Known by many in recent years for her contribution in the organisation of concerts by the Malta Cultural Institute Foundation, vocal coach and Mezzo Soprano Marie Therese Vassallo has passed away at 71 years old.

From a young age, Marie Therese Vassallo who was from Sliema, studied violin, guitar and singing with her father, Maestro Frank Vassallo, later also taking up the piano.

Throughout the years, she took part in several festivals and concerts, going on to win a handful of international singing competitions, such as the Festival Del Grappolo D’Oro, the Vulcano D’Oro and the Festival Della Canzone Mediterranea.

She was one of the founders of the Għaqda Kantanti Liriċi Maltin (Association of Maltese Lyrical Singers) and was also involved in the organisation and presentation of concerts all over the Maltese Islands.

The vocal coach and Mezzo Soprano received an Award for Lifetime Achievement in Music from the Medina Foundation for Music in 2018 and was a Dame in the prestigious Military and Hospitaller Order of St Lazarus of Jerusalem.

Local singer Aldo Busuttil was one of the many that paid tribute to the veteran singer on social media earlier today. Our condolences to her family.