Do 17 ao 21de Marzo, temos a visita de:

Music Academy in Cetinje, Montenegro

• Petar Geric, clarinete

• Oleksij Molcanov, piano

• Danijel Cerović, guitarra

• Nataša Popović, piano

• Tatjana Krkeljić, flauta

University of Arizona, Tucson

• Eduard Fraser Reid II, trompeta

• Shu Ching Cheng, piano

• Morris Palter, percusión

Facultad de Música da Universidade das Artes de Tirana, Albania

• Arben Llozi, viola

• Silvana Skenderi, piano

• Josif Gjipali, tenor

• Ardita Meni, soprano

  
  

CONCERTOS

18.03.2025

Profesorado de Albania

 Rauf Dhomi - Rondo

Arben Llozi (Viola) & Silvana Skenderi (Piano)

 Thoma Gaqi - Cadenza

Arben Llozi Solo (Viola)

 Limoz Dizdari “Fjalet e Qiririt”

Josif Giusepe Gjipali (Tenor)

 “N’at zaman te asaj furie”

Josif Giusepe Gipali (Tenor) & Ardita Meni (Soprano)

 Tonin Harapi - Romanza & Miniatura

Silvana Skenderi (Piano)

 Feim Ibrahimi - Toccata

Silvana Skenderi (Piano)

Ø  Valton Beqiri - Quasi Kaba

Arben Llozi Solo (Viola) Silvana Skenderi (Piano)

 Kujtim Laro - Ars Morendi

Arben Llozi Solo (Viola)

 Pellumb Vorpsi - “Variacione mbi nje teme popullore”

Silvana Skenderi (Piano)

 Popullore Shkodrane “Pranvera filloi me ardhe”

Josif Giusepe Gjipali (Tenor)

 Avni Mula - Agime Shqiptare

Ardita Meni (Soprano)

 Pablo Sorozabal - Non puede ser.”La Tabernera del Puerto”

Josif Giuseppe Gjipali (Tenor)

20-03-2025

19:00 Auditorio

University of Arizona

Morris Palter e Aula de Percusión do CSMVigo

Aphasia - Mark Applebaum (8min)

Black Coyote - Russell Hartenberger (9 minutes)

Novelty Xylophone Ragtime (total time 15 minutes)

Ragtime Robin - G.H. Green/Arr. Bob Becker

Jovial Jasper - G.H. Green/Arr. Bob Becker

Log Cabin Blues - G.H. Green/Arr. Bob Becker

States Medley - Bob Becker

20-03-2025

20:00 Auditorio

Arizona - Montenegro

University of Arizona

Edward Reid, trumpet

Shu ching Cheng, piano

Concert Etude Alexander Goedicke (1877-1957)

Adagio Tomaso Albinoni ( 1671-1751)/Remo Giazotto (1910-1998)

Arranged by David Hickman

Suite of Old Spanish Songs Manuel de Falla (1876-1946)

Transcribed by Amanda Pepping

• El Amor Brujo

• Canción del Amor Dolido

• Canción del Fuego Fatuo

• El Paño Moruno

• Seguidilla Murciana

• Asturiana

• Jota

• Nana

• Canción

• Polo

Music Academy in Cetinje, Montenegro

1. Danijel Cerović, guitar

Žarko Mirković (1952) :

- Tamna noći

- Refren

*dedicated to Danijel Cerovic

2. Petar Garić, clarinet

Ante Grgin (1945):

- Rhapsody for clarinet and piano

Piano: Oleksij Molčanov

3. Nataša Popović, piano

Aleksandar Perunović (1978):

- Metaglasswork

4. Tatjana Krkeljić, flaute

Ante Grgin (1945):

- Little story

piano: Oleksij Molčanov

CURRÍCULUMS

Music Academy in Cetinje, Montenegro

DANIJEL CEROVIC, guitarra

Danijel Cerović is an internationally acclaimed recording artist, touring musician, and pedagogue from Montenegro, known for his exceptional artistry and contributions to the

classical guitar world. He is frequently invited to perform at prestigious international concert series, festivals, and concert halls, including the Guitar Foundation of America Convention,

Concertgebouw (Amsterdam), Manuel de Falla Hall (Madrid), Granada Festival Music y Danza,

Koblenz International Guitar Festival, Shenyang Guitar Festival (China), Daejon Guitar Festival

(South Korea), and A Tempo, Kotor Art Festival (Montenegro).

Cerović regularly performs as a soloist with orchestras and in chamber music ensembles. His

past collaborations include the Montenegrin Symphony Orchestra, Daejon Symphony Orchestra (South Korea), Shenyang Symphony Orchestra (China), Mossani Strings (The Netherlands), Camerata Quartett (Poland), and Rubikon Quartett (Montenegro, Serbia). He is also known for his masterclasses, lectures on Bach transcriptions, and judging at prestigious universities, festivals, and competitions across Europe, the USA, Canada, China, and South America.

His solo repertoire includes a rich selection of transcriptions of Renaissance and Baroque music, as well as original compositions from the 19th and 20th centuries, with a particular emphasis on contemporary works written specifically for guitar. Cerović is deeply committed to expanding the guitar repertoire and further integrating the instrument into the classical music tradition. His recordings, including works by D. Scarlatti, F. Sor, and M. Giuliani, were released by MMA Records in Montenegro.

As a member of the Montenegrin Guitar Duo, together with guitar virtuoso Goran Krivokapić,

Cerović arranged and recorded J.S. Bach’s Six English Suites for NAXOS. This world première

recording received praise from critics such as American Records Guide, Classic Today, Guitare Classique, and Soundboard Magazine for its historically informed performances and fresh approach to performing Bach on two guitars. Their debut album, featuring works by Carlo Domeniconi, Ástor Piazzolla, and Dušan Bogdanović, was released by MMC Records in 2013.

In 2019, Cerović released a highly acclaimed album featuring the works of Sylvius Leopold

Weiss, also for NAXOS. This album showcases his exceptional ability to interpret the baroque

repertoire, with a focus on Weiss’ intricate and expressive guitar compositions. The recording

has received positive reviews for its technical precision and musical depth.

Cerović is the co-founder and artistic director of the International Nikšić Guitar Festival and

Competition, a platform that promotes the classical guitar and supports young guitarists. Since 2003, he has been a professor at the Music Academy – University of Montenegro in Cetinje and has also served as a guest professor of guitar at the Music Academy in Sarajevo.

PETAR GARIC, clarinete

Petar Garić was born in Podgorica, where he graduated from Vasa Pavić high school of music, on two departments - music theory department and instrument department – clarinet.

He graduated from the Academy of Music in Cetinje, in the class of Professor Ante Grgin in 2004 with a highest grade at the final exam.

He also completed his master's studies in the class of Professor Grgin at the Music Academy Cetinje with the highest grade at the final concert.

As a student, he started working in the Radio and Television of Montenegro Symphony

Orchestra, as the Principal clarinetist since 2001. He worked in the RTCG Symphony Orchestra until the institution ceased to operate.

Since the establishment of the Montenegrin Music Centre in 2006, he has been working in the

Montenegrin Symphony Orchestra (CSO) as the Principal clarinetist, and is a member of the

wind ensemble - Montenegrin Winds, which was created and successfully operates under the patronage of the Montenegrin Music Center. He is also a member and one of the founders of the Montenegrin Wind Quintet, an ensemble consisting of the principal wind players of the CSO. He is a member of the Wind quintet Tramontana as well as the artistic director of the Kotor Art Chamber Ensemble.

In 2006 he started working as an assistent teacher with professor Ante Grgin in Music academy Cetinje.

He is the professor of clarinet in Music academy Cetinje since 2011.

In his career as a chamber musician, he has collaborated with prominent artists such as: Peter Langgartner, Aleksej Molčanov, Aneta Ilić, Žana Marinković, Borislav Čičovački, Miran Begić, Viktor Uzur, Duncan McTier, Isidora Žebeljan, Vujadin Krivokapić, Marija Đurđević Ilić, Mihajlo Radivojević, Jarina Denisenko, Veljko Klenkovski, Igor Lazić, Ivana Dakić, Nikola Ćirić, Nenad Janković, Bojan Pešić, Dimitri Romano, Nadica Ristić Simović, Ana Abramović, Antonio Nasevski, Dimitri Prokofiev, Ratimir Martinović, Ilir Kodhima, Sanja Romić, Orges Malaj, Zoran Zakrajšek and others.

As a soloist and as an orchestral musician, he collaborated with conductors such as Alexei

Shatski, Grigory Krasko, Ivan Josip Skender, Mladen Tarbuk, Radovan Papović, Ronald Colman, Miroslav Homen, Heinrich Schiff, Bojan Suđić, Borjan Canev, Uwe Timer, Marc Korovic, Robert Homen, Uroš Lajovic, Kiril Stankov, Miguel Romea, Stefan Malzew, Holly Hyun Choe and many others.

He held master classes in Trieste, Italy, at the Giuseppe Tartini Conservatory and at the Vojislav Vučković High School of Music in Belgrade as well as various music schools across the country.

He is a vice-president of Free Trade Union of Culture of Montenegro.

Today, his former students are clarinet teachers in majority of music schools in Montenegro.

NATASA POPOVIC, piano

Nataša Popović completed the School for elementary and secondary music education in Podgorica. She graduated at the Music academy in Podgorica in 1995 in the class of prof. Vladimir Bochkarjov. During her studies she won the University of Montenegro Plaque and December Prize in the field of art and participated in numerous concerts throughout the

country and in the region. She participated in seminars with well-established pedagogues and artists Duško Trbojević, Branko Opačić, Zoran Jovanović, Uroš Pešić, Slava Gabrijelov, Marjan Mika, Ljubiša Jovanović, Georgi Sotnjičuk and David Grigorijan, with whom she also

collaborated as a piano accompanist . She completed her specialist studies in chamber music at the Belgrade Faculty of Music in the class of prof. Uroš Pešić, and master's degree in Chamber Music at the Cetinje Academy of Music in the class of prof. Cedomir Nikolić. Natasa performed as a member of the piano trio "Camerata Montenegrina". Notable performances also include BELEF, NOMUS, Barski ljetopis, Budva City Theater, "Nei sounds of places", Italy. After her studies, she continued to collaborate with solo instrumentalists and singers, and was a member of the piano duo "Aperto" and other chamber ensembles with whom she performed on the

European Stage.

In addition to giving concerts, she is engaged in pedagogical work, and her pupils and students are winners of numerous prizes in national, regional and international competitions, whichhave resulted in invitations as a mentor and performer in chamber music seminars in

Montenegro, the Netherlands and Italy and Spain within the ERASMUS+ project.

She currently works as an associate professor of chamber music at Music academy in Cetinje, vice dean for education and actively performs as an piano accompanist and as a member of chamber ensemble „Ardor“.

OLEKSIJ MOLCANOV, piano

Oleksij Molčanov completed the School for secondary music education in Kiev (Ukraine), in the class of docent Lidija Šur. Kiev Conservatory and postgraduate studies in the class of professor Aleksandra Snegirjova and Vladimir Vinicki, he completed in 1986. During his schooling, he won many awards at the republic, federal and international competitions, as a pianist. Among his best achievements it is important to mention that he is the prize winner of the N. Lisenko National Piano Competition in Lavov in 1984. He is the winner of the Special award for performing composition at the First Rachmaninov Piano Competition in Moscow in 1983. Even in his student days he actively took part in many concerts as a soloist and also as a chamber musician in Ukraine, Russia and Germany. As soon as he successfully completed his studies he engages in pedagogic work along with the concert activities. He performed with a great success Recitals in Switzerland, then on his tours in Ukraine and Lebanon. He participated in many Philharmonic orchestras in Cerkasi, Lavov, Dnjepropetrovsk and Harkov Philharmony of the Young. His music was broadcasted on State TV and Radio of Ukraine. He collaborated with the Association of Composers of Ukraine on contemporary music projects. Since 1995 he has lived in Serbia where he continued his art activities with successful concerts in Niš, Negotin, Kragujavac and Zaječar. As a piano soloist he used to open the Season of Niš Philharmony. His performing earned great compliments in “Mokranjac Days” and in “Nimus”. He came to Montenegro in 1999 and since May 2000 he took the job in Music Academy in Cetinje. He successfully collaborated on many music events and realized significant results in cultural projects of Montenegro.

He performed at Festivals such as ‘’KotorArt’’, ‘’A Tempo’’, ‘’Montenegro Music Festival’’,

‘’DEUS’’. He is a Professor Music Academy in Cetinje for the subject corepetition.

TATJANA KRKELJIC, flauta

Tatjana Krkeljić  completed her Undergraduate and masters studies at the Music Academy in Montenegro. She pursued further training abroad as a recipient of the Open Society Foundation scholarship in Budapest, Hungary, under the guidance of Prof. Janoš Balint.

Additionally, she advanced her studies at the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory in Como, Italy, supported by a scholarship from the Italian Government under Prof. Vincenzo Galla.

She has had notable performances at numerous festivals in Belgrade, Novi Sad, Kragujevac, Bar, Kotor, Como, and Trieste (Italy), St. Petersburg (Russian Federation), Opole and completed her undergraduate and master studies at the Music Academy in Montenegro. She pursued further training abroad as a recipient of the Open Society Foundationscholarship in Budapest, Hungary, under the guidance of Prof. Janoš Balint. Additionally, she advanced her studies at the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory in Como, Italy, supported by a scholarship from the Italian

Government under Prof. Vincenzo Galla.Czestochowa (Poland), Hangzhou (China).

In addition to her artistic engagements, a significant part of her work is in the field of scientific

research. Her particular research interests include the history of music pedagogy and the

influence of Pan-Slavism on the music scene in Montenegro. She is involved as a researcher in the MusiH project in the field of Music Therapy. As a presenter, she actively participates in

scientific and professional conferences both domestically and internationally. She publishes

scientific papers in relevant journals indexed in SCI and Scopus lists.

She is a co-author of accredited professional development programs for teachers at the

Institute of Education and a member of the Commission for the development of subject

programs.

Tatjana has been working as a flute professor at the School of Music and Ballet Vasa Pavić

until 1999 when she moved to the Music Academy in Cetinje, where she is engaged as a

lecturer in the subjects of Development of Musical Instruments and History of Performance,

Methodology of Teaching Wind Instruments, and Methodology of Scientific Work. Since 2016,

she has been engaged in the position of Vice Dean for Teaching, from December 2019, she

holds the position of Vice Dean for International Cooperation, and since November 2022, she

has been the Dean of the Music Academy – University of Montenegro.

University of Arizona

Morris Palter, percusión

Born in Canada, Morris Palter’s wide-range of musical interests have found him performing throughout North America, Asia, and Europe at some of the most prestigious festivals and concert venues including his Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall debut under famed composer/conductor Pierre Boulez in 2001. As a frequent guest at universities and conservatories worldwide, Morris has commissioned and/or premiered hundreds of new compositions, working with prominent composers and performers including Bob Becker, Joan Tower, Christopher Adler, Roger Reynolds, Anders Åstrand, Mark Menzies, Chou-wen Chung, John Luther Adams, James Tenney, Michael Roth, Phillipe Manoury, Scott Deal, Evelyn Glennie, David Lang, Stuart Saunders Smith, Eduard Zilberkant, Thomas DeLio, Michael Roth, Andres Diaz, Erik Griswold, Philip Manoury, Iancu Dimitriescu, Evan Ziporyn, Orlando Jacinto Garcia, Pauline Oliveros, Chris Tonkin, and Chinary Ung, among many others. Guest residencies include the “Roots and Rhizomes” summer percussion program (Banff Centre for the Arts), the Together Now Festival (Holland), the Open Ears Festival (Canada), the Technosonics Festival (University of Virginia), the University of British Columbia, the University of Miami, the University of Texas (Austin), and the Royal College of Music (London, UK).

Morris founded Ensemble 64.8 (University of Alaska Fairbanks resident percussion laboratory) in 2007, and served as its artistic director for nine years. The group performed chamber music with an emphasis on works by noted American and European composers was featured on concerts and festivals in Sweden, New York City, Toronto, PASIC, and across Alaska, working with famed performers/composers Christopher Adler, Bob Becker, and Anders Astrand. The group premiered six new percussion quintets composed by Alaskan, Matthew Burtner in 2009.

As a Novelty Jazz Xylophonist, Morris founded the Speak-Easy Duo (Colin McAllister, guitar) in 2003 and has appeared at the Rocky Mountain Ragtime Festival in Boulder, CO, the Bohèm Festival in Hungary, the Rotterdam Conservatory, the Orange County RagFest, the Breda Jazz Festival, NL, the West Coast Ragtime Festival, the Ragtime Xylophone Institute in Delaware, and the Koninklijk Conservatorium, Den Haag. Morris recently revived the Speak-Easy monikor at the University of Arizona where he directs the Speak-Easy novelty ragtime band.

In 2000, Morris co-founded NOISE (San Diego New Music), which has presented the soundON Festival of Modern Music each January in beautiful La Jolla, CA since 2008. Previous to the soundON Festival, NOISE presented an annual concert season, also in La Jolla. Morris was a member of the percussion group redfish bluefish (Artistic Director, Steven Schick) from 1999-2005 and has also been actively involved with theatre, working as composer and performer at both The Old Globe Theatre and the Tony Award Winning La Jolla Playhouse and has made recordings for various on and off-Broadway plays. July 2018 found Morris providing all the percussion music for the Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles’s production of King Henry IV, featuring Tom Hanks.

Morris was a member of the UAF Faculty Senate from 2009 – 2011, and was the Artistic Director for the University of Alaska Fairbanks New Music Festival and Co-Artistic Director for the soundON Festival of Modern Music held each year in San Diego. Morris was the host and director of the Focus Day of Percussion at the 2010 Percussive Arts Society International Convention and hosted the bi-yearly Alaska Day of Percussion. Morris was a member of the Percussive Arts Society New Music/Research Committee (2007-2015) and has been published in PAS journal and on Mellen Press, and is currently endorsed by Black Swamp Percussion, Sabian Cymbals, REMO drum heads, and Yamaha Percussion. Morris can be heard on New World Records, Tzadik Records, Centaur Records, Mode Records, Innova, and RCA/BMG and has received degrees from the University of Toronto, the Royal Conservatory, The Hague, and the University of California, San Diego where he received his doctorate of musical arts in 2005 and was a Lecturer in Music during the 2006/07 academic-year. Morris was an Associate Professor of Music at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (2012-2017) and is currently an Associate Professor of Music at the University of Arizona. In 2018, Morris is the founder and director of the Tócalo Tucson Summer Chamber Percussion Seminar. Past guests have included Casey Cangelosi, Bill Cahn (NEXUS), Bob Becker, (NEXUS, Steve Reich Ensemble), Matthew Burtner, and Anders Astrand. Please visit tocalotucson.org for more details.

Morris was named a 2012 Rasmuson Foundation Artist Fellowship and is an avid mountain biker (winter and summer), competing in the annual White Mountains 100 mile winter human-powered race four times (2011-14), the Tanana River Challenge (2014), and the 2012 and 2014 Sluice Box 100 mile summer mountain bike race. Morris has three top-ten race finishes to date and has competed in the 350-mile Iditarod Trail Invitational winter bike race across interior Alaska, 2015 and 2016.

EDWARD FRASER REID II, Trompeta

University Distinguished Outreach Professor

Professor, School of Music

College of Fine Arts, University of Arizona

Edward Reid is Professor of Trumpet at the University of Arizona, where he has taught since 1994. He serves as the Area Coordinator of the Wind and Percussion Department in the UA School of Music.

He is the recipient of both the School of Music's Maestro Award for student achievement and the College of Fine Arts' Charles and Irene Putnam Excellence in Teaching Award. He is also a University of Arizona Faculty Fellow.

In addition to his University duties, Professor Reid is one of three solo cornetists with The New Sousa Band, which is featured in concerts throughout the U.S. and Japan. During a visit to Beijing, China in 2001, he presented several Master Classes and lectures. As part of this residency, he performed a solo recital and was the first non-Chinese citizen to perform as guest soloist with The People's Liberation Army Central Band at Beijing University.

An active soloist, Professor Reid premiered the Double Concerto for Trumpet, Trombone and Symphony Orchestra by Eric Ewazen, written for Professors Reid and Thomas Ervin and commissioned by the University of Arizona School of Music. He also premiered a composition as a soloist at the International Trumpet Guild Conference in Bangkok, Thailand. He led a contingent of 22 UA brass performers to Bangkok and recently returned from Greece with another group of UA students. This past summer, seven UA students performed at the Banff Centre during the ITG Conference in Alberta, Canada. in 2009 he presented solo performances in Taipei, Taiwan and Morelia, Mexico.

Professor Reid also held the title of Principal Trumpet of the Tucson Symphony and was a member of that Orchestra from 1987-2010. He was Principal Trumpet of the Flagstaff Festival of the Arts Orchestra and has performed with, among others, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Grand Teton Music Festival Orchestra, the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra and the Heidelberg Castle Festival Orchestra in Germany. He has appeared as a soloist with the Dallas Brass, the University of Arizona Wind Ensemble, the Arizona Symphonic Winds, the New Sousa Band and the Tucson Symphony Orchestra.

Professor Reid served as Chair for the International Trumpet Guild's Composition Competition in 2005. He also served as a judge for the Ellsworth Smith International Solo Trumpet Competition, the major contest held by the ITG every other year. He hosted the 2007 Carmine Caruso International Jazz Trumpet Solo Competition last November, which was sponsored by the Herb Alpert Foundation and the ITG.

He received the Bachelor of Music degree in Applied Music and Music Education and the Master of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music, where he studied with Barbara Butler, Sidney Mear and Allan Dean. Other teachers include David Hickman, Lewis Van Haney, Charles Berginc, Anthony Plog, Charles Geyer, Richard Green and Philip Smith.

He previously held teaching positions at Hope College in Holland, Michigan and at Arizona State University.

SHU CHING CHENG

鄭淑菁

Pianist/Collaborative Artist

EDUCATION

2010 University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona

Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance

Minor: Music Theory Dissertation: The Interdependence of Movement and Sound in all aspects of Piano Technique in Falko Steinbach’s “Figures” – 17 Choreographic Etudes for

Piano (2006)

2003 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico Master of Music in Piano Performance

2000 Shin Chien University, Taipei, Taiwan

Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

2005-present Private Piano Instructor Teaching up to 20 students per semester, including studio recitals

2011-13 Flowing Wells High School Music Technician, Choirs. Accompanies all high school

choirs and performs on piano as needed. Grades exams given in music classes

October, 2009 Conservatorio de las Rosas, Morelia, Mexico Guest professor. Presented master classes and taught private lessons during residency

Sept. 2009 Shenandoah Conservatory, Winchester, VA Guest artist and instructor of piano

May, 2008 Kuala Lumpur International Master Classes, Malaysia

Piano Faculty member, Junior Academy. Taught piano, music theory and music history

2004- 2007 University of Arizona

Graduate Teaching Assistant, Opening Minds through the Arts Program (OMA). Duties consist of accompanying singers, developing lesson plans in consultation with classroom teachers and interacting with children in educational and musical settings

1998- 2000 Shin Chien University Teaching assistant in Ta-Chih Elementary School.Director

of music class scheduling and instructor of ear training 1998-present Private studio teaching in Taiwan, New Mexico and Arizona

Facultad de música de la Universidad de las Artes de Tirana, Albania

Arben Llozi, viola

Arben Llozi is an Albanian artist and since 1989, professor of Viola, chamber music and String Orchestra at the Faculty of Music of the University of Arts in Tirana employed immediately after graduation with maximum results

Since 1989, professor of Viola and Chamber Music at the Academy of Arts (University of Arts), Arben Llozi holds the title of “Professor”.

He has conducted master-classes of Viola and Chamber Music in France, Spain, Italy, North Macedonia and Albania. Students of his class work today in various orchestras in Italy, Greece, USA, Portugal and Albanian professional orchestras as well as music and viola teachers.

Except for teaching and performing as a viola player and conductor, Arben LLozi, often lecturers in symposiums and various national and international meetings in Albania and abroad on educational issues and developments of art music and its integration into the global culture. He has been very active in national and international artistic and research projects including European Projects.

With a repertoire that spans from Baroque music to the XXI-st century, he has performed in hundreds of concerts in Europe and U.S. as a soloist, and as member of “Grupo Instrumental Siglo XX", "Asmus Ensemble", "Alban quartet”, “Quartetto di Cremona”, "Balcanic Ensemble", and "Trio of the Academy" and conductor of, Camerata of Tirana, Camerata dei Laghi, Albanian National TV String Orchestra, Tirana Philarmonic Orchestra, University of Arts String Orchestra, Ensemble Classica, Artistic Liceum String Orchestra etc.

Arben Llozi has performed the World Premiers of over 80 solos and chamber music works of Albanian and foreign composers like Crow, Zacharian, Duran, Gaqi, Perreiro, Peçi, Karier, Tsoyopoulos, Simaku, Kushta, Ibrahimi, Laro, Qerimaj, Sina, Lopez, Ballata, T. Z. Hua, Rastoporov, Youngwoo Yoo, Baysal, Lara, Daija, Dalipi, Fejzo, Tole etj.

Participated in international festivals organized in Albania by ISCM, NAM, Bienale “Night’s of Classical Music”, “Vox Baroque”, “Magic Flute” Festival, “Apolonia International Festival” , “Mosaique”, Composer’s International Competition “Ton de Leeuw”, “Argjiro” International Festival, “Chamber Fest Durrës”, as well invited as a soloist and with various ensembles in festivals and musical events in Italy, Austria, France, Switzerland, Germany, Spain, Denmark, USA, Greece, Kosovo, Vatikan, Slovenia, North Macedonia, etc. (“Spazio-Musica Festival”, “ContraPunkt”, Il Festival de Música “Via Stellae”, ”Balcanic Festival”, “Resolution 2000”, “ReMusica”, “Klangspektrum”, “reihe 0” , “Das Treffen”, Festival d'été de Skopje, “Festival delle Murge” “Neu Klaenge”, IGNM, Festival des Randonnées Musicales du Ferrand, Festival International de Quatuor a Cordes Lille, Annåherung, XXIII Premio Jovenes Compositores Madrid, Days of Macedonian Music Festival, Skopje etc. and in concerts in Ljubljana, Rome, Paris, Copenhagen, etc.

Invited to perform as a soloist and as first viola by professional symphonic and string orchestrsa in Albania and abroad, has collaborated and performed with prominent performers, conductors and composers from Europe, Asia, and America.

He was Artistic Director of Lyric Voices Nationwide Competition "Jorgjie Truja" (2008-2013), Bienale-Durrës “Night’s of Classical Music” (2005-), "Apollonia International Festival" (2007), "Tirana Awards" Spectacle (2007-2013 & 2022 ), and Coordinator of national and international festivals and workshops like “Three Arch Bridge” (2010 – 2016), International Festival “Tirana Autumn” (2008), Networking in-to Europe (2007-2009) Tirana Philarmonic Orchestra 2011 and 2021 -.

Member of Artistic Steering Committee like: Artistic Steering Committee at the Ministry of Culture of Albania (2010) Swiss Cultural Program Albania (Pro-Helvetia) SCP 2008-2010, National Theatre of Opera (TKOB) - Artistic Steering Committee (2002, 2008) , National Albanian Music Council KKMSh (2004 -), Chairman of the Commission for Culture, Education and Information, at the Regional Council in Tirana (1996-2000) and Tirana Philarmonic Orchestra (2022-).

He has been very active in national and international artistic and research projects including European Projects.

Member of juries in national and international music competitions as: Concorso Internazionale “Tomaso Traetta”, Music Competition “Yong Soloist” Bienale “Night’s of Classical Music”, Festival of String Orchestras and Chamber Music, International Competition “Tirana Talent” XIII-th edition, “Pjetër Gaci” International Music Competition, XXI-st edition. Honored with national and international awards and recognitions. First Prize of Contemporary Music Performers “Nikolla Zoraqi”, Membre d’Honore de l’Academie Amadeus Europe, etc.)

Arben Llozi performed in different CD albums as: “Chamber Music from Albanian Composers” (Asmus Ensemble), “In Tenebris” (solo & Trio), “Obras ganadoras” XIII Premio Jovenes Compositores (Grupo Instrumental Siglo XX), “Tirana Café Concerto”. He has performed solo and duo in two movie soundtracks (“Lule të kuqe lule të zeza” and “Der Albaner”)

He has published “Viola Solo in Albanian Music” with works for viola solo dedicated to him from most known Albanian composers. He also has written critics for music magazines.

From 2007-2016 has been Vice-Rector for the artistic and research projects of the University of Arts and from 2016-2024 Head of Department of Interpretation (Classic and modern music instrumental performers)

Currently he holds the position of Dean of the Music Faculty and professor of Viola and Chamber Music at the University of Arts in Tirana.

Josif Gjipali, tenor

Josif Gjipali, stage name Giuseppe GIPALI, was born in Valona, Albania.

In 2003 is awarded with the second prize of Placido Domingo Operalia and during the same year his international career begins.

Gipali’s vast repertoire extends from belcanto to verism, through french repertoire too.

During his career he has been invited to Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Teatro dell’Opera in Rome, Teatro La Fenice in Venice, Arena di Verona, Teatro San Carlo in Naples, Covent Garden in London, Wiener Staatsoper, Théâtre du Chatelet and Opera Bastille in Paris, Théâtre du Capitole in Toulouse, Liceu in Barcelona, San Francisco Opera House, Teatro Comunale in Florence, Teatro Comunale in Bologna, Teatro Petruzzelli in Bari and Sydney Opera House.

Gipali has worked with the greatest conductors, such as: Riccardo Muti, Zubin Mehta, Daniele Gatti, Nicola Luisotti, Renato Palumbo, Pinchas Steinberg, Daniel Oren.

His vast repertoire includes: la Boheme, Madama Butterfly, Tosca (Puccini), the whole verdian repertoire – but Otello -, the whole Donizetti repertoire; Manon Di Massenet, Werther, Faust, Damnation de Faust, Les Contes d’Hoffman and Les Pecheurs de Perles for the french repertoire.

SILVA SKENDERI, piano

Silva Skenderi ,was born in Tirane Albania. graduated at the University of Arts - Faculty of Music in Tirane Albania, with highest results in piano studies, and a Master Degree in Piano Performance at Ss.Cyril and Methodius University – Faculty of Music, Skopje.

Since 2003 she is an “Asocciete Professor” at the University of Arts – Faculty of Music, in Department of Interpretation, full time piano professor .

During her artistic carrier she faced an intense artistic activity.

Her artistic repertoire is enriched with a series of Recitals and Chamber Music concerts in Albania and abrod. In collaboration with diferent artists and condacters from allover.

Solist in some concerts with National Symphonic Orchestra of Albania, with Orchestra of University of Arts Albania, with National Wind Orchestra, with Filarmonic Orchestra of Albania , Filarmonic Orchestra of Elbasan, with Albanian Chamber Orchestra.

She has Recitals in different Festivals for classical music around the Europe like: Nei Suoni dei Luoghi” Udine e Monfalcone Italy, “Skopsco Leto” in Scopja North Macedonia, Esspresivo” and “Harmonika “ Fest in Montenegro, in Occhio Blu Asocciazione Roma-Albania, “Internacional Festival, of Music “ for 3 editiions in Greece, “Ars Kosova” in Pristina Kosovo, “Art and Heritage “ in 4 editions in Albania, in “Bienale of Clasic Music “ in Durres Albania, in“ New Music” in Albania, in “Allegreto Albania”, in “Classic Albania” ,in ”Tirana Music Festival”, in ”Mosaic Fest” in Italy, in Marie Kraja Festival, ecc.

Many RECITALS in Italy, in Spain, in North Macedonia, in Montenegro, in France, several Recital Concerts in different citys in Greece, in Sinaia Rumania, in Zagreb Croatia, in Pristina –Kosovo, in Ludinghausen Germany, many Recital Concerts in diferent citys of Albania during the years ecc.

Many Chamber Music DUO and TRIO with Piano, Violin, Cello, Clarinet concerts in collaboration with various albanian and foreign wellknown instrumentists.

Many Recital Concerts with well known Albanian and International singers.

She was Invited Profesor in Erasmus + Program at Consertvatorio di Cossenza –Italy, at Conservatorio di Musica in Lorca, Spain, In diferent Conservatorio di Musica in Greece.

She was a member of Jury in “Chamber Orchestras Competition” in Albania and “Chamber Music Competition Harmonika in Montengro,

She has a several specialization like: in Chamber Music from the Italia Institute of Culture at the Conservatorium “G.Rossini”, from ProHelvetia at University of Music in Brasova Rumania and master Classes with diferent piano teachers in Europe.

For several years was the Concert-Master of National Theater of Opera and Ballet in Tirane, Albania.

For several years she was the pianist of the Female Choir of the Academy of Arts under the direction of the well-known conductor Mr.Vako, who is honored with several international awards and a CD released in the market.

Silva Skenderi highlights ongoing collaboration in promoting young student talent with concerts and projects.

ARDITA MENI