In a remarkable celebration of talent and dedication, several Albanian-American schools under the umbrella of “Alba Life” marked the 16th anniversary with their traditional year-end concert. The event took place in two locations, one in Staten Island and the other in the Bronx, showcasing the diverse and vibrant Albanian-American community.

The concert was a culmination of weeks of preparation by dedicated teachers and enthusiastic students. The schools, divided into groups due to the large number of attendees, presented a mesmerizing display of performances on stages in Staten Island and the Bronx, as well as online.

The atmosphere was charged with a sense of national pride as the concert opened with the Albanian and American national anthems, followed by the anthem of the Albanian-American schools, “Gjuha Shqipe Gjuha Jonë” (Albanian Language, Our Language).

Teachers, who had invested considerable time and effort into preparing the students, were honored with certificates of appreciation from distinguished guests, New York State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, and Attorney Michael E. Mcmahon, District Attorney Staten Island.

One teacher, Rozeta Hyseni from Brooklyn, expressed the sentiment of finding a “small Albania” in the heart of New York, highlighting the enduring spirit of the Albanian diaspora seeking a better life away from their homeland.

Parents, hand in hand with their children, gathered near the renowned public school Ps:9 to express gratitude to their teachers for the year-end festivities. Some students, like the talented Laura Leka, publicly expressed their appreciation for the educators.

The event was graced by the presence of two distinguished American personalities, Senator Jessica Scarcella, and Attorney Michael E. Mcmahon, who presented certificates of appreciation to all teachers in the respective areas.

Dr. Valbona Zylo Watkins, the director of the educational program for Alba Life, opened the program, introducing the Secretary of New York State Senator Jessica Scarcella. The Senator’s representative distributed certificates of appreciation to all teachers proposed by the Founder and Director of TV and Albanian Schools throughout New York and online, Mr. Qemal Zylo.

The concert featured performances by students from different age groups, presenting a variety of poems, songs, and cultural expressions. The program included traditional Albanian dances, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of the Tropoja region, and concluded with a collective rendition of “Këngën e Vitit të Ri” (The New Year’s Song).

The article ends by expressing gratitude to all the teachers for their professionalism, dedication, and patriotic commitment to the mission of teaching Albanian language and preserving the identity of the Albanian community in the United States. The festivities concluded with the cutting of a celebratory cake by the “Alba Life” family.

The entire event was captured by Mr. Ardit Boli, collaborator of the renowned “Alba Pro” company, with the footage set to be broadcast soon on channel 27, TV Alb, adding another chapter to the rich history of Albanian-American cultural celebrations./DIELLI