Unterstütze Klara Kukumi

I developed a love of classical music while growing up in Albania. I was irresistibly drawn to the piano, and, from an early age, I was one of the very few children selected to study music on an elite level. Because my family could not afford to have an instrument at home, I would either walk to the state music school at 5 am to practice on their badly tuned pianos or practice on a table by imagining the piano keys and their pitches in my head. Other challenges included the lack of sheet music and recordings of classical music. However, these hardships didn't discourage me. Rather, they fueled my determination to win national piano competitions, which led to my admission to the Institute of Arts in Tirana and obtain the highest music degree available in my country. I pursued further education in the United States, and I have earned a master's degree in piano performance and a doctoral degree in collaborative piano.

Although my whole life has revolved around piano, my love for it has only grown year by year. I can truly express so much through playing music. It gives me joy when people say that I inspire them to play the piano and that my recordings cultivate their love of classical music. Spreading my love for piano has inspired me to become a better musician as well.