A Night at the Opera

Drita e Zërit – Light of the Voice

On Saturday evening, the UKAP Foundation hosted A Night at the Opera (Drita e Zërit – Light of the Voice) at the Duke’s Hall, Royal Academy of Music. Set within one of London’s most distinguished concert venues, the evening welcomed more than 300 attendees for a powerful celebration of music, culture and community.

The concert featured the internationally acclaimed soprano Ermonela Jaho, whose artistry has graced the world’s leading opera houses. Her performance was marked by exceptional emotional depth and sincerity, resonating strongly with the audience and reflecting a profound connection to her heritage. Despite a career defined by global recognition, Ermonela continues to give back with humility and generosity – qualities that shaped the spirit of the evening and elevated it beyond a traditional concert experience.

She was joined by Pantesilena Jaho on piano, whose outstanding musicianship brought clarity, intimacy and balance to the programme. Together, they created a musical dialogue of rare sensitivity, transforming the Duke’s Hall into a space of shared reflection and emotional resonance.

At its heart, A Night at the Opera reflected the core mission of the UKAP Foundation: to strengthen the Albanian community in the United Kingdom and to create meaningful opportunities for young people to progress. The evening was not only a cultural celebration, but also a moment of tangible impact:

• More than 80 tickets were offered free of charge to students, young professionals and individuals currently unemployed
• Proceeds from this event, together with those from the Foundation’s recent Gala, contributed to a growing scholarship fund totalling £20,000, supporting access to education

The event was further enriched by the presence of organisations working in and alongside the Albanian community in the UK, reflecting the breadth and strength of collective effort dedicated to community development, wellbeing and opportunity.

More than a performance, the evening stood as a reminder of what can be achieved when artistic excellence is guided by shared values and purpose. It offered a moment to pause, to listen, and to recognise the power of culture in bringing people together across generations and experiences.

Mbrëmja e së shtunës ishte më shumë sesa një koncert; ajo përfaqësoi një kremtim të kulturës, bujarisë dhe komunitetit. Saturday evening was more than a concert, it was a celebration of culture, generosity and community. We are deeply proud of what we are building together.

Those wishing to support this work and help expand future opportunities may do so via the following link below. 

The UKAP Foundation extends its sincere appreciation to all those who contributed to the success of the evening. We are grateful to our volunteers, now more than 42 strong, whose commitment, professionalism and belief in UKAP’s mission continue to shape our impact. Our thanks also go to our Leads, and to those who supported UKAP from its earliest days, long before events of this scale felt imaginable.

We acknowledge with gratitude the guidance and oversight of our trustees—Driton Bilali, Ella Gude, Gentjan Kapllani, Kreshnik Çela and Lea Ypi.

Special thanks are extended to the event team, led by Esmerjan Licaj, as well as to Julian Bektashi for photography and to the creative contributors working behind the scenes to ensure the successful delivery of the evening.