For international student Sebastjan Cenaj, enrolling at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff seemed destined — the type of “full circle” moment that informs bestselling novels and award-winning movies.
It all began in 2018 in Albania, where Cenaj was born and raised, a country in southeast Europe in the Balkan Peninsula. Cenaj took a music class taught by a visiting professor, Gjergji Gaqi, UAPB’s professor of applied piano and class piano.
“I have different music friends in Europe … and I do master classes in Europe,” Gaqi said. “And I actually taught Sebastjan.”
Student and professor lost touch — until last year. And in early 2024, Cenaj was accepted as a student at the UAPB.
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“This has been my dream to study in the U.S., and that dream came true,” Cenaj said. “But I felt a lot of different emotions before coming to the USA because this is a totally new experience for me with new people, with a different culture, with a different system, with different schedules, and a lot of changes. I am thankful to Dr. Gaqi for everything he has done to help give me the opportunity to be at UAPB and be successful here.”
During his first spring break at UAPB, Cenaj played piano while touring with the world-renowned UAPB Vesper Choir.
“Playing for the Vesper Choir is my first experience working with a choir, which has been an extraordinary and exciting experience. I am excited to have so many opportunities to perform with different ensembles, particularly Vesper Choir and the Jazz Band, and want to thank our ensemble directors and music faculty for supporting me,” Cenaj said.
“He will be a good representative of the university in the community and nationally,” Gaqi said.
Cenaj has now completed his first semester at UAPB. While he’s still adjusting to life without his family close and English as a second language, he’s managing the extraordinary barriers by focusing on the advantages.
“Music is my biggest passion,” Cenaj emphasized, “and UAPB has made it easy for me to be very versatile in my musical activities which makes me happy.”
For information about UAPB’s Office of International Programs and Studies, contact Pamela Moore, associate dean for Global Engagement, at (870) 575-8545 or moorep@uapb.edu.
Sebastjan Cenaj plays piano for the UAPB Vesper Choir. (Special to The Commercial/University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff)