Simon Farrugia

Maltese educator, lecturer, and researcher working across ethnomusicology and education. My current doctoral research examines Maltese wind band traditions, funeral marches and meanings through interdisciplinary approaches drawing on ethnomusicology, anthropology, sociology, psychology, philosophy, and audio-visual ethnography. My wider research interests include transitions across the life course, inclusion, creativity, giftedness, student voice, and the sociology of education.

Best Director – Documentary Short, Cannes World Film Festival, 2025, 

Best Documentary, Sweden Film Awards, 2025, 

Best Education Film, Indian Independent Film Festival, 2025, 

Official Selection, Rome Prisma Film Awards, 2025, 

Shortlisted Finalist – Best Short Documentary, Metropolis Film Festival, 2025, 

Nominee – Best Documentary Short, Cannes World Film Festival, 2025, 

Official Selection, Ethnografilm Paris, 2026

Books

• Farrugia, S. (2023). The Maltese Wind Band: A Musical Tradition and Its Practice Today. McFarland.
• Farrugia, S. (Co-author). (2011). From a Rural Haven to a Tourist Paradise: Qawra. Gutenberg Press.

Book Chapters, Journal Articles, and Scholarly Contributions

• Farrugia, S. (2016). Il-Banda: Fenomenu Soċjali. In J. Agius (Ed.), Festa MMXVI Għaqda Mużikali Santa Marija, Ħal Għaxaq A.D. 1873.
• Farrugia, S. (2017). L-Impatt tal-Barrani fit-Tradizzjoni tal-Banda Maltija. In J. Agius (Ed.), Festa MMXVII Għaqda Mużikali Santa Marija, Ħal Għaxaq A.D. 1873.
• Farrugia, S. (2018). Il-Banda ta’ Indri. In J. Agius (Ed.), Festa MMXVIII Għaqda Mużikali Santa Marija, Ħal Għaxaq A.D. 1873.
• Farrugia, S. (2018). Il-Baned Maltin: Ħoss Awtentiku? In K. Micallef (Ed.), Soċjetà Mużikali San Ġużepp (pp. 227–236).
• Farrugia, S. (2018). The symbolism of colours in the Maltese festa. In P. Zammit & C. Ciantar (Eds.), Vida Magazine, 105, 56–59.
• Farrugia, S. (2019). British brass bands in Malta in the mid-nineteen eighties: A stage of development. In B. Hicks (Ed.), British Association of Symphonic Bands & Wind Ensembles.
• Farrugia, S. (2019). Il-Bidu tal-Baned f’Malta. In Ġ. Gatt (Ed.), L-Imnara, 11(42), 37–39.
• Farrugia, S. (2019). Ix-Xalata tal-Festa. In J. Agius (Ed.), Festa MMXIX Għaqda Mużikali Santa Marija, Ħal Għaxaq A.D. 1873.
• Farrugia, S. (2019). Ix-Xalata: Stejjer mill-Ħamrun. In N. Vella & T. Agius Borg (Eds.), Għaqda Mużikali San Gejtanu Ħamrun Festa 2019 (pp. 117–128).
• Farrugia, S. (2020). Ix-Xalata tal-Festa: Mużika, Kompetizzjoni u Divertiment. In Ġ. Gatt (Ed.), L-Imnara, 11(43), 37–39.
• Farrugia, S. (2020). Some deliberations concerning the value and motivation of music education. The Educator: A Journal of Educational Matters, 37–52.
• Farrugia, S. (2020). Maltese partisan politics, bands and music. Arkivju, 11, 37–50.
• Farrugia, S. (2021). Francesco Azopardi: A snippet of a Maltese classical composer.
• Farrugia, S. (2021). Spontaneous creativity: Some distinguishing features of Korea’s traditional music.
• Farrugia, S. (2022). Il-Bidu tar-rekordjar tal-baned f’Malta. In Ġ. Gatt (Ed.), L-Imnara, 12(45), 14–15.
• Farrugia, S. (2024). Music that speaks an era: Rossini’s Armida in Cremona.
• Farrugia, S., & Pizzuto, B. (2025). “THEY DON’T SEE THE REAL ME!” Student voices on behaviour and belonging. In R. Szczebiot (Ed.), Innovation Trends 2025 (pp. 159–170).

Reviews and Public Scholarship

• Farrugia, S. (2019). Entertainment, education, and personal development.
• Farrugia, S. (2020). Il Marċ Malti: Sinopsi.
• Farrugia, S. (2020). Let the kids face the music.
• Farrugia, S. (2020). “Hold the Line, Please.” The behavioural psychology of music on hold in telecommunications.
• Farrugia, S. (2021). La Vergine del Silenzio.
• Farrugia, S. (2021). Review of El Gran Astor by Duo Praxedis.
• Farrugia, S. (2021). Review of Ralph Vaughan Williams: Folk Songs Volume 3.
• Farrugia, S. (2023). Review of The Story of a Maltese Musician: Antonio Micallef 1867–1940.
• Farrugia, S. (2025). Il-Furjaniżi Jiftakru x-Xalata: Intervisti li Jgħaqqdu t-Tradizzjonijiet u l-Memorji.
• Farrugia, S. (2024). Beyond the Sound of Suffering: Maltese Wind Bands, Funeral Marches, and Meanings. Poster presentation, University of Malta Research Expo 2024, Malta.
• Farrugia, S. (2025). Funeral Marches and the Public Expression of Emotions in Malta. Paper presented at the 48th ICTMD World Conference, Wellington, New Zealand.
• Farrugia, S., & Ciantar, P. (2025). Sounds of Weeping: Funeral Marches in Maltese Society and Culture. Presented at the 11th Annual Conference of the School of Performing Arts, University of Malta.
• Farrugia, S. (2025). Filming, Ethnography, and Research in Maltese Funeral Marches. Poster presentation, University of Malta Research Expo 2025, Valletta.
• Farrugia, S., & Pizzuto, B. (2025). “THEY DON’T SEE THE REAL ME!” Student Voices on Behavior and Belonging. Invited plenary paper, Innovation Trends 2025 International Scientific Conference, University of Lomza, Poland.
• Farrugia, S. (2026). Researching Maltese Funeral Marches: Film, Ethnography, and Meaning. Paper presentation, University of Malta Research Expo 2026.

Malta Leadership Institute

Selected modules taught:

• Fostering Creativity in the Early Years
• Critical Issues in Early Years Pedagogies: A Sociological Perspective
• Giftedness in Young Learners
• Rights, Equity and Justice in Education
• Quality Assurance in Early Years Education
• Transitions in Early Years
• Educating for Sustainability in the Early Years

University of Malta

Selected contributions in Ethnomusicology / Music Studies:

• Fieldwork, Ethnography and Audiovisual Approaches
• Methodologies in Field Research: Ethnographic and Audiovisual Approaches
• Field-based teaching in Maltese band club and community settings

Master’s Supervision

Malta Leadership Institute

• Bernice Pizzuto, Understanding Challenging Behaviour from the Student’s Perspective: Needs, Engagement, and Support Strategies in Education — Grade A
• Georgette Zammit Cordina, The Challenges Faced by Primary School Children with Undiagnosed Learning Difficulties: An Educator’s Perspective — Grade A

Bachelor’s Supervision

Supervised dissertations in inclusive education, autism, dyslexia, behaviour support, early years pedagogy, and transition. Selected titles include:

• Inclusive Education: Educators’ Perspectives on Supporting High and Low Functioning Autism in Mainstream Primary Schools
• The Potential Benefits of Teaching Music to Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder: The Perspectives of Music Teachers in Primary Church Schools
• Understanding the Educational Experiences of Students with Autism and Dyslexia in Malta Primary Schools: Educators’ Perspectives
• Positive Behaviour Support Practices: Early Years Educators’ Perspectives
• Parental Perspectives on the Transition to Kindergarten for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Challenges and Support Needs
• Exploring the Impact of a Multisensory Approach in Inclusive Early Years Education
• Educators’ Perspectives on the Inclusion of Students with Low-Incidence Disabilities in Mainstream Primary Schools in Malta
• Dissertation Examination
• Examined multiple Bachelor of Education and Master of Education dissertations at Malta Leadership Institute in areas including inclusive education, autism, dyslexia, mindfulness, music and autism, AAC, mental health, parental separation, professional collaboration, behaviour and SEBD, and family-school-community collaboration.

Doctoral Mentorship

• Co-supervised and mentored Özge Saray, PhD candidate in Educational Administration, Inonu University, during a research internship at Malta Leadership Institute (1 July – 30 August 2025). This mentorship contributed to the collaborative development of a peer-reviewed research paper.

• Farrugia, S. (Director and Producer). (2011). From a Rural Haven to a Tourist Paradise: Qawra [Documentary film].
• Farrugia, S. (Director, Producer, Presenter). (2011). Vjaġġ Mużikali (World Music) [13-part educational television documentary series], PBS (TVM 2).
• Farrugia, S., & Ciantar, P. (Directors). (2025). Sounds of Weeping: Funeral Marches in Maltese Society and Culture [Ethnographic film].

Selected radio interviews on Maltese music and culture, including Campus FM, University of Malta Broadcasting.

• Graduation Speech, Malta Leadership Institute, 26 September 2025
• Theme: Education Beyond the Certificate
• Public-facing documentary, television, and outreach work connecting ethnomusicology, education, and Maltese cultural life.

• Marcia Allegra: Marcia 2015 per Banda, performed in Balzan by Saint Gabriel Band Club, conducted by Joseph Vella, 6 July 2015.
• Sea Poems (for piano), performed at St James Cavalier and Teatru Manoel between 2005 and 2010.
• The Three Palaces, educational project, 2013.
• Ritmi-Ka, educational project with composer Karl Fiorini, Pjazza Teatru Rjal, 2016.

• Farrugia, S. Maltese Traditional Music and Instruments.
• Farrugia, D., Farrugia, S., & Saray, Ö. Unpublished but Valued: A Systematic Synthesis of Graduate Theses on Educator Mental Well-Being in Malta and Turkey.
• Farrugia, S. Essential Elements in Music: A Textbook for Music Appreciation.
• Farrugia, S., Farrugia, D., & Farrugia, S. Rob Mifsud Bonnici: The Untold Story.
• Farrugia, S. Transitus Hominis: Education, Identity, and Society Across the Life Course.
• Farrugia, S. Hope After Death: An Existential, Philosophical, and Theological Reflection on Death and Eternal Life.

Forthcoming documentary films:

• Tniebri
• Festa: Sound, Ritual, and Community in Maltese Public Culture
• Taħt iċ-Ċipress