Xaghra Parish » Gallery » 2008 » 31 AUG 08 VICTORY BAND CELEBRATES 110th ANNIVERSARY

In the year 1898 the Societa Filarmonica La Vittoria was founded in Xaghra. This was the first village band in Gozo. Today, the Victory Band celebrated the event of 110 years ago with a ceremony in the morning. Led by ex Presidents of the Society, the band marched up Church Street to the Club premises in Maria Bambina Street, near Ta Kola Windmill. Speeches were made by the President Mr Eucharist Sultana and Xaghra Archpriest Mgr Carmelo Refalo. Two marble plaques were unveiled, one by the President with a list of Presidents who held the office since 1898 and another by Musical Director Mro Joseph Galea L.C.M. listing the names of bandmasters. Later presentations were made to bandsmen with twenty five years of service with the band. Topping the list was Eucharist Camilleri who has been playing the Trombone since 1947! Mro Galea received a present in recognition of his fifteen years directing the Band. Mr George Hazzy a regular visitor to Xaghra, with a soft spot for the Band, presented Mro Galea with Andrew LLoyd Webber's Song Book. This together with many other previous presentations from Mr Hazzy in the past have made the Band Musical archives the richer.

G7 Presentation to bandmaster
G8 Presentation to bandmaster
G9 Frans Grech - 28 years on the Committee
H1 Joe Mercieca ex Secretary for 27 years
H2 George Hazzy presenting Webber's Songbook to Mro Jos Galea
H3 Andrew Lloyd Webber - Songbook
H4 Spir. Dir. Can Refalo Rapa and Julian Bajada recount old days
H5 Past Presidents still alive
H6 Bandsmen with over 25 years of service
H7 Mro Joseph Camilleri - Bandmaster 1960-1970 - President Euc. Sultana - Bandmaster J Galea

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