News

'The Skies of To'nenili' on One World Music Radio

7/20/2023

Marcelle Abela's latest single The Skies of To'nenili for Native American flute, harp, and string ensemble is now being broadcast on One World Music Radio's "Dreaming Flute #85" program. Featuring the composer herself as soloist, The Skies of To'nenili was inspired by the haunting sound of the Native American flute, with which Abela became intimately familiar while composing the score for the feature documentary America's Woman (expected release in 2024). The Skies of To'nenili was released by Sergius Records in May and it is also available on the usual streaming platforms.

'Explorations II' - New LP by Marcelle Abela

12/2/2022

A new LP album has just dropped for the Christmas season. Titled Explorations II and released by Sergius Records, the album consists of eight tracks, with the main solo parts being performed live on the flagship Waldorf Iridium synthesizer by Maltese-American composer, Marcelle Abela. The performances took place in October-November, 2022. Featured in the album are also accompanying boy vocals, cellos, drones, and orchestra. Composed, recorded, and mixed by Abela herself, the album was mastered by the French sound engineer, Childeric Legrain. Explorations II is available for listening on the usual music streaming platforms.

'Poème' wins Silver at the Global Music Awards

7/17/2022

Marcelle Abela has been awarded the Silver Medal for her solo piano composition Poème at the Global Music Awards held in San Diego, California. Recorded by the British concert pianist and Steinway artist Harry Nowakowski-Fox, Poème was released eariier this year by Sergius Records and is available worldwide on the major music streaming platforms. You can listen to it here. This is Abela's second GMA award, having won bronze last year for her original soundtrack Mikha'El.

The Global Music Awards competition is a well-known international showcase for original music, unique voices, and emerging artists. It has a large international following. Held twice-yearly, entries were judged by industry professionals and by Emmy and Grammy winning artists.

'Ukraine's Soul' triply honored at the Luis Bunuel Memorial Awards

5/13/2022

The short documentary Ukraine's Soul: A Tribute to Heroes has won Best Director and Best Documentary Film at the 2022 Luis Bunuel Memorial Awards held in Kolkata, India. The film was also honored with an Outstanding Achievement Award for Best Soundtrack. Called an "incredibly eye-opening, important, and well-conceived documentary," Ukraine's Soul, directed by Marcelle Abela, explores the phenomenon of Ukrainian heroes and others who keep making music, in the harshest conditions, to lift people's spirits during the 2022 war with Russia. Meanwhile, the documentary was also awarded a Special Mention at the Athens International Arthouse Film Festival. Featuring live performances by Amellia Anisovych, Illia Bondarenko, Vera Lytochenko, Iryna Manyukina, and the Singers of the Odesa Opera among others, Ukraine's Soul, which will be released to the public after its festival run, was filmed in March on location in Ukraine, Poland, and Russia.

'Ukraine's Soul' wins Best Soundtrack in Odesa

5/5/2022

Documentary filmmaker and composer Marcelle Abela has won Best Soundtrack for Ukraine's Soul: A Tribute to Heroes in Odesa, Ukraine. Featuring Mariella Delia and Tatiana Zueva as solo violinists, with live performances by Singers of the Odesa Opera and the Saint Petersburg Crowd, as well as additional music by Mykhailo Verbytsky, Ukraine's Soul was also awarded a Knight NFT from The Goblet of Knight Collection as part of the prize. The NFT can be viewed here. The soundtrack of Ukraine's Soul: A Tribute to Heroes was released by Avinu Films in March and is available to listen on the usual streaming platforms.

Original score 'Mikha'El' wins Bronze at the Global Music Awards

8/10/2021

Documentary filmmaker and composer Marcelle Abela has won the Bronze Medal for her original score Mikha'El at the prestigious Global Music Awards held in San Diego, California. The GMA Bronze Medal is the fourth to be received by Abela for her film score in her debut feature documentary Mikha'El and the eighth overall award for the film. Additional music was provided by the Australian composer Peter Cavallo and cello solos were performed by the Italian soloist Angelo Maria Santisi.

The Global Music Awards competition is a well-known international showcase for original music, unique voices and emerging artists. It has a large international following. Entries were judged by industry professionals and by Emmy and Grammy winning artists. Abela's score Mikha'El has also been nominated for Best Composer at the 2021 Paris Art and Movie Awards. The soundtrack of the documentary was released late last year and is available on iTunes, Spotify, and Amazon Music.

Original film score 'Mikha'El' wins Award of Recognition at the Impact DOCS Awards

7/31/2021

The Maltese-American documentary filmmaker and composer Marcelle Abela, of Avinu Films, has won a prestigious Award of Recognition from The 2021 Impact DOCS Awards Competition. The award was given for Abela's exciting original film score of the feature documentary Mikha'El, which is the first historically accurate film about the great Archangel in cinema history. Mikha'El was shot on location in eight continents. Additional music in the film was provided by the Australian composer Peter Cavallo and cello solos were performed by the Italian soloist Angelo Maria Santisi. The Impact DOCS Award of Recognition is the third to be received by Abela for her film score in Mikha'El and the seventh overall award for the documentary as it proceeds in its festival run. The soundtrack of the film is available on iTunes, Spotify, and Amazon Music.

Impact DOCS recognizes film, television, videography and new media professionals who demonstrate exceptional achievement in craft and creativity, and those who produce standout entertainment or contribute to profound social change. Documentaries were received from 30 countries, including veteran award winning filmmakers and fresh new talent. Entries were judged by highly qualified and award winning professionals in the film and television industry.

In winning an Impact DOCS award, Marcelle Abela joins the ranks of other high-profile winners of this internationally respected award including the Oscar-winning director Louie Psihoyos for his 2016 Best of Show – Racing Extinction, Oscar winner Yael Melamede for (Dis)Honesty – The Truth About Lies, and Emmy Award winner Gerald Rafshoon for Endless Corridors narrated by Oscar winner Jeremy Irons, and many more. Rick Prickett, who chairs Impact DOCS, had this to say about the latest winners: “The judges and I were simply blown away by the variety and immensely important documentaries we screened. Impact DOCS is not an easy award to win. Entries are received from around the world from powerhouse companies to remarkable new talent. Impact DOCS helps set the standard for craft and creativity as well as power catalysts for global change. The goal of Impact DOCS is to help winners achieve the recognition they deserve for their dedication and work.”