Trio Concert in NYC
Ismet Vejseli, Alba Zeqiri and Shkëlzen Baftiari in Concert on Sunday, August 9th at 7 pm
CONCERT PROGRAM / КОНЦЕРТНА ПРОГРАМА
Ismet Vejseli – Tenor
Alba Zeqiri – Violin
Shkëlzen Baftiari – Piano
PART I / ПРВ ДЕЛ
Frédéric Chopin
Scherzo No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 31
Performer: Shkëlzen Baftiari – Piano
Frédéric Chopin
From the Cycle of 17 Polish Songs, Op. 74
• What a Young Maiden Loves
• The Messenger
• A Melody
• Homecoming
• Lithuanian Song
Performers: Ismet Vejseli – Tenor
Shkëlzen Baftiari – Piano
Damjan Temkov
Dream (Сон) – Song Cycle
Performers: Ismet Vejseli – Tenor
Shkëlzen Baftiari – Piano
Goran Nachevski
Father’s Aria from the opera Between Dreams and Flights
Performers: Ismet Vejseli – Tenor
Shkëlzen Baftiari – Piano
INTERMISSION / ПАУЗА
PART II / ВТОР ДЕЛ
Georges Bizet
Overture to the Opera Carmen
Performer: Shkëlzen Baftiari – Piano
Jenő Hubay
Violin Concerto No. 3 – First Movement
Performers: Alba Zeqiri – Violin
Shkëlzen Baftiari – Piano
David Špato
Elegy
Performers: Alba Zeqiri – Violin
Shkëlzen Baftiari – Piano
Astor Piazzolla
Otoño Porteño
Performers: Alba Zeqiri – Violin
Shkëlzen Baftiari – Piano
Ismet Vejseli – Tenor
Ismet Vejseli, born in Kumanovo on 11.04.1998, is a prominent solo singer with an extraordinary artistic path. He began his musical education with the clarinet and solo singing, and continued it at the Ilija Nikolovski – Luj Secondary Music School in Skopje, under the mentorship of tenor Mustafa Imeri. During his secondary education, Ismet won numerous awards at national and international solo singing competitions.
His talent is particularly prominent on the international stage, where he received significant recognition at festivals in Italy, Serbia, Russia and other countries. He completed his higher education at the Faculty of Music in Skopje, in the class of the famous soprano Ana Durlovski.
Among the more significant moments in his career are performances in Berlin, Germany, a recital in Tirana, Albania, as well as an impressive debut in Moscow, Russia. His artistic achievements include performances in the Kremlin, as well as at the National Opera and Ballet in Skopje.
In 2021, he won the highest awards at international competitions in Russia and Belgrade. He was then accepted to the Concertante Academy in Barcelona, Spain, under the mentorship of maestro Raul Gimenez. He also performs at the “Prishtina International Vocal Festival” in Pristina, as well as with the Kosovo Philharmonic in Pristina and Tirana.
Ismet Vejseli’s career continues to develop with his debut in New York, USA, as well as a prestigious performance at the “Musikverein” festival in Vienna. His debut at the Slovak National Opera was crowned with performances in 13 operas and 65 performances within just 10 months.
In February 2024, he made his debut at the Kosovo Opera with the main role – the character of Trimori in the first Kosovo opera “Goca e Kačaniku”, and in November he performed the same role at the National Opera and Ballet Theatre in Tirana. The performance was also reprised at the National Opera and Ballet of Macedonia.
With the Kosovo Philharmonic Orchestra, he recently performed as a soloist in Gioachino Rossini’s Stabat Mater, in an international performing lineup.
Since September 2025, Ismet has been a member of the choir of the National Opera and Ballet of North Macedonia.
Ismet Vejseli’s extraordinary talent and international recognition solidify his status as a rising star in the world of opera.
Alba Zeqiri – violinist
Alba Zeqiri – violinist born on February 18, 2003 in Kumanovo.
She completed her elementary music school at “Pance Peshev” in Kumanovo and her high school of music at “Ilija Nikolovski Luj” in Skopje in the class of prof. Erhan Shukri. Under the direction of prof. Erhan Shukri, she performed in various competitions, winning two prizes, first place in the state violin competition in Skopje and second prize in the international “Polihimnia” violin competition. She also performed twice in concerts as a soloist with the “Arko” orchestra.
In 2021, she enrolled in the Faculty of Music in Skopje at the “St. Cyril and Methodius” University in the class of prof. Lubisha Kirovski, where she is currently a third-year student. During these three years, she performed in many concerts. As a member of the “Grifon” orchestra under the direction of conductor Agona Çupi, she performs in Kicevo, Tetovo and Skopje, while as a member of the “Tadenus” orchestra she performs in concerts in Skopje, with various soloists under the direction of prof. Behar Veseli.
In addition to appearances as part of various orchestras, she is very active with solo concerts.
In the summer of 2023 she performs in Kumanovo with a concert organized by Sh.K.A “Melikus”, and later as a guest in Skopje at the concert of tenor Ismet Vejseli.
In September 2023 with the “Grifon” quartet as concertmaster they perform a concert in the Daut Pasha Hamam, and that same month she performs solo in Elbasan at the festival with a long tradition “Takimi i harqeve”.
In October 2023 for the first time she participates in one of the concerts of the “Prishtina International Vocal Festival” festival in Prishtina, Kosovo.
On November 11, 2023, she performed her first solo concert with pianist Shkëlzen Baftiari at the Cultural and Artistic Center in Skopje, where she presented a very challenging program and resulted in a successful concert, which was supported by the Ministry of Culture. On December 6, she performed as a soloist with the chamber orchestra “Solistët e FM” under the direction of Maestro Sasho Tatarçevski, with A. Piazzolla’s “Spring” in the large hall of the Skopje Philharmonic, an annual festive concert of the Faculty of Music in Skopje.
Shkëlzen Baftiari – pianist
Shkëlzen Baftiari graduated with the title Cum Laude from the Faculty of Music at the University of “Saints Cyril and Methodius” in Skopje, in the class of prof. Simon Trpčeski.
He completed his primary and secondary musical education at the DMBUC “Ilija Nikollovski-Luj” in Skopje, in the class of prof. Ljudmila Romanova. He began his first piano lessons at the age of 10 with prof. Simona Zafirovska at the Music School “Todor Skalovski-Tetovec” in Tetovo.
He is the winner of many international awards in Paris, Rome, Turin, Plovdiv, Blagoevgrad and Belgrade.
He has given solo concerts in Tetovo, Skopje, Struga, Prishtina, Tirana, Sofia and Ohrid, including appearances at the prestigious “Ohrid Summer” festival.
As a soloist he has performed with the London City Philharmonic, the Macedonian Philharmonic, the Symphony Orchestra of the Faculty of Music, the Kosovo Philharmonic and the Symphony Orchestra of the Albanian Radio and Television.
In addition to making a large number of recordings for radio and television, he has regularly participated in the seminars led by Prof. Boris Romanov, which were organized every year in Ohrid.
