Gjergji Gaqi, (AD 01-03) is currently a senior studying Music at Colby College, Maine.  In 2003-04 Gjergji earned the College’s Music Department Prize.  “He is one of the best musicians I’ve seen at Colby,” said Arnold Bernhard Professor of Arts and Humanities, Paul Machlin, “and I’ve been at Colby for thirty-three years.”

 

Gjergji has won several national competitions in Albania and won the right to play the first movement of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No.3 in C Minor with the Colby Symphony Orchestra.

 

The music scholarship programme which Gjergji joined is unique to Adriatic College. The Collegev offers five scholarships each year to students who play high level piano or a string instrument.  Each music scholar takes music as one of their three Higher Level IB subjects and is encouraged to use music as part of their community service. The International School of Chamber Music of the Trio di Trieste is hosted by the College and music scholars receive monthly classes from the celebrated Maestri (members) of the Trio di Trieste and the Maestri of the Trio di Parma. Throughout the year the music scholars perform regularly to fellow students and the public to develop their concert experience. Some scholars perform concerts in local hospitals and old people’s homes.

 

“Doing both the music programme and the IB at the same time was an incredible experience and not one that made me feel any different to my friends at the College.” says Gjergji.  “My piano teacher at UWC, Alberto Miodini from the Trio di Parma, was absolutely fantastic both as a teacher and a person and the chamber music lessons with the Trio di Trieste were also of a very high level which made sure to test our ability and push us to be better”.

 

Since graduating Gjergji has kept in touch with all the friends he made from UWC; “I think it is fair to say that most people I know, including myself, think nostalgically back to our days at Adriatic College”, It is a great place, and what makes it great is great people.” Gjergji believes that his UWC experience opened his mind to study new areas he perhaps would otherwise have neglected. “While I would probably still be studying piano even if I had not gone to UWC, at Adriatic we were encouraged there to learn about such a varied number of subjects and world issues. I am grateful to have built up my general knowledge in so many different areas.”

 

One of Gjergji’s most valued experiences was his relationship with the College staff, “I really enjoyed the relationship between students and members of the faculty at UWC. Being used to an ex-communist system in my native Albania, where there is a strict hierarchy for students and teachers, it was a very pleasant surprise to find an environment where teachers worked with students and tried to help them. And where students and teachers could be friendly – even friends. I am very lucky to be able to have the same kind of relationship with my professors here at Colby as well.”

 

Gjergji is hoping to undertake a Master’s programme in piano performance at a University in the USA. “I love music and I always have. I think everybody should do what they are most talented at and I think my biggest talent is music.”  Thinking ahead Gjergji aims to get a teaching job as a piano professor but still continue to play concerts.

 

“UWC is a once in a lifetime experience and one that I wish for everybody. With more advertising and increased funding we could make it possible for more young people”.