Not Just Oompah! presents Raif Hyseni’s “Workshop with Raif Hyseni” on Thursday, May 19, 2022 from 7:00 – 9:30 PM. The Zoom concert with Raif Hyseni will be on Friday, May 20 from7:30 – 8:30 PM

Not Just Oompah! is offering an exciting workshop series and concert on Zoom with two remarkable master accordionists:  Rita Davidson Barnea and Raif Hyseni. Rita Barnea presentedThe Music of Eugene Ettore  workshop on April 27 @ 7:00-9:30 PM Central Time and Raif Hyseni is presenting The Music of Albania workshop on May 19 @ 7:00-9:30 PM Central Time and a Zoom Concert on May 20 from 7:30-8:30 PM Central Time. 

Sessions and concerts will be recorded also for later viewing for those who register for this workshop/concert series. Cost is $75 which includes Zoom sessions and recordings (provided for limited time) and all materials which are delivered in PDF format via email. 

Registration will be accepted until May 18, 2022. Remember that all sessions are recorded so you receive all recordings even if you miss one!

Raif Hyseni hails from The Republic of Kosova, which has a large Albanian majority. He grew up in the town of Mitrovicë, where he studied accordion at the music school. During high school he performed in amateur ensembles, folk bands, and orchestras, and even toured in Germany, Austria and throughout the Former Yugoslavia. Before moving to Tiranë in 1992, Raif was a well-known radio and television performer in Kosova’s capital city, Prishtinë, performing with well-known singers, and where he performed with the legendary violinist Isak Mucolli.

While attending college during the evenings in Prishtinë he worked as a high school music teacher in the afternoons. He also started playing with a young group called Besnikët that became very successful internationally — a superstar group, comparable, he says, to the Backstreet Boys. Through his recordings and media appearances, Raif has become known as a major innovator on the accordion, for which he has composed dozens of instrumental melodies and songs.

Mr. Hyseni holds a Master’s degree in music from Montclair State University. He has written music for accordion, as well as songs for theater and documentary movies. In 2014 at Montclair State, Raif founded and continues to head the Balkan-Albanian Ensemble, the first of its kind at an institute of higher education. He has received numerous national and international awards and recognitions, some of which include: 2018 “Ambassador for Peace”, Universal Peace Federation; 2007 “National Ambassador” Albanian Culture TV, NY; 2006 The Albanian-American Academy of Science and Arts, NY; and 2001 “Smithsonian Folklife Festival”, Washington D. C.

Raif and his wife, internationally acclaimed Albanian singer Merita Halili, emigrated to the United States in 1995, and now make their home in New Jersey. They perform frequently around the country on numerous stages, festivals and at community weddings, as well as teach workshops.

Registration will be accepted until May 18, 2022. Remember that all sessions are recorded so you receive all recordings even if you miss one!

For More Information and Details: Shirley Johnson 512-680-0422 ShirleyJ@Vjeverica.com or accsaj@gmail.com
Laura J. Niland 210-651-4359 LauraJNiland@outlook.com
Download flyer: 2022FlyerBarnea.pdf