Tyler Junior College piano professor Gjergji Gaqi will be joined by his brother, Piro, in concert as the Gaqi Piano Duo performs next week at TJC.
The performance is set 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 10, in Jean Browne Theatre on the TJC main campus. The event is part of TJC’s fourth annual Arts Festival, taking place throughout the month of April.
Admission is free and the event is open to the public.
“Chamber music is always about building great communication with your musical partners,” Gjergji Gaqi said, “and I think when performing with your siblings, that communication is perhaps even simpler and more straightforward.”
The Gaqi Piano Duo was formed by the Albanian-born brothers in 2013. Hailing from a musical family, they each boast active careers as soloists and chamber musicians and have performed as a duo in venues across North America and Europe.
The duo aims to create a musical bridge between the two continents by bringing audiences a varied international repertoire, including works inspired by diverse folk traditions. Their program will include selections by composers Chaminade, Grieg, Gluck, Piazzolla and their father, Thoma Gaqi.
“It has been a special treat for us to also be able to perform some of our father’s music together, which he especially arranged for piano four-hands for our duo,” Gjergji said.
Gjergji Gaqi’s musical journey began in Tirana, Albania, under the instruction of Takuina Adami. He joined the TJC music faculty in 2014, having previously taught at the University of Michigan, Siena Heights University, College of the Mainland and Brazosport College.
Piro Gaqi completed his undergraduate studies in piano performance at the National University of Music in Bucharest, Romania. He is currently a lecturer at the University of the Lower Danube in Galati, Romania, having previously served as piano faculty at the State University of Tetovo, Macedonia.
“Our individual teaching and performing schedules are quite busy and don’t always match up well, since we live on different continents,” Gjergji said, “but we try to perform together as often as possible.
“While we have performed as a duo in Texas previously, I am very excited that we are able to perform in front of students, colleagues and friends from TJC and the East Texas region.”
For more information on TJC Arts Festival events, go to www.tjc.edu/ArtsFestival.