Maltese pianist Maureen Galea graduated with a BA(Hons.) degree in Music and a PGCE from the University of Malta. After being awarded a scholarship by the Italian Government, she continued furthering her studies at the Conservatorio 'Luigi Cherubini' in Florence, Italy. Besides piano performance as her principal study, she also studied choral and madrigal singing, chamber music and accompaniment.
Maureen obtained an MMus with Distinction from the University of Surrey. She majored in piano performance under the direction of Clive Williamson, with additional studies in conducting, criticism and reviewing, and musicology. She attended numerous masterclasses with internationally renowned musicians including Philippe Cassard, Julian Jacobson and Artur Pizarro. She worked on Classical Improvisation with David Dolan and specialized in Czech piano repertoire with the internationally renowned expert on the subject, Radoslav Kvapil.
Maureen was awarded a PhD by Performance under the supervision of Professor Sebastian Forbes, her chosen area of research being performance and editing of music by Bohemian composers, in particular JVH Voríšek. As part of her research, she produced six CDs of this composer's music and that of his contemporaries, and in March 2010 gave the modern premier of Voríšek's Rondo Espagnol, Op. 17 for piano and orchestra, for which she prepared the modern edition. She is steadily making a name for herself with her solo and ensemble performances of works by lesser known Czech composers, such as Koželuh's Piano Concerto for 4 hands which she performed in March 2012 with colleague Margaret Roberts, and Hummel's Concertino, performed in May 2012 with the University of Surrey Chamber Orchestra. Her CD entitled ‘Czech Gems’, comprising a delightful variety of unfamiliar Czech piano music, was released early in 2013.
Maureen has been a prizewinner at several competitions in Malta, Italy and the UK. She has performed in innumerable concerts as a soloist, in chamber groups and as accompanist in the Czech Republic, France, Hungary, Greece, Italy, Malta and the UK. Of particular mention are appearances at the Fairfield Hall, Hatchlands Park, Dorking Halls, the Warehouse, St. Martin-in- the-Fields, the Purcell Room, Buda Castle, Chetham's International Festival and Summer School, Victoria International Arts Festival and various performances in the Guildford International Music Festival. Maureen has performed for HE The President of Malta, HRH The Duke of Kent and other eminent dignitaries to great acclaim.
Maureen is currently a piano tutor and accompanist at the University of Surrey, where she also founded and sponsors a biennial piano duet competition for students, 'Quattro Mani!'. She is a much sought-after piano teacher in various schools and regularly gives educational concerts for children. She is an active member of the Guildford Chamber Choir and Surrey Cantata. She conducts a busy performance schedule, giving recitals both in the UK and abroad. In addition, she is the Music Director of ‘Music for Hope’, a concert series aimed to raise money for various cancer charities.