About Our Team
The President and Artistic Director of the academy
- Giuseppe Devastato
Giuseppe Devastato born in Naples, is a pianist and composer recognized by international critics as one of the most exciting pianists of his generation, completed his studies in Italy under Prof. Carlo Alessandro Lapegna (Piano) and Prof. Giacomo Vitale (Composition), his art has been crafted by renowned pianists such as Laura De Fusco, Francesco Nicolosi and Aldo Ciccolini.
He has worked in the most important theaters in Europe America and Asia, such as the Manoel Theatre (Malta), Sala Villanueva (Mexico), León Auditorium (Spain), Auditorium Parco della Musica (Rome), Ravello Festival (Italy), Carnegie Hall of New York (USA), Ateneum Bucharest, National Philharmonic of Timisoara (Romania) National Auditorium of Kiev (Ukraine), National Philharmonic of Szczecin, Tarnow, Krakow and Bydgoszczy (Poland), Wuxi Gran Theater, Beijing Performing Art Center, Shanghai Symphony Hall (China), Scriabin Museum Big Concert Hall (Russia), National Auditorium of Tokyo.
Our Academy
The International Piano Balkan Thalberg Academy is a cultural and educational platform founded in 2024 with a clear mission: to support, inspire, and promote the next generation of classical pianists across the Balkans and Europe.
Rooted in the rich musical heritage of the region and based in Kosovo, our academy is dedicated to providing young talents with high-level artistic education, performance opportunities, and career guidance. Through annual masterclasses, concerts, and cultural events—especially throughout Kosovo and the wider Balkan area—we aim to create a vibrant artistic community where young pianists can grow, connect, and be heard.
We believe in nurturing talent with dedication, excellence, and international collaboration. Our vision is to open doors for emerging pianists and guide them toward successful, meaningful musical careers.
Biography - Melisa Ibrahimi
Melisa Ibrahimi is a concert pianist from Kosovo. She was born in Mitrovica, Kosovo on May 9, where she also received her early piano education through to secondary level. She completed both her Bachelor’s and Master’s and actually is studying Specialization in the “Virtuoso Diploma” at the “University of Music – Musical Arts Madrid” in Spain in class of professor Giuseppe Devastato. She has performed concerts in many countries including Italy, Hungary, Spain, Croatia, Austria, Germany, Albania, Sweden, Kosovo, and her interpretation has been highly praised. She is the winner of over 30 international piano competitions. Among these, she stands out for winning First Prize four times consecutively in Russia and St.Petersburg international piano competitions. She won prizes to perfom in the most prestigious venues of classical music such as: “Royal Albert Hall London”, “Beethoven Haus Bonn”, “Mozarthaus Vienna”, “Brahms Hall Vienna”, “Joseph Joachim Hall Berlin” etc.
In 2021, she was invited to play in the Moscow Conservatory. In 2023 she was invited to perform in Bösendorfer series in Mozarthaus Vienna. November 2022, she was accepted to be part in masterclass at the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music, Budapest, where she also performed concert!
Melisa Ibrahimi
Concert Pianist - Founder
“MELISA IBRAHIMI: AN EXPLOSION OF TALENT AT THE THEATRO MARCELLO”