Exclusive interview for CNA TV/ Maestro Shkumbin Bajraktari: Korça, a city that inspires art and music

2025-10-25 10:11:00, Qyteti im CNA

Shkumbin Bajraktari

One of the most well-known names in classical music in Kosovo, clarinetist and pedagogue Shkumbin Bajraktari, became part of the “Lulu Fest” brass band festival taking place in the city of Korça. His first visit to the southeastern city turned into a special artistic experience, leading him to express the highest appreciation for the organization, the audience and the hospitality of Korça.

With a career spanning more than two decades in the music and academic scene, Bajraktari is one of the most prominent figures in professional music in Kosovo. He has studied in several countries in the region and Europe, including Albania, North Macedonia, Bulgaria and Switzerland, building a broad artistic and pedagogical experience that has made him known as one of the most highly regarded clarinetists in the Albanian space. CNA TV brings to viewers an exclusive interview with the maestro, who reveals a lot about his successful career and the wonderful impression he has of the city of Korça.

"I am a clarinetist, professor at the Academy of Arts in Pristina, I have been working there for 20 years. I studied in Albania and completed my studies in Tirana with Professor Kiço Dako. I have recorded in Macedonia, Bulgaria, and specialized in Switzerland. I am the first clarinetist of the Kosovo Philharmonic and leader of the Kosovo Army Brass Band, where I created and formed this band 20 years ago ," says Bajraktari.

His career has been built on a solid professional foundation and his passion for the clarinet has been the driving force that has accompanied him throughout his artistic journey. Coming from a family of musicians, Bajraktari began his path in music thanks to his father's influence, but he soon realized that the clarinet would be the instrument that would identify him and give life to his career.

" My father is a musician, an accordionist, and his wish was for me to play the accordion. Then I moved on to the clarinet, it was completely by chance, and now I'm in love with the clarinet. There's no turning back. This is my life ," he said.

For maestro Shkumbin Bajraktari, participating in “Lulu Fest” is a special and unforgettable experience, as it is the first time he has participated in such an organization in the city of Korça. He also held a “master class” with young music students, who impressed him with their talent, discipline and desire to learn. According to him, the new generation of musicians from Korça has great potential to move forward and contribute to the development of classical music in the country.

"It's the first time in this kind of organization. I also wanted to thank the organizers. Fortunately, we also have a very good time. The best part is that we are meeting very good people. I had a 'master class' with students from Korça who were very good, polite, with a perspective for a very good future. Everything is going well so far," says Bajraktari.

In Korça, Bajraktari came as part of the Kosovo Security Force orchestra, which performed as part of the “Lulu Fest”. The Korça audience had the opportunity to see and hear the “March of the KSF”, a work that includes well-known motifs of Albanian history and resistance, composed by Valton Beqiri, Mendi Mengjiqi and Baki Jashari. Through this performance, he and his colleagues brought a mixture of emotions and pride that was received with long applause from the audience.

"Today we performed with the KSF orchestra, the KSF march, dedicated by our three composers from Kosovo, Valton Beqiri, Mendi Mengjiqi who is also the composer of the Kosovo anthem, and professor Baki Jashari, who worked on the KSF march, where within this music are all those themes and songs that were sung in the demonstrations of 1981, 1991, the entire period of occupation ," said the maestro.

The Maestro describes his experience in Korça as a beautiful feeling, but also a great responsibility. He says that Korça is a fantastic city, with wonderful, understanding people and a deep love for art, an atmosphere that makes every performance more special and inspiring.

"It's a good feeling, but a big responsibility. The good thing about all this is that you have a fantastic city, with very wonderful, understanding people, but also very art lovers," he said.

When we ask her if she would return to Korça for any future activities, the maestro responds with conviction and enthusiasm that she would gladly accept such an invitation, considering her return to this city as a wonderful opportunity to continue artistic collaborations.

"It would be a pleasure and I would definitely come if you invite me ," he says.

With his professionalism, passion and dedication to music, Shkumbin Bajraktari not only represents Kosovar art with dignity, but also builds bridges of cooperation between Albanian artists. The “Lulu Fest” festival in Korça, through the presence of such artists, proves that art and music continue to be the most beautiful languages ??that unite people, cultures and feelings across borders./CNA