centre. The Choir regularly collaborates with renowned Maltese artists such as Ivan Grech with whom it delivered two (2) major performances in 2022 - one in the Manoel Theatre back and another one during the 2022 edition of the Notte Bianca in the majestic Pjazza Teatru Rjal.
One of the highlights during 2023 for the Choir was its performance during Notte Bianca, held on Saturday, 7th October 2023, where the choir delivered a medley of songs from the magical world of Disney with original harmonies written by the Choir’s very own director. This medley was a great hit with the audiences and gave a considerable boost to its popularity amongst the Maltese public. On Saturday, 5th October, 2024, VOCA was once again involved in delivering a performance during Notte Bianca, this time on the stage in St. George’s Square. The performance, bearing the title “Kantaw Magħna” (Sing with Us), involved Malta’s largest karaoke with audiences singing great musical numbers along with the Choir.
VOCA is nowadays regarded as on one of Malta’s leading choral ensembles. Formed back in 2010, the Choir now consists of circa 40 voices, organised in four-part harmony (SATB). Moreover, the Choir has its resident musicians who accompany it during its performances, consisting of keyboardists, guitarists, and a drummer/percussionist. The choir is under the musical direction of Ms. Nathalie Camilleri, a seasoned pianist and a teacher of music for more than thirty (30) years, and Ms. Lara Bonnici, with an Associateship (ATCL) and Licentiateship (LTCL) in Musical Theatre and a grade 6 in piano and musical theory.
The choir's mandate is to make a diversity of choral music, performed to the highest standard, accessible to a growing audience. VOCA performs in various styles and genres including spiritual, gospel, pop and folk, always aiming to engage and entertain, whether locally or abroad. On an international level, VOCA members have, over the past years, performed in Holland, Ireland, Brussels, as well as in Rome back in June 2023 during the International Choir Festival.
On a more local level, VOCA took part in the Malta International Choir Festival where it performed in the final night at the Mediterranean Conference Centre. The Choir regularly collaborates with renowned Maltese artists such as Ivan Grech with whom it delivered two (2) major performances in 2022 - one in the Manoel Theatre back and another one during the 2022 edition of the Notte Bianca in the majestic Pjazza Teatru Rjal.
One of the highlights during 2023 for the Choir was its performance during Notte Bianca, held on Saturday, 7th October 2023, where the choir delivered a medley of songs from the magical world of Disney with original harmonies written by the Choir’s very own director. This medley was a great hit with the audiences and gave a considerable boost to its popularity amongst the Maltese public. On Saturday, 5th October, 2024, VOCA was once again involved in delivering a performance during Notte Bianca, this time on the stage in St. George’s Square. The performance, bearing the title “Kantaw Magħna” (Sing with Us), involved Malta’s largest karaoke with audiences singing great musical numbers along with the Choir.
VOCA is nowadays regarded as on one of Malta’s leading choral ensembles. Formed back in 2010, the Choir now consists of circa 40 voices, organised in four-part harmony (SATB). Moreover, the Choir has its resident musicians who accompany it during its performances, consisting of keyboardists, guitarists, and a drummer/percussionist. The choir is under the musical direction of Ms. Nathalie Camilleri, a seasoned pianist and a teacher of music for more than thirty (30) years, and Ms. Lara Bonnici, with an Associateship (ATCL) and Licentiateship (LTCL) in Musical Theatre and a grade 6 in piano and musical theory.
The choir's mandate is to make a diversity of choral music, performed to the highest standard, accessible to a growing audience. VOCA performs in various styles and genres including spiritual, gospel, pop and folk, always aiming to engage and entertain, whether locally or abroad. On an international level, VOCA members have, over the past years, performed in Holland, Ireland, Brussels, as well as in Rome back in June 2023 during the International Choir Festival.
On a more local level, VOCA took part in the Malta International Choir Festival where it performed in the final night at the Mediterranean Conference Centre. The Choir regularly collaborates with renowned Maltese artists such as Ivan Grech with whom it delivered two (2) major performances in 2022 - one in the Manoel Theatre back and another one during the 2022 edition of the Notte Bianca in the majestic Pjazza Teatru Rjal.
One of the highlights during 2023 for the Choir was its performance during Notte Bianca, held on Saturday, 7th October 2023, where the choir delivered a medley of songs from the magical world of Disney with original harmonies written by the Choir’s very own director. This medley was a great hit with the audiences and gave a considerable boost to its popularity amongst the Maltese public. On Saturday, 5th October, 2024, VOCA was once again involved in delivering a performance during Notte Bianca, this time on the stage in St. George’s Square. The performance, bearing the title “Kantaw Magħna” (Sing with Us), involved Malta’s largest karaoke with audiences singing great musical numbers along with the Choir.
Voces Blancas del Nalón
Voces Blancas del Nalón
Voces Blancas del Nalón
Voces Blancas del Nalón was founded in 2009 by the Conservatory Valle del Nalón in Asturias. The musical studies of its members, their many awards and recognitions in both national and international competitions, guarantee a masterful and quality performance by the choir wherever it goes. Currently its directors are Sofía Nevado Domínguez and Aida Muñiz Verdejo. The Choir has participated in multiple choral competitions:
Certamen Juvenil de Habaneras de Torrevieja 2011, 2015, and 2017,
Florencia Choral Festival in 2015,
Youth European Music Festival of Neerpelt 2014, 2018, and 2021 (online edition),
Lisbon Summer Choral Festival, 2016, 2017 and 2019,
Malta International Choral Festival in 2017,
Bandol International Choral Festival, France in July 2022.
The Choir has received a number of awards and mentions. Among the most emblematic concerts, they have taken part in El Faro with Ana Belén and the OCAS (Siero Chamber Orchestra) at the Teatro de la Laboral back in 2015. In addition, that same year, they took part together with Victor Manuel in the concerts held at the Mieres House of Culture, La Felguera Theater and Pola de Siero Theatre. Later, they sang in 2017 at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York and in 2018, in the magnificent Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.
In 2021, they were participants in the Asturias Day Concert at the Oviedo Auditorium together with Entre Quatre and the OSPA (Symphony Orchestra of the Principality of Asturias) and they repeated this performance together with the Principality's orchestra in the Christmas concert that same year with the opera Hansel and Gretel. They regularly hold performances in different town halls in the region as well as collaborations with the University of Asturias, Vinjoy Foundation and other institutions.
Voces Blancas del Nalón was founded in 2009 by the Conservatory Valle del Nalón in Asturias. The musical studies of its members, their many awards and recognitions in both national and international competitions, guarantee a masterful and quality performance by the choir wherever it goes. Currently its directors are Sofía Nevado Domínguez and Aida Muñiz Verdejo. The Choir has participated in multiple choral competitions:
Certamen Juvenil de Habaneras de Torrevieja 2011, 2015, and 2017,
Florencia Choral Festival in 2015,
Youth European Music Festival of Neerpelt 2014, 2018, and 2021 (online edition),
Lisbon Summer Choral Festival, 2016, 2017 and 2019,
Malta International Choral Festival in 2017,
Bandol International Choral Festival, France in July 2022.
The Choir has received a number of awards and mentions. Among the most emblematic concerts, they have taken part in El Faro with Ana Belén and the OCAS (Siero Chamber Orchestra) at the Teatro de la Laboral back in 2015. In addition, that same year, they took part together with Victor Manuel in the concerts held at the Mieres House of Culture, La Felguera Theater and Pola de Siero Theatre. Later, they sang in 2017 at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York and in 2018, in the magnificent Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.
In 2021, they were participants in the Asturias Day Concert at the Oviedo Auditorium together with Entre Quatre and the OSPA (Symphony Orchestra of the Principality of Asturias) and they repeated this performance together with the Principality's orchestra in the Christmas concert that same year with the opera Hansel and Gretel. They regularly hold performances in different town halls in the region as well as collaborations with the University of Asturias, Vinjoy Foundation and other institutions.
Voces Blancas del Nalón was founded in 2009 by the Conservatory Valle del Nalón in Asturias. The musical studies of its members, their many awards and recognitions in both national and international competitions, guarantee a masterful and quality performance by the choir wherever it goes. Currently its directors are Sofía Nevado Domínguez and Aida Muñiz Verdejo. The Choir has participated in multiple choral competitions:
Certamen Juvenil de Habaneras de Torrevieja 2011, 2015, and 2017,
Florencia Choral Festival in 2015,
Youth European Music Festival of Neerpelt 2014, 2018, and 2021 (online edition),
Lisbon Summer Choral Festival, 2016, 2017 and 2019,
Malta International Choral Festival in 2017,
Bandol International Choral Festival, France in July 2022.
The Choir has received a number of awards and mentions. Among the most emblematic concerts, they have taken part in El Faro with Ana Belén and the OCAS (Siero Chamber Orchestra) at the Teatro de la Laboral back in 2015. In addition, that same year, they took part together with Victor Manuel in the concerts held at the Mieres House of Culture, La Felguera Theater and Pola de Siero Theatre. Later, they sang in 2017 at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York and in 2018, in the magnificent Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.
In 2021, they were participants in the Asturias Day Concert at the Oviedo Auditorium together with Entre Quatre and the OSPA (Symphony Orchestra of the Principality of Asturias) and they repeated this performance together with the Principality's orchestra in the Christmas concert that same year with the opera Hansel and Gretel. They regularly hold performances in different town halls in the region as well as collaborations with the University of Asturias, Vinjoy Foundation and other institutions.
Ondamarela
Ondamarela
Ondamarela
Ondamarela is an artistic collective that finds in people and places, inspiration for the development of its projects. It believes that provoking the experience of creating a totally new and original artistic object with the effective participation of people, their stories, their anxieties, their desires, in their relationship with their places, generates important transformations on the path to an increasingly stronger democratic democracy.
Based in Guimarães and operating since 2015, it has always focused its action on participatory practices and community artistic creation, in different areas: community performances (music, theatre, dance, video art shows), cultural programming/curation, workshops educational activities, games, conversations, mediation and training objects. It has worked with a wide range of organisations in Portugal and abroad – municipalities, museums, theatres and theatre networks, cultural centres, European capitals of culture, foundations, schools, regional directorates, development agencies, festivals and companies. Ondamarela was awarded the 2019 Access Culture Award – Social and Intellectual Access.
In reaching the ultimate aim of the project, Ondamarela will work with a number of partners with whom it has years of experience and collaboration. Notably, Ondamarela will work with composer and conductor Tim Steiner. Steiner has directed hundreds of creative projects throughout Europe and has worked in virtually every conceivable musical and social context. His work ranges from small-scale devised work to large-scale multi-layered works involving massed groups of professionals, amateurs and beginners. His work explores the unique potential of any given collection of people at a specific time and place.
During the past twenty years, he has focused on largescale city-wide events exploring and celebrating the twin themes of diversity and unity. These events have included directing Operação Big Bang (Guimaraes 2012 ECOC), Mewga Muzika (Valletta 2018 ECOC), and Mission Ruse (Ruse Bulgaria, 2014). Many of these events have been in collaboration with Ondamerala.
Ondamarela is an artistic collective that finds in people and places, inspiration for the development of its projects. It believes that provoking the experience of creating a totally new and original artistic object with the effective participation of people, their stories, their anxieties, their desires, in their relationship with their places, generates important transformations on the path to an increasingly stronger democratic democracy.
Based in Guimarães and operating since 2015, it has always focused its action on participatory practices and community artistic creation, in different areas: community performances (music, theatre, dance, video art shows), cultural programming/curation, workshops educational activities, games, conversations, mediation and training objects. It has worked with a wide range of organisations in Portugal and abroad – municipalities, museums, theatres and theatre networks, cultural centres, European capitals of culture, foundations, schools, regional directorates, development agencies, festivals and companies. Ondamarela was awarded the 2019 Access Culture Award – Social and Intellectual Access.
In reaching the ultimate aim of the project, Ondamarela will work with a number of partners with whom it has years of experience and collaboration. Notably, Ondamarela will work with composer and conductor Tim Steiner. Steiner has directed hundreds of creative projects throughout Europe and has worked in virtually every conceivable musical and social context. His work ranges from small-scale devised work to large-scale multi-layered works involving massed groups of professionals, amateurs and beginners. His work explores the unique potential of any given collection of people at a specific time and place.
During the past twenty years, he has focused on largescale city-wide events exploring and celebrating the twin themes of diversity and unity. These events have included directing Operação Big Bang (Guimaraes 2012 ECOC), Mewga Muzika (Valletta 2018 ECOC), and Mission Ruse (Ruse Bulgaria, 2014). Many of these events have been in collaboration with Ondamerala.
Ondamarela is an artistic collective that finds in people and places, inspiration for the development of its projects. It believes that provoking the experience of creating a totally new and original artistic object with the effective participation of people, their stories, their anxieties, their desires, in their relationship with their places, generates important transformations on the path to an increasingly stronger democratic democracy.
Based in Guimarães and operating since 2015, it has always focused its action on participatory practices and community artistic creation, in different areas: community performances (music, theatre, dance, video art shows), cultural programming/curation, workshops educational activities, games, conversations, mediation and training objects. It has worked with a wide range of organisations in Portugal and abroad – municipalities, museums, theatres and theatre networks, cultural centres, European capitals of culture, foundations, schools, regional directorates, development agencies, festivals and companies. Ondamarela was awarded the 2019 Access Culture Award – Social and Intellectual Access.
In reaching the ultimate aim of the project, Ondamarela will work with a number of partners with whom it has years of experience and collaboration. Notably, Ondamarela will work with composer and conductor Tim Steiner. Steiner has directed hundreds of creative projects throughout Europe and has worked in virtually every conceivable musical and social context. His work ranges from small-scale devised work to large-scale multi-layered works involving massed groups of professionals, amateurs and beginners. His work explores the unique potential of any given collection of people at a specific time and place.
During the past twenty years, he has focused on largescale city-wide events exploring and celebrating the twin themes of diversity and unity. These events have included directing Operação Big Bang (Guimaraes 2012 ECOC), Mewga Muzika (Valletta 2018 ECOC), and Mission Ruse (Ruse Bulgaria, 2014). Many of these events have been in collaboration with Ondamerala.
Voices in harmony for minds in balance
© 2025 Ensemble - All rights reserved - Proudly designed and developed by David Grech
Voices in harmony for minds in balance
© 2025 Ensemble - All rights reserved - Proudly designed and developed by David Grech
Voices in harmony for minds in balance
© 2025 Ensemble - All rights reserved
Proudly designed and developed by David Grech
Voices in harmony for minds in balance
© 2025 Ensemble - All rights reserved - Proudly designed and developed by David Grech
Voices in harmony for minds in balance
© 2025 Ensemble - All rights reserved
Proudly designed and developed by David Grech