Our Mission

In the Rame Lahaj International Opera Festival we strive to bring the beauty and power of opera to the people of Kosovo. Founded in the summer of 2021, amidst the challenges of the pandemic, our festival is dedicated to promoting several sustainable development goals, cultural exchange and diversity. As the most recent independent state in Southeast Europe, Kosovo is still in the process of integrating into the European community. The Kosovar people are eager to gain knowledge and to be involved in the transmission of European culture.

We aim to introduce classical music to the Kosovar audience, as it has been largely overshadowed by popular genres such as pop, dance and rock music in the post-war era. This festival provides an opportunity for the audience to experience something that has not been widely available to them before.

This initiative is not only important for the cultural enrichment of the community, but also for the empowerment and education of the population. Understanding and appreciating classical music can enhance one’s understanding of European language and history, and can also serve as a form of cultural preservation.

Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

The RLIOF Festival is a platform for promoting healthy lives and well-being for all ages. The festival’s program is designed to reach a diverse, multi-aged audience with live opera performances and to provide ad-hoc and continuous learning opportunities through masterclasses for students.

The team behind the festival is dedicated to ensuring that everyone has access to the benefits of opera, including its potential for promoting physical and mental well-being. Research has shown that listening to music, especially classical music, can have positive effects on mental health, including reducing stress and anxiety, and promoting relaxation and sleep. Additionally, live performances have been found to have a therapeutic effect on individuals, and can be beneficial for people of all ages, including the elderly.  incl war generation

The festival organizers also keep in mind the importance of accessibility and inclusivity in ensuring healthy lives and well-being for all. The festival is committed to making its program accessible to people with disabilities, and to ensuring that the performances are inclusive and welcoming to people of all backgrounds and ages.

Additionally, the festival’s unique choice of hosting an open-air opera festival in the heart of the capital, Pristina, was made as Kosovo currently does not have an opera house and it allows more people to attend and enjoy the performances. This also aligns with the goal of promoting environmental sustainability, by encouraging people to spend time outdoors.

Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

The RLIOF Festival is committed to providing inclusive and equitable quality education for all. We believe that education is a fundamental human right and is essential for the development of individuals and communities.

One of the ways we strive to achieve this goal is by providing masterclasses for students who may not have access to this type of education in Kosovo. The masterclasses we offer are led by renowned opera professionals, who share their knowledge and experience with the students. These classes provide students with the opportunity to learn from some of the best in the field and to improve their skills in a hands-on environment. We understand that access to quality education can be limited in Kosovo, and we are committed to providing opportunities for lifelong learning to all, regardless of their background or circumstances.

The masterclasses we offer are open to all students who are interested in opera, and we strive to make them accessible to as many people as possible. By providing these masterclasses, we aim to promote the development of the next generation of opera professionals, and to contribute to the cultural enrichment of Kosovo. We believe that education is a powerful tool for personal and societal development, and we are dedicated to ensuring that everyone has access to the opportunities they need to succeed. We are proud to be able to offer these masterclasses and we invite you to join us in our mission to promote inclusive and equitable quality education for all.

Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

The RLIOF Festival places a strong emphasis on gender equality, as it is a core value for us. Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but it is also essential for a fair and just society. However, the opera industry has historically been male-dominated and representation of women in the field is still low. We aim to promote gender equality by involving more women in the opera industry, both as performers and as participants in our educational programs.

We understand that representation of women in the opera industry is still low and we are taking active steps to change this. We are committed to ensuring that both artists and students are represented equally, both in the classroom and on stage. This aligns with the fifth goal of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 5) which is to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

We believe that it is essential to promote gender equality in the opera industry, and we are proud to be part of the movement towards a more inclusive and equitable future for opera. We invite you to join us in this effort and to help us in promoting gender equality in the opera world.

Make a donation

EVERY CONTRIBUTION MATTERS

Every contribution counts and helps the Foundation's mission to make a positive impact on the Kosovar opera scene, the promotion of local artists and students.

BANK ACCOUNT DETAILS

Rame Lahaj Foundation
Address: Agim Ramadani, Prishtine

Raiffeisen Bank Kosovo
IBAN: XK05 1501200000277924
Swift code: RBKOXKPRXXX

THANK YOU Let's INVEST IN THE FUTURE!

MAKE A DONATION

EVERY CONTRIBUTION
MATTERS

Every contribution counts and helps the Foundation’s mission to make a positive impact on the Kosovar opera scene, the promotion of local artists and students.

BANK ACCOUNT DETAILS

Rame Lahaj Foundation

Address: Agim Ramadani, Prishtine

Raiffeisen Bank Kosovo
IBAN: XK05 1501200000277924
Swift code: RBKOXKPRXXX

THANK YOU
Let’s INVEST IN THE FUTURE!