Ben Champion and David Stark
with the Critics Award Ben Champion, Robert Cefai
(WAFA) and David Stark Winners Tina Riobo
and Romina Mamo Performers & organisers
at WAFA's AGM meeting Anne Marie David
and Ben Champion DS at the Excelsior
SONGLINK IN MALTA FOR HIT SONG CONTEST
SongLink publisher David Stark was a judge at the Malta International Hit Song Contest 2010 which took place on Friday April 30th at the CNL Theatre in Hamrun, Malta. The contest was was organised under the the auspices of WAFA, the recently-founded World Association of Festivals and Artists which succeeds the long-running FIDOF organisation and is headed by Norman Hamilton (Chairman, Organising Committe and President, WAFA); Robert Cefai (General Co-ordination & Secretary General, WAFA); and Mrs Figen Cakmek (Vice President, Turkey). The contest was hosted by Deo Grech and Debbie Scerri, with other organising committee members included Simone Bugeja (public & guest relations), Ray Falzon (stage director), Anna Bonett (guest relations) and Natius Farrugia (programme design). The event was sponsored by Hamilton Travel, Air Malta, the Grand Hotel Excelsior, Malta's One TV & Radio and others.
Grand Prize winner out of a dozen participants was Tina Riobo of the Canary Islands who won 1,500 Euros and also received the special WAFA Award for Young Talent. Ireland's Edwin Williamson won the Organising Committee Award, while the UK's Ben Champion won the Critics' Award for his performance of Beatles tribute song "Remember (Gold Songs)" composed by David Stark, who is also an Honorary VP of WAFA. Special guest performers at the event included 1973 Eurovision winner Anne Marie David; girl band Feminnen who will represent Croatia at the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest in Oslo; and UK rock band The Rizing. As well as the international awards, the event also featured the Local Awards contest which was won by Romina Mamo for her version of "Poison Ivy" written by Clinton Paul. All the international acts and Romina performed again the following night at the International Star Night gala dinner at the 5 star Excelsior Hotel in Valetta, where all the guests were staying, and where WAFA also held its AGM. David and Ben were also interviewed by Angela Agius of Favourite TV Channel.
