Performance Program:

Current COD music student JUSTIN GJATA will perform a solo piano recital this week on Music Fridays @ Noon.  Justin is a student of COD piano professor Dr. Steve Havens.  Justin will play works by Bach, Beethoven, Liszt and Debussy and will perform on the newest instrument acquisition — our new 9-foot Steinway concert grand piano in Belushi Performance Hall.

JUSTIN GJATA

My name is Justin Gjata, I am 18 years old and currently in my first year here at College of DuPage. My family is from Albania and moved to the US prior to my being born. I speak the language fluently and enjoy the cuisine and culture. Since I can remember, I always loved listening to music, especially hearing my father play the accordion. I wanted to learn an instrument, thus my father enrolled me in piano lessons. I began piano at 5 years old and have been studying with my current private teacher, Victor Moreno, since March 2015. As I progressed, I took piano study more and more seriously, transforming from just a hobby to training for a career. Once I began lessons with Mr. Moreno, I knew that music was going to be the path I would follow. Throughout middle and high school, I also learned the violin in orchestra. Some of my performances and awards include 2 piano recitals in Honolulu, Hawaii, a performance in Andrews University’s concert hall, a performance of Ernest Bloch’s Concerto Grosso piano obbligato part with the Glenbard South orchestra my freshman year and winning the Glenbard South Senior Solo Competition with Mozart’s Piano Concerto No.26 in D Major (“Coronation”), K. 537. I currently study with Dr. Steve Havens at College of DuPage.

The COD music faculty created Music Fridays @Noon to showcase student, faculty, alumni and guest artists in a free, accessible daytime series of music performances and related events. The series is open to the entire COD community as a place where a broad spectrum of music is on display. Concerts are approximately one hour in length.

For Fall 2020 all concerts will be streamed virtually for free. Visit atthemac.org/music-fridays-noon for the links to each concert. For more information, contact Lee Kesselman at kesselma@cod.edu.