The Radio International Team returns to the studio this week bringing you all the usual bits and pieces. JP was in Malta for the week meeting some of Malta's finest and most talented singers. See below who he got in front of the microphone this time. 

Animae Gospel Choir featuring Glen Vella (Malta 2011):

The second edition of Malta's Animae Gospel Choir took place last weekend in the legendary MCC (Mediterranean Conference Centre) of Valetta in Malta where many Maltese National Finals to the Eurovision Song Contest took place. That was where also two of the members of the Animae Gospel Choir namely Glen Vella (Malta 2011) and Debbie Scerri (Malta 1997) won the National Final and with this the right to represent Malta at the Eurovision Song Contest.  Both nights were sell out nights in front of an audience of over 1500 each night with standing ovations to the 21 piece choir. JP spoke to the founder of this choir Glen Vella and to the Musical Director Pamela Bezzina who was backing vocalist for Glen Vella's "One Life" and Thea Garrett's "My Dream" at the Eurovision Song Contest.  

Euro Friends Song Contest 2012 with Andy Simon:

The next season of the Euro Friends Song Contest is under way in search for the ultimate Eurovision song as voted for by the many fans around the world.  Andy  Simon joins us every week to reveal the qualifiers for the next round.  The website of the Euro Friends Song Contest you will find here where you can easily vote for your favourite Eurovision song per country and also see The Euro-Friends TV Show as hosted by Andy Simon. You can also join the Facebook Group here. This week Andy looks at the next qualifiers from Heats 42 (Norway). 

Interview with Debbie Scerri (Malta 1997):  

One of the leading voices of the Animae Gospel Choir singing the Soprano is Debbie Screrri who represented Malta at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1997 with the song "Let me fly" reaching a respectable Number 9. Debbie won the National Final in 1997 in the same venue where the Animae Gospel Choir perfromed last weekend -  the Mediterraenean Conference Centre or MCC. Listen to an interview with Debbie on the show. 

Eurovision Song Contest Spotlight - "The National Finals so far" with Marcus Keppel-Palmer:

This week it is the final look at the National Final Season for the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 where our Eurovision specialists are taking a weekly look at the songs that have been selected for Baku. Marcus returns to the airwaves of Radio International this week to take a look at the final songs that have been selected to represent their country at the Eurovsion Song Contest 2012 in Baku: Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegowina, San Marino and the United Kingdom.

Interview with Julie Zahra of Julie & Ludwig (Malta 2004):  

At the Aftershow Party of the Animae Gospel Choir at the Valetta Waterfront which is a group of restaurants, JP coincidentally met Julie Zahra who together with Ludwig sang as Julie & Ludwig at the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest the song "On again .... off again" reaching Number 12. Listen to a brief interview with Julie in this week's edition of Radio International. 

Eurovision Song Contest News with Luke Fisher:

Check out the latest developments connected to the Eurovision Song Contest. Whether it is music releases of Eurovision performers, appearances, special concerts, gossip, news, etc Luke will have all the updates for us during the weekly edition of Radio International.

Interview with Thea Saliba (JESC 2005):  

Thea launched her latest song and video on Friday 23 March 2012 officially with a launch compain where JP was the host of the event. Thea's latest offering is called "Let the music start it" which was produced in Germany and hits the music shops within the next days and the song is also available online and will be played on the radio stations. Hear a short interview with Thea on the show this week and you can see at this link some of the photos from the launch of "Let the music start it". Enjoy.

There will be the usual bits and pieces such the Eurovision Quiz, your Eurovision Music Requests and messages, Eurovision Calendar Items and the Eurovision News as they happen. Your views and requests are welcome and quiz answers can be sent via the website's CONTACT link. As for the quiz answers, you have time until 2359 hours the Tuesday after Radio International was aired live. That gives the chance for the listeners who were not able to join us live on Wednesdays to participate in the quiz and the draw for the prize. Our friends who pick Radio International up via EurovisiOradio.eu can also participate at the weekly quiz. 

Join us at our usual time live on Wednesday, 28 March 2012  from 2000 - 2300 hours CET via 106.8FM & Digital Cable Channel Number 41 in the Netherlands or via the station's LISTEN LIVE. Should you not be able to listen live or missed any show fear not as the shows are available as "Listen Again" in the Show Archive or you can subscribe to the PODCAST. For this check out the Show Archive.

Source: Team of Radio International