Maltese soprano Nicola Said, 27, will be singing Malta’s praises and raising awareness about the island’s tourism product as the newly appointed ambassador of the Malta Airport Foundation.

Ms Said, a rising star in the opera world, is currently studying at one of the world’s top conservatories, Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.

Malta International Airport plc will be helping her invest in her education as part of a sponsorship agreement.

The Malta Airport Foundation was set up last November to invest in cultural, touristic and environmental projects that enhance Malta, improve the tourism product and give back to the local community.

“It’s a real honour to be part of this project and promote my country in this way. For me it’s also an opportunity to stay close to my roots. When you work and study abroad for a long time, you really begin to miss home. I love that opera gives me the opportunity to discover new parts of the world and delve into different cultures and characters. It also gives me a chance to represent Malta wherever I go and promote our island around the world. It’s incredibly rewarding now to be able to promote Malta’s hidden gems and be part of such a concerted effort to invest in our heritage, culture and environment,” said Ms Said.

MIA CEO Alan Borg said: “Nicola Said is an ideal ambassador for Malta, the airport and our foundation. She is already making waves on the international opera scene and we are very proud to be supporting her by sponsoring her training. Our message through this partnership is that Malta is brimming with talent and has lots to offer in terms of our culture and heritage. Nicola Said, among others, is a great example of this.”

The Malta Airport Foundation is part of the company’s strategic decision to use its corporate responsibility funds to, implement projects on behalf of the airport that contribute more directly to the tourism industry by investing in Malta’s heritage and environment.

The Foundation is chaired by Fredrick Mifsud Bonnici and includes Simone Mizzi and Frank Salt as members of its Board of Administrators.

The Foundation’s first project is the restoration and conservation of the Wied iż-Żurrieq watchtower, also known as Torri Xutu, in collaboration with Din L-Art Helwa through an investment of €130,000.

This 17th Century coastal tower is located in a prime touristic destination in the southwest of Malta, forming part of the airport’s neighbourhood, an area within close proximity to the Neolithic temples of Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra and also the Blue Grotto.

Restoration works on the tower should last two years and the tower should be open to the public in 2017.

Ms Said was among five young Maltese opera singers nominated by tenor Joseph Calleja in 2013 to join a prestigious summer academy in Salzburg – an initiative that was sponsored by the Malta International Airport and the Austrian Embassy.

Most recently, Ms Said performed with Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja at a Christmas concert last December.

Marketing & Brand Development

27 March 2015