About Gjinovefa Sako
Available Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, & Saturday
Gjinovefa Sako is both a distinguished pianist and experienced piano teacher. She has over 30 years of experience as a piano instructor, working with diverse populations in a professional teaching environment. Displaying a genuine interest in music and teaching piano concepts to people of all ages including children and adults with a superior command of music, she designs lessons with logical sequential content that allows for individual learning styles. She teaches piano lessons to students beginning through advanced and encourages student independence and creativity, while modeling a positive self-concept, and attitude. Gjinovefa is able to communicate effectively and courteously in English, Albanian, and Italian, and instruct both individuals and Chamber Music Coaching and accompanying faculty, as well as students. She prepares for and assists students at 3 to 4 formal recitals per year.
Mrs. Sako graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts, Tirana, Albania with the highest honors. In recognition of her excellent academic achievements, she was selected to perform for her diploma work, the Tchaikovsky concert N.1 for piano and orchestra and the Feim Ibrahim concert N.2 for piano and orchestra accompanied by the Albanian Orchestra of National Radio Television. Following this performance, Gjinovefa Sako was hired as a soloist performer for the Albanian Orchestra of National Radio Television. Between 1983-1989, she performed in numerous concerts for piano and orchestra where she has performed music from an array of composers that include Tchaikovsky, Saint-Sans concert N.2, Liszt concert N.2, Symphony Variations for piano and orchestra by Cesar Franck and Albanian composers Zadeja, Ibrahimi, Lara and many more. Furthermore, Mrs. Sako has recorded and her performances have been broadcasted in National Television; concerts have included music from composers such as Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Liszt, Chopin and Rachmaninoff. She has also recorded soundtrack music for renowned Albanian Movies and was a performer in the National Symphony Orchestra at the National Music Festivals. Gjinovefa Sako was awarded First Prize at the National Piano Contest in Tirana, Albania.
Between 1989 and 1992, and 2000-2005, Mrs. Sako lived in Rome, Italy, following her husband who served in the Albanian Foreign Service as diplomat. During this time, she performed in numerous concerts in Rome, Italy at “Teatro Marcello,” “Salla Baldini,” “Palazzo della Cancelleria in Rome, “Teatro Flavio Vespasiano” in Rieti, Piacenza, Sengaia and many more across Italy. Furthermore, she has performed at the International Festivals “Valentino Bucchi” and “Anzio International Festival” in Italy. In 1992, Mrs. Sako was invited as a Jury Member for the International Contest entitled “Children and nature, Valentino Bucchi, for young pianists” in Rome, Italy. In 1995, sponsored by the “Tempus” program, she attended a specialization program at the Academy of Arts in Rome, Italy.
Between 1993 and 2000, Mrs. Sako was a professor of piano at the Academy of Fine Arts in Tirana, Albania. In 2003 and 2004, she performed twice at the “Palazzo Barberini” in Rome in honor of the Albanian President and Italian high officials. Additionally, between 2003 and 2005 she was a collaboratore esterno to accompany students of violin class of professor Caramonta in “Santa Cecilia” Conservatorio, Rome, Italy. Since 2005, Mrs. Sako has lived in Washington, D.C, working at Middle C Music as a piano instructor. She has performed during official events organized by the Albanian Embassy and Kosovo Embassy in Washington, D.C. and New York City.
A sampling of Gjinovefa Sako’s performances and work with orchestras, artists, and students around the world.
