The former leader of the Manoel Theatre Orchestra, which later became the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, died aged 90 on 5 January 2026
The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) has announced the death of violinist George Spiteri. Spiteri was the first leader of the Manoel Theatre Orchestra, which was the precursor of the MPO.
Spiteri was born on 20 July 1935 in Valletta, Malta, and began playing the violin aged seven. In 1956, he joined the Malta-based ‘Commander-in-Chief’ orchestra of the British Mediterranean Fleet. The ensemble then regrouped as the Manoel Theatre Orchestra in 1968, when Spiteri was then appointed leader.
The orchestra took the name of the National Orchestra of Malta in 1997 and became the MPO in 2008.
He served as leader for more than two decades, before moving into an administrative role.
Away from the MPO, Spiteri performed regularly in churches, weddings and in private orchestras, and maintained an active teaching schedule.
He featured in a documentary in 2018 about the first 50 years of the MPO:
In 2023, Spiteri received a lifetime achievement award from the MPO.
The MPO posted a tribute to Spiteri on social media: ’A legend has left us. Rest in peace, our first ever MPO leader.’
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