Originally named "La Stella Vicitrice", Socjeta' Filarmonika La Stella of Victoria, Gozo dates back to 1863. On January 11th 1881 it became the first band in Gozo to be officially established by a public deed.
At the time the deed of establishment was signed in the act of Notary Onorato Giovanni Refalo, Mro. Buhagiar was assigned as the society's first bandmaster by 23 bandsmen who had earlier played under his direction on the occasion of St. Anthony's Festa at Victoria in 1880.

 

Before the first band club at 155 St. John Street, Victoria was acquired, Pietro Attard, one of the club's founders, generously put his house at the band's disposal as for his outstanding dedication to the society.
In 1884 on the occasion of Melliecha's titular feast, the band had its first musical program in Malta. Four years later, the band was invited to participate in St. Dominic's Feast in Valletta and performed a musical program in Piazza Tesoreria and became the first Gozitan band to extend its services to Malta.

 

Socjeta' Filarmonika La Stella's Club organizes St. George's external festivities held at Victoria every third Sunday in July. These festivities were entrusted to La Stella in virtue of a deed signed on 20 April 1882 between the Rev. Fr. Jos. Mercieca on behalf of the Ecclesiastical authorities and two club members Joseph Grech and Carlo Cassar. The society has very much at heart Victoria's parish - St. George's. Indeed the distinctive position which this church enjoys today in the diocese of Gozo is mostly due to the unstinting efforts of the club's committee.

 

La Stella has to its credit various records. Apart from being the first Gozitan band to play in Malta, it is also the first Gozitan band to play abroad. It delivered concerts throughout Italy in Piazza Novona - Rome, Piazza Della Signoria - Florence and Piazza San Marco - Venice. It was also the first band in Malta and Gozo to have an L.P. record produced, which proved very popular abroad.

 

Among its gifted bandmasters one finds Gaetano Grech, Chev. Alf. Hare, Jos. Stivala and Gius. Giardini Vella. Since 1972 the band has been entrusted into the hands of Mro. Joe Vella, a prolific composer and renowned conductor.

 

In 1968 the Society embarked on a new venture and inaugurated the Astra Theatre, which was to become the first national theatre for Gozo. Since then this theatre has been the venue of several operettas, song festivals and stage shows. The Astra has also hosted international artistes.

 

Apart from promoting music, the club organizes various recreational, cultural and philantropic activities, through the Astra Dancers, the Astra Stage Group, Astra Folk Group and "Ghaqda Zghazagh La Stella". The folk group has represented Malta in various countries on the continent.
Undoubtedly the achievements of La Stella owe their being to the enthusiasm and disinterested hard work of its supporters, who give so freely of their time, energy and money to the Society.