Rafaela Prifti/
Rozita Fishta, a Boston-based solo violinist, invites audiences to be part of her music that “carries emotion, gives hope, and embraces vulnerability by being genuine and real. I want them to feel seen, comforted, and also be inspired, as if the music is holding their hand for a moment reminding them that they are not alone, even in chaos.” But how does Rozita stay anchored in the face of her rising career? Is the memory of the little violin-playing girl from Albania with her on stage today? Her schedule this December was overloaded with solo performances at Christmas and end-of-the-year celebrations, corporate events, “a major performance at MGM, a venue that represents a milestone in my professional journey,” she says, and, last week, a high voltage collaboration with Mc Kresha, Albanian singer-songwriter. Having previously performed on sets with other influential artists like Alban Skenderaj, Ledri Vula, she values these moments “for their cultural connection, pride and shared identity through music.”
Family Heritage – The Tirana-born violinist got her classical music training from Preng Jakova school in her parents’ hometown of Shkodra. The first glance at her aunt’s piano ignited the spark of a lifelong exploration into music. Since her long fingers were deemed to be best suited for playing violin, by her teachers, Rozita immediately got “string- attached” since the age of 5. The classical music gave her a sense of being rooted in the family heritage and, in the teenage years, it provided consolation when her father, Tonin Fishta, passed away. “I grew up hearing stories from him about Gjergj Fishta – how he regularly visited our home and considered our family, that came from the same village, like his own. In our house, we still have the wooden chairs where he used to sit nearly 90 years ago. I believe the childhood stories have given me a deep sense of identity and, later, the artistic responsibility, as if music and poetry are in my blood. My father, who everybody called Ton, was my best friend. He taught me the meaning of strength, honesty, and sacrifice from a very young age. The memory I hold closest to my heart is the look in his eyes – filled with tears of pride – as he watched me perform at my High School graduation.”
Tirane – Rome – Boston – From a very young age, Rozita was an active performer traveling to different European cities. At the age of 18, she won a full scholarship to the Conservatory of Music Santa Cecilia in Rome, Italy, where she continued her studies in Violin Performance. After six years in Italy, she moved to Boston in 2013. Throughout her career, she has performed with prestigious orchestras. “In Rome, I performed with the Santa Cecilia Orchestra under the world-renowned conductor Antonio Pappano. In Boston, I played with the New England Philharmonic and the Kendall Square Orchestra, where I served as concertmaster from 2016-2020.”
Rozita Goes Electric – Determined to turn music into a career, Rozita’s next spark gained momentum when she stepped out as an electric violinist solo performer. “Although it is the same instrument, it is a whole different level of production,” notes Arens Leka, a well known violinist and music producer in Albania and New York City. The UK-based Bond Girls, the original and best-selling electric string quartet of all time, got Rozita “plugged in”. She says that “Unlike the orchestra’s first violinist, which embraces a powerful sense of unity, a solo performer is an experience much more personal and vulnerable. This is a much greater responsibility and simultaneously a more intimate dialogue. I deeply value both experiences, yet I feel that I truly find myself, my voice and my soul, when I perform as a soloist.”
Radio Maria Anthem & the forging of her Artistry- Joining the Boston music landscape and standing out while refining your signature style are daunting tasks for any artist. Rozita is driven by her artistic independence and individuality as she brings her art to the public. It is a challenging path in terms of financing, recording, networking, branding, marketing. But these trials have only hardened her resolve. Currently, she is pursuing a degree in Independent Recording and Production at Berklee College of Music in Boston. Recalling that her flair for artistic independence traces back to when she was 18 in Albania, Rozita shares how she was invited to compose a song for Radio Maria, a Catholic Radio Station in Shkodër, Albania. “I wrote the music, played the violin, and recorded my own voice. The song eventually became the anthem of the radio station. When I turned on the radio and heard my own song playing, it is a feeling that is still with me to this day. It was my first real sense that my music had a life beyond me. I was paid $100 at the time, which was my first and biggest payment for my music, and it meant everything to me.”
Well Reviewed and Recognized – Rozita Fishta has received honors and recognitions as a solo artist and in her ongoing academic studies, as well as featured in a few magazines. She has performed in prestigious venues such as the Wang Theater and Agganis Arena, has shared the stage with celebrated artists including Ledisi, Q-Tip, Gilberto Santa Rosa, and was invited to perform as a guest of honor at the Annual Dinner Party at the Edward Kennedy Center, a deeply meaningful moment for her as a musician. She wishes to write various genres of music from classic to pop to electronic. “My goal for the future is an album that blends these three in one.” One of the favorites in her repertoire right now is Rosalia’s new album LUZ. “The way she blends genres is incredibly inspiring and has begun to influence the sound and vision of my own upcoming album.”
Recognition that Matters Most – “The confirmation of my artistry is important to me, but the greatest joy doesn’t come from the recognition itself. It comes from seeing the pride in my son’s and my nephews’ eyes. Knowing that they feel proud of me, as an artist and as a person, is the most beautiful reward of all,” says Rozita.
Refining her Signature Style as a Performer – Coming into her own as a performer involves staying incredibly disciplined and devoted to her career path. On stage she blends her music styles including pop, rock, EDM, jazz, hip hop, blues, dance, Latin American music etc. But off the set Rozita likes to write poems, paint and sing opera. As a solo electric violin performer, skills and stage presence are crucially important. In addition, there is significant physicality and technical know-how such as electronic output of the sound, speakers, and then, hair, makeup and wardrobe – in short, a lot goes into the show well before the first bow ever hits the strings. Seeing her perform last August and then in October 2025 at the AFC fundraisers in Boston, https://albaniansfightingcancer.org/ Rozita made all of it look easy. She fused classical training with high energy contemporary music and, then, wowed the crowd with her interpretation of Albanian ballads and traditional songs. Regardless of the genre she performs, the music conversations in “each event brings a different energy, yet the same responsibility: to show up fully, musically and emotionally for every audience,” she says.
Words to Live by – “Five-year-old me picked up the violin and practiced for hours driven purely by love and curiosity. More than three decades later, when I feel overwhelmed and demotivated, that little girl serves as a reminder to not lose sight of my goal, to keep moving forward with integrity, resilience and inspiration.” Rozita Fishta’s electric path reflects both her past and her strings-attached future! https://www.instagram.com/rozita_violin/
