The fact that a collection of Albanian and Balkan folk songs is now being performed by Belgian orchestras is thanks to Gjovalin Nonaj, an Albanian master accordionist who has been living in Belgium for the last 15 years.

Nonaj performs a diverse mixture of music styles, influenced heavily by music from Albania and the Balkans.

Having grown up in a large Northern Albanian family where music was a part of daily life, Nonaj’s first lessons in folk music came from his 101 year old uncle, Gjok. He first held the çifteli (two-stringed lute) in his hands aged just five, and went on to learn the clarinet, horn and accordion. He formed a folk ensemble with other artists based in Belgium, and took part in the Balkan Trafik Festival, directing an ensemble of master accordionists from the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Romania, Albania and Kosovo*, as well as Belgium.

In an interview with “Southeast Europe: People and Culture,” Nonaj talked about his ambitions and artistic life in Belgium.

What is the last event in which you participated?

It was a festival for selected groups from around the world who specialized in various styles of music, and was supported by the European Commission. I played as part of a quartet representing the Balkans. We played Albanian and Balkan melodies which are known for their quick and festive rhythms. I am happy because we were well received by the public.

How did you start your career as accordionist?

I come from a family with folkloric traditions. My uncle, Gjok Nonaj, 101 years old, won many prizes for his playing of the lute and first introduced me to the Albania’s folk music traditions. We are a musical family: even my father, brothers and sister have the gift of singing and play folk instruments. At the age of five, I performed on the stage for the first time on the çifteli (traditional two- stringed lute.)

I studied horn at the music school of Lezha for eight years, and went on to study the accordion at the secondary school of music “Preng Jakova” in Shkodra, the city where I studied accordion. I graduated from Tirana’s academy of fine arts in 1996, and I participated in festivals across Europe. In 1997 I decided to try my luck in Belgium.

What pieces do you play and how did you manage to spread Albanian songs in Belgium?

Thanks to the school and the best Albanian professors, I got a good education. Integrating myself into Belgian culture was not easy. I encountered some problems, but I managed to meet and to work with music groups from Belgium and from around the world. Over 200 different nationalities live in Belgium. Initially I started working with small groups such as duets, trios and quartets. I played Albanian songs and melodies which were well received by the Belgians. I perform a mix of musical styles, but what is most popular is the Albanian and Balkan music.

What have been the highlights of your career so far?

One would be when I obtained the 1st prize of the Royal Conservatory of Brussels in 2003. Another would be in 2004, when I was chosen alongside the “Lule Borë” (Snow Flower) quartet as one of the best five groups of the year by the Belgian state-owned Radio-Television. More recently, in 2008, I was appointed artistic leader of the huge project Tirana-Brussels involving 40 Albanian and Belgian musicians. We held a concert at the prestigious Centre for Fine Arts as part of the Balkan Trafik festival. Held once a year in Brussels, this is an important festival which brings together major music names from across the Balkans.