Paolo Rrapaj-Kraja has been living in the Bay Area for the last four years, waiting for the day she could open a piano studio to the public.
And this Saturday, Rrapaj-Kraja will get to do just that—with the help of Mayor Rob Moore.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony will formally launch the European Piano Academy in Los Gatos, right above Trader Joe’s.
“We’re celebrating the opening of European Piano Academy in Los Gatos, and it would mean a lot to share this moment with the community around me,” Rrapaj-Kraja said in a Facebook post, adding she’ll be offering complimentary 30-minute piano or singing trial lessons until June 30. “I’d love to welcome you into our brand-new, cozy piano space and share the joy of music together.”
Rrapaj-Kraja has been building her studio for the last several months with the help of her husband.
She’s been eyeing this location since the summer of 2024.
Rrapaj-Kraja’s father was a professional musician. And her mother sang alongside her dad.
But her parents gave up their music dreams after the fall of the regime in Albania, so they could offer a more stable life for their kids.
Rrapaj-Kraja spent nine years at Charles University in Prague working towards two master’s degrees.
And Rrapaj-Kraja has been teaching at music schools and offering private lessons.
She can’t wait to open her own academy.
Albania births a musician
Rrapaj-Kraja’s father drove her to piano lessons each week. That was more than two-hours-drive away. He wanted her to get the best musical training they could find.
Recently, musicians of Albanian heritage have been making quite the splash.
Artists like Dua Lipa, Rita Ora and Bebe Rexha have been experiencing considerable commercial success.
Rrapaj-Kraja takes inspiration from these role models.
She says they’ve helped her manifest dreams for herself and other female Albanian artists.
Rrapaj-Kraja has performed across the world—both as a soloist and with renowned orchestras—in many countries, including Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
She says she focuses on “instilling a deep sense of confidence and passion for music” in her pupils.
“If you’ve been curious about learning piano or exploring your voice for yourself or your child, feel free to text me to book a trial lesson,” she said in the Facebook post about the business launch.
European Piano Academy will hold a Ribbon-Cutting on Saturday, April 4, from 1-3pm, at 15466 Los Gatos Blvd., #204, Los Gatos. The event will feature music from Paola Rrapaj-Kraja, Dr. Grijda Spiri (violin) and Dr. Carrie Tseng (violoncello).
