Merita Halili & Raif Hyseni

“She raised her radiant soprano in buoyant wedding songs, punctuated by speed-demon accordion from her husband and bandleader, Raif Hyseni.”
—The New York Times, 2002

Described by the New York Times, as an Albanian folk music, star singer, Merita Halili and her husband, bandleader, Raif Hyseni, a speed-demon accordion player, are the Ambassador’s of the Albanian music and culture in the United States. Among performances in reputable concert halls such as Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, Metropolitan Museum of Art and others, Merita and Raif always find time to donate their talent to the many community activities and events. They have taught over thousands and thousands American musicians and others, worldwide. Their Cd-s are sold more than half a million copies in the United States and Europe. Raif has founded the “Albanian American Ensemble” to help promote the diversity and rich Albanian folklore and culture.