Born of Italian and Albanian descent, I am a first-generation American who grew up in New York City in the 1950s and ’60s. At home, we spoke Albrescht, a rare fusion of Italian and Albanian, a dialect as blended as my heritage. My father worked as a tailor, and both my parents labored tirelessly to provide a stable home, an education, and a deep appreciation for our culture. Their love of art and music shaped me profoundly, laying the foundation for my career as a musician, published composer, conductor, and artist.
Yet, my path was not always clear. As a child of immigrants, I wrestled with the weight of a heritage that felt distant and antiquated, while the pulse of the city offered an identity that seemed more immediate, more alive. Drawn to the streets, I distanced myself from the traditions of my parents, believing, for a time, that they had little to offer my future. Like many of my generation, I navigated moments of uncertainty, rebellion, and risk, caught between the chaos and exhilaration of an era defined by change.
"Art bridges where we come from and where we are going."
EAZ
It was only later that I came to understand the depth of my roots and the richness of the traditions I once resisted. My work—both in music and art—now seeks to honor that journey. I create as a way to bridge past and present, to weave together tradition and innovation, and to express the interplay between personal identity and universal experience. Much like the language I grew up speaking, my creative journey is a fusion of influences, shaped by the contrasting forces of heritage and modernity.
I hold a Master’s in Music Composition from Mills College in Oakland, California, but my path as a visual artist followed a different course. Without formal training, I began painting in my early forties while balancing a career in music and raising a family. What started as an exploration became a passion, and today I devote myself fully to creating and selling art. My work can be found in public and private collections and galleries, a testament to the lifelong process of discovery, reinvention, and storytelling through art.
