Adults who want to sing in a choir in Malta have three main routes: a parish or church choir, which almost every town has and which usually welcomes new voices; an auditioned choir, such as the national choir KorMalta run by Arts Council Malta or the Jubilate Deo Choir in Naxxar; or a community choir built around a shared identity or style. Most rehearse once or twice a week in the evening, sing a lot at Christmas and Easter, and are delighted to hear from tenors and basses.
Fair warning: Malta has no single list of choirs, so finding one takes a bit of asking around, usually after Mass or over coffee with someone who knows someone. That is very Maltese, and it works. If you last sang in a school concert and the thought of an audition makes your stomach drop, relax: plenty of the people singing at Christmas Mass this year started exactly where you are. Below we cover the types of choir, auditions, the choral year, the practical stuff and how to pick one you will actually stick with.
Types of choir in Malta for adults
| Type | Example | Audition? | Repertoire | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parish and church choirs | Your local parish | Usually informal or none | Sacred music, feast days | Beginners, locals, people who want a weekly habit |
| National choir | KorMalta (Arts Council Malta) | Yes, through open calls | A cappella and symphonic works with orchestras | Experienced singers |
| Auditioned church and chamber choirs | Jubilate Deo Choir, Naxxar | Yes | Sacred and classical | Confident readers of music |
| Choral societies | Local choral and orchestral societies | Varies | Classical, sacred, contemporary | People who want concerts |
| Community and identity choirs | Groups such as KOR KWIR (launched 2023) | Often none | Pop, folk, arrangements | Fun, inclusion, friendships |
Parish and church choirs
Church music is woven into Maltese life, and parish choirs sing at Sunday Masses, feast days and the big seasons of Christmas and Holy Week. They are the most accessible choirs on the island: many will let you come to a rehearsal and simply join the section that suits your voice. The best way in is to ask after Mass or message the parish office. In festa season, choirs often sing at the solemn Masses that are part of a village feast; our guide to the Malta festa season explains how festa week works.
Repertoire is often in Latin, Maltese, Italian and English, so do not worry about the language: you will learn the pronunciation in rehearsal.
Auditioned choirs: KorMalta and others
KorMalta
KorMalta is Malta’s national choir, run by Arts Council Malta. It sings a cappella repertoire as well as symphonic works with ensembles such as the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, and it recruits through open calls for auditions, sometimes for specific voice types such as tenors and basses. If you read music and have choral experience, watch Arts Council Malta’s opportunities page for the next call.
Jubilate Deo Choir
The Jubilate Deo Choir is a mixed church choir based in Naxxar, focused on sacred music. Its listing on the international ChoirPlace directory says it is open to new singers, with an audition required.
Choral and orchestral societies
Malta also has choral and orchestral societies, registered as voluntary organisations, that perform classical, sacred and contemporary music. They often prepare concerts for Christmas and other occasions and are a step up from a parish choir without the commitment of the national choir.
Community choirs
Community choirs focus on enjoyment and inclusion rather than perfection, usually singing pop, folk and arranged songs. KOR KWIR, launched in 2023 as Malta’s first LGBTIQ+ community choir in the run-up to EuroPride Valletta, is one example; check its current activity before you go, as small community choirs come and go. If you cannot find one that suits you, starting a small singing group is entirely possible: a pianist, a room and a group chat are often enough.
How to find a choir near you
- Ask at your parish church, after Mass or through the parish office.
- Check Arts Council Malta’s opportunities for KorMalta auditions.
- Search ChoirPlace and social media for “choir Malta” plus your town.
- Go to Christmas concerts and read the programme: choirs often announce that they are recruiting.
- Ask music teachers; many conduct or sing in local choirs and know who needs voices.
Auditions: what to expect
For parish and community choirs, an “audition” is often just a chat with the conductor and a few scales to find your range. Auditioned choirs ask for more: typically a prepared piece, vocal exercises, and sometimes sight-reading or singing back a short phrase. Be honest about your experience; a good conductor would rather place you in the right section than see you struggle. Tenors and basses are in short supply almost everywhere, so if that is your range, you are likely to be welcomed.
Your first rehearsal
Turn up ten minutes early and introduce yourself to the conductor and the section leader for your voice. You will usually be seated next to an experienced singer, which is the best way to learn: follow their breathing and entries rather than worrying about every note. Bring a pencil to mark your music, water, and something warm in winter, because old churches are cold in the evening. Expect a warm-up, then work on two or three pieces, often going over the same few bars many times. Do not be discouraged if it feels slow; by the third or fourth week, the music starts to make sense and you will know a few names.
The choral year in Malta
- September to November: new season, the best time to join, rehearsals for Christmas.
- December: the busiest month, with Masses, carol services and concerts; see our guide to Valletta Christmas events.
- January to April: Lent and Holy Week music, often the most demanding repertoire of the year.
- May to September: feast days and festas, with some choirs taking a summer break.
Costs, time and language
- Cost: parish choirs are usually free; societies and community choirs may ask a small membership fee to cover music and a conductor.
- Time: expect one or two evening rehearsals a week, plus extra rehearsals before big services and concerts.
- Language: rehearsals are in Maltese, English or both depending on the choir; ask in advance if you do not speak Maltese.
- Reading music: helpful, not always essential. Many singers learn by ear and from recordings.
- Getting there: evening rehearsals in a different town can be hard by bus; choose a choir you can reach easily.
The social side
Choirs are one of the warmest communities you can join in Malta. You see the same people every week, travel together for concerts, and celebrate after the big services. For many newcomers, a choir is the first group where they feel part of local life, because it connects you to parish feasts, Christmas traditions and the people behind them.
If you enjoy performing, our guide to amateur theatre in Malta covers musical theatre and pantomime groups that need singers, and open mic nights in Malta are a way to sing solo. For more regular groups of all kinds, see our guide to clubs to join in Malta.
And if you would rather start smaller, gather two or three friends who like singing, book a table somewhere with a piano night, and see who else turns up. More than one Maltese singing group began that way.
Honest note: choirs ask for reliability. If you join in October, the conductor is counting on you for Christmas, so be realistic about the evenings you can give before you commit.
Want to turn this into an actual plan? MeetNow is a free web app for meeting people in person, starting in Malta: a host posts a plan at a public place, sets the time and seats, says who pays (host pays, split, pay your own or free) and picks who joins from the people who ask. Open MeetNow and see the plans posted in Malta.
Featured photo: the organ loft at the Jesuits’ Church, Valletta. Photo: No Swan So Fine, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Sources: Arts Council Malta (KorMalta announcements); ChoirPlace.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
How can I join a choir in Malta as an adult?
Ask at your local parish church, watch Arts Council Malta for KorMalta auditions, and search directories and social media for choirs in your area. Many parish and community choirs welcome new adult members.
Do I need to audition to join a choir in Malta?
Not always. Parish and community choirs often just check your range, while auditioned choirs such as KorMalta and the Jubilate Deo Choir ask for a formal audition.
Do I need to read music?
It helps, especially for auditioned choirs, but many parish and community choir singers learn by ear and from recordings.
Are choirs in Malta in English or Maltese?
Both. Rehearsals may be in Maltese, English or a mix, and repertoire often includes Latin, Maltese, Italian and English texts.
When is the best time to join a choir in Malta?
September to November, when choirs start their season and begin rehearsing for Christmas.
