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None of them really want to leave their own country... so by investing in their future we will be reducing the possibility of the mass migration of people Project Africa 
With her stunning looks and a curriculum vitae that would make any other 28-year-old turn green with envy, digital theatre organ player Claire Angele Baluci is living proof that nowadays, women can have it all and more. Winner of both 1998 and 1999 European Organ Championships and deemed as one of Europe’s finest organists by various critics – Baluci is finalising her third Doctoral degree in Music at Fairfax University in the United States. And she also has time to star in a concert for the children of Africa “Project Africa-Il Respiro del Mondo 3”.
What kind of performance should the audience expect?
It’s not the usual instrument and spotlight event, we really wanted a complete show. It is a varied concert that includes classical music, musicals, jazz, and Latino as well. It is wide-ranging, as I will be playing Tchaikovsky, Brahms, Mariah Carey and Britney Spears on the digital theatre organ. A choir of 15 has been especially assembled for this event and Jacqueline Micallef Grimaud who is a soprano will also be performing. Several dance schools like Brigitte Gauci Borda’s will be taking part, besides the light, laser show and multimedia.
The organ is quite an unusual choice, and surely not an instrument you would associate with a petite young woman. What enticed you to play this unusual instrument?
The organ is more popular than the piano abroad because it is different and although you would obviously learn the classical pieces, I started learning jazz and other styles of music from quite a young age. I started playing the organ when I was eight with a Japanese teacher at the Yamaha School of Music in Australia. The organ was obviously smaller but being really small it was always a problem to reach the pedals. Then when I came to Malta at the age of 12 I started learning the piano and pipe organ.
There is very little written for this type of organ as it’s either written for electronic organs, which is similar but different in technique, or for the sacred organ. I usually follow an orchestral score. So I can always adapt any music written for the orchestra or a big band. Which is what I usually do. I always have to do a lot of musical arrangements myself and that means that I have to decide how many instruments I can play meaning that it would take more time to prepare than actually play the piece.
Apart from being a professional musician who has been awarded the prestigious Mark Shakespeare Memorial Cup for brilliance and outstanding performance, Officer and Grand organist of the Grand Priory of the Mediterranean of the Hospitaller Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem you are also an accomplished research scientist with a PhD in Biological Sciences specialising in cellular biology and biomedicine. How do you find time to do everything?
I have to prioritize and sometimes there are months when I don’t really have time to practice because I would have to focus on work but now I had to drop all the rest and concentrate on this. I’ve also learnt how to study the day before but having said that I doubt that there is anyone as mad as me. But perhaps it also has to do with the support of my family and friends as I always find help from everyone.
Who is Edoardo Costa and how did you manage to coordinate this performance with him?
Edoardo is an Italian actor and model so usually his work is centred around calendars but he was interested in musical events being linked with charity. I saw him last year in Italy at this performance in salsa maggiore. Friends of mine told me ‘why don’t you do something with him’, as Edoardo has this charity organisation. So a few months ago they got in contact with him, and his management were really interested and quite happy that I wanted to work with him. I am really glad that he is coming to Malta, especially for this event. He is heavily involved in charity events even in Brazil now and unlike other celebrities who charge for charity events he is doing all this for free. Edoardo will also be mingling with the audience who buy the VIP tickets and signing autographs.
What kind of charity is Construction Intelligent Association Kids (C.I.A.K.)?
It is a non-profit charity and they actually go to Kenya and Senegal and they ensure that everything is set up and that all of the money is being used in the right manner and for the right projects. It’s not about giving the money. They also train doctors and nurses from their own country so that they will be able to carry on the work. Education is very important and after all it is an investment in their future. I truly believe that none of them really want to leave their own country – they are compelled to do so because of their circumstances so by investing in their future we will be reducing the possibility of the mass migration of people. But we have to ensure them a better life within their country. We have to remember that even we Maltese left our country when we could not find any jobs in Malta. We also make sure that girls do get an education so that we reduce inequality in these countries as well and by starting off with children we can give them the possibility to become whatever they want to.
So the money will be directed towards what kind of projects?
This centre that Edoardo set up in Kenya for orphans and disabled children is great. Disabled children are often abandoned in the jungle and he is working so that they are taken care of. And the other part of the project is vaccinating children for diseases like polio that we wouldn’t dream our children of catching in Malta. We are worried about diseases like the avian flu yet they are really scared of diseases that have been eradicated in the west like water-borne diseases.
Do you have anything planned for the future?
I hope that I will be having other performances broad including Australia, America and also a repeat of this in Italy Germany and other countries as well and perhaps in Malta some time again next year. But it could be for another project like children of Brazil as well.
Tickets for the concert at Lm12 are available from Exotique (Sliema, Valletta and Balzan) and Cut Coiffeur (Sliema and Baystreet). A limited number of VIP tickets including an additional invitation to an after-show reception are also available for Lm20. Free parking at the Portomaso Car Park is available to all those attending the concert.
SMS donation lines are available for all those who would like to make their own personal contribution to this charity. The numbers are: Lm2 – 50618070, Lm5 – 50619212. More info on www.clairebaluci.com
Claire Baluci was speaking to Michaela Muscat
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