Birthday:
5th October, 1984

Location:
Attard, Malta (Europe)

Musical Background:
Coming from a family of musicians, Oriella showed a keen interest in music at a young age, with a special interest in the violin. Thanks to her parents’ encouragement she started learning the violin at the age of 8, under the guidance of Mr. M. Bisazza. Later on Oriella was encouraged to play in a small orchestra together with her cousins under the direction of the late Maestro Vassallo.

After successfully obtaining various distinctions in the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, Oriella wanted to experience other musical genres and started to develop her own style. In 2000, her cousin Geoffrey Tanti who plays the keyboards approached Oriella to join in a live performance featuring some cover versions of “Metallica”. It was by means of this experience that Oriella discovered rock music and realized that classical music and rock music could be merged together. By time her love for rock music grew. In 2001 she played live again, featuring cover versions of “Iron Maiden” and “Black Sabbath”.

Oriella met Mario at a youth centre, and in 2002 they decided to play live together with a band from a local community, featuring cover versions of “REM” and “The Calling”. Mario then invited Oriella to join ‘Rising Sunset’ with the intention of creating violin melodies. Her violin fill-ins combined very well with the style and gave a classical touch to the band.

Main Instrument:
Violin

Equipment:
Fender FV1 Electric Violin 

First album bought:
Best of the Corrs (The Corrs)

Favourite Albums:
Oceanborn (Nightwish)
Metallica (Metallica)
Best of (Vanessa Mae)
Reflection of Passion (Yanni)
Love Sensuality Devotion – Greatest Hits (Enigma)

Favourite Musicians:
Vanessa Mae
Yanni
Sharon Corr
Joe Satriani

Other interests:
Nature and the environment, photography & traveling.