Għaqda Mużikali Marija Annunzjata A.D 1862 - Ħal Tarxien

L-Għaqda Mużikali Marija Annunzjata is the only band club established in the village of Ħal Tarxien in Malta. In 1862, Odilone Caruana, a well-known personality from Ħaż Żabbar, residing in the village, gathered some youths to set up a symphonic wind band in Tarxien. The band was originally known as ‘Banda del Tarscien’. Later on the band changed its name to ‘San Giovanni’ since Ħal Tarxien was kn

own as ‘ir-raħal ta’ San Ġwann’ (the village of St. John), until in 1885 it became known as ‘Banda San Giuseppe’, following the er****on of a chapel dedicated to St Joseph in the outskirts of the village and his proclamation as patron of the Universal Church in 1870. Its first premises were located in Strada Sant’Anna and later the club was transfered to 54, Strada Reale. In 1904 the band club became known as ‘Circolo Filarmonica Annunziata’ and in 1912 it acquired new larger premises in Strada Paola, the same premises which are still in use today. The band club kept its Italian name until it was statutory changed to ‘Għaqda Mużikali Marija Annunzjata’ in 1986. The club is run by an executive committee made up of 11 members and led by the committee's President. All officials serving in this committee are elected biannually during an Annual General Meeting. The current president is Mr. Victor Seguna and has been in office since 2007. The executive committee is supported by the club's youths section (Sezzjoni Żgħażagħ u Partitarji) in the running of the club and the organization of the various activities held by the club during the year. Since its setup the Tarxien band club had 33 Presidents who, together with the club members and its musicians ‘bandisti’, strived hard to promote the music culture amongst the locals of Tarxien. The club always had a substantial number of student musicians who later on became members of the club's band. The club’s first band director was Mro Giuseppe Portelli till 1890. He was followed by Mro Napoleone Caruana Dingli and other various famous bandmasters amongst whom Mro Lorenzo Gonzi and Mro Vincenzo Ciappara. The current bandmaster and director is Mro Hermann Farrugia Frantz. The club's logo, designed by Chev. Rafel Bonnici Cali', is very similar to the Parish’s coat of arms, which is made up of two main parts. The upper part features the letter “M” which stands for the Blessed Virgin Mary, whilst the lower part features two upright blue stripes, against a white background. In addition to this the club's logo features the musical ‘lyra’ (harp), which is positioned between the blue stripes in the lower part.