Category Archives: Meet Kosovars Abroad

Ergin Oda: Reaching New York City’s Classical and Musical Scenes

Ergin Oda from Mitrovica, Kosovo, is the first Albanian soloist reaching the New York City Master Chorale. He studied for Ethnomusicology/Vocal at the Faculty of Music of the University of Prishtina and continued for Musical in Vienna Conservatorium.

Ergin’s engagement in art began in his city of birth, Mitrovica, where he was an actor of the city’s theater. He was also a moderator at a local radio in Kosovo. Since 2003, Ergin is a soloist in Kosovo’s Philharmonic. He has been part of numerous concerts within Kosovo’s Academy of Sciences and Arts, through which he has had the chance to perform in European countries such as Paris and Vienna.

His talent and commitment to continue building a professional profile has allowed him to become a soloist in the Cecilia Chorus of New York, Regina Opera, and New York City Master Chorale. Among these activities, Ergin has recorded the soundtrack for an upcoming Hollywood movie and plans a more intensive engagement in this regard.

Ergin believes that young Albanians who live and work in the Diaspora have a great responsibility upon themselves. In an exclusive interview for Kosovo Diaspora, Oda explains that “Diaspora professionals represent not only themselves as individuals, but also their country in various fields. Kosovo’s Diaspora has a major role in building the image of Kosovo abroad. By presenting our cultural values, we lobby towards improving Kosovo’s image internationally. The only way to achieve success in this regard is by creating a strong connection and cooperation between the Diaspora members.”

One of his most successful projects in regard to the Diaspora is the establishment of “Ergin and Brevis Ensemble,” which promotes Albanian music all over America. Through this project, Ergin and his colleagues aim to present the values of Albanian music and promote its cultivation to new generations living outside Kosovo.

During December 2014, along with a cast of American singers, Ergin performed at the Carnegie Hall in New York, US. Currently, he lives in New York and is a member of NYCM Choral Cabaret. At the same time, he is the leader of “Ergin and Brevis Ensemble,” which promotes classical Albanian music. Other members of the ensemble are two internationals and a Kosovar: Lule Ballata/Flute, Alex Schenker/violin, and Daniel Laor/Piano.

Ambassador Ismaili Talks Digital Diplomacy

The prestigious Diplomatic Courier has recently featured an interview with Kosovo’s Ambassador to the United States, Mr. Akan Ismaili. Whilst a successful entrepreneur, Mr. Ismaili has been an active contributor to the cause of brining Kosovo closer to the global community. Co-founder of both the American University Foundation in Kosovo and IPKO (an organization credited with fostering internet as a development force in Kosova), Mr. Ismaili has a rather interesting take on the question of digital diplomacy.

The following is an excerpt from the interview; for the full article and interview please click here.

[Diplomatic Courier:] Kosovo has earned a reputation for setting a precedent in the use of social media and digital diplomacy. How do you define digital diplomacy for your country? How did it become such a prominent feature of Kosovo’s foreign policy?

[Akan Ismaili:] It is quite obvious that in today’s world, where the competition among the countries is growing rapidly, the tiny countries receive less attention and a sort of limited space. In light of this, for a small country with limited odds, such as Kosovo, the most effective means to mark our presence worldwide and to strengthening our nation branding is digital diplomacy. That’s one side of the coin. The other side was to use social media tools in order to get your message across; to be much more present. As a matter of fact, the online presence sometimes matters as much as the physical presence, maybe even more. Technology gives us tools available to enhance traditional diplomacy, to make it easier, make it more affordable, and be more efficient and effective.

[DC:] When it comes to public diplomacy, what has changed about the toolbox?

[AI:] There is no doubt that changes are visible. We are now much more effective and efficient. Every day you find a new use and more creative use for the tools just because they are not as limited as in the traditional sense. The other thing that has changed is timing. Timing is everything. You have to be there at the debate when it happens, while it’s happening, otherwise you are too late, everybody moves on much faster than in the traditional sense of diplomacy.
[DC:] What are the dangers of that; moving that fast in real time?

[AI:] Sometimes you get a feeling that it’s very superficial, like you don’t go deep enough into the issue. But that’s why this is not the only way you do diplomacy. That’s why you continue with the other tools available to conduct diplomacy. So, it’s not just moving with a crowd, but you also have people who stay behind and continue that work on the lower levels and lower layers.

[DC:] When we’re looking at the future of diplomacy, some commentators out there are saying that face-to-face diplomacy is sort of dying.

[AI:] I disagree with that. I think that’s still an important element. I don’t think that Twitter and Facebook replace diplomacy. I believe we have a new tool set and it’s more of a tool set of communicating with the public than replacing the traditional way of communication between the countries, because I don’t think Twitter can replace six hours of negotiations when you need a treaty. You cannot do that over Facebook; it’s impossible to do that over Twitter. You still have to have experts sitting around the table and nailing down details. What this does is to uncover the wider opinion and the important elements of what’s actually taking place in real time; exposes it a little bit more and makes it more transparent. And this is where I think public pressure comes into play because people know in real time what’s going on and why things are happening. That’s why it’s becoming harder and harder for people to keep closed societies because these tools are there. If government controls media, they cannot control Twitter, they cannot control an individual tweeting or sending information from a Twitter. Everything is becoming more transparent and more open because the technology is available to everybody.

Kosovo’s Rita Ora Takes a Seat at the UK Voice

UK’s Mirror Magazine has featured an article on Rita Ora’s appearance on the Voice. Apart from her singing, the magazine also highlights Ora’s past, the path to success and what has made Rita Ora the artist that she is today.

Born Rita Sahatçiu in 1990, her first name was in tribute to classic film star Rita Hayworth and her surname was the hereditary profession of her family – Sahatçiu (in Albanian: watchmaker). In a nod to the profession, her father gave her the surname Ora meaning ‘hour’ because it rolled off the tongue easier.

Rita’s family fled from Yugoslavia when she was a year old and she grew up near Portobello Road, London. Her grandmother Besa, who still lives there, told the Sun: “There were riots, uprisings and suppression by the Government of the former Yugoslavia. Kosovars wanted rights like other Yugoslav republics.”

Rita began singing in open mic sessions in London and performed in her dad’s pub. She had her first taste of fame in 2007 when she appeared on Craig David’s Awkward. She caught the attention of DJ Fresh, who was looking for a female singer for his song Hot Right Now, and the rest, as they say is history.

Check out the rest of the article by following the link here.

Ajeti’s Cookie Factory: Kosovar Family Bonding Leads to Success