Jeanpierre Cassar

Jean Pierre Cassar began his musical journey with orchestral percussion lessons under Daniel Cauchi. His early interest developed into formal studies when he enrolled in the B.A. (Hons) in Music at the University of Malta, during which he also began performing part-time with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2015, Jean Pierre earned a place in the prestigious International Youth Philharmonic Orchestra in New York, performing at Carnegie Hall.
 

Upon completing his degree, Jean Pierre travelled to Moscow for further studies with Ilya Melikhov of the Russian National Orchestra. In 2016, he successfully auditioned for the position of Percussionist with the Ruse State Opera in Bulgaria, eventually rising to the role of Assistant Timpani and 1st Percussion. With this ensemble, he toured extensively across Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and France, and also performed with the Salzburg Operetta Theatre.
 

In 2019, Jean Pierre began a Master’s degree at the Conservatorio Arrigo Boito in Parma, Italy, studying with highly regarded percussionists such as Nick Woud (Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra), Carmelo Gullotto (RAI Orchestra), Cristiano Pirola, Danilo Grassi, and his former mentor Ilya Melikhov. He graduated in 2021 with the title of Professore d’Orchestra.
 

Throughout his career, Jean Pierre has balanced performance with a deep commitment to education. He currently teaches percussion at the Visual and Performing Arts School in Gozo and at various local band clubs in Malta. He also served as a tutor for the Malta Youth Orchestra, mentoring young musicians aged 18 to 26, and played an active role in several Erasmus+ cultural and educational projects.
 

Jean Pierre’s passion for engaging wider audiences in classical music led him to launch Fanal Ensemble, a project dedicated to creating immersive and accessible concert experiences. He also holds the position of Assistant Conductor at St. Michael’s Band Club in Żabbar.
 

To date, Jean Pierre has performed in multiple countries, including Malta, Bulgaria, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States. With over a decade of international experience, he remains committed to nurturing the next generation of musicians while expanding his artistic reach through innovative performance and collaboration.