Tish Daija

Tish Daija was an Albanian composer and footballer. He was born in Shkodër in a humble family. He started his musical education at the age of 10, joining the "Francescan Choir" and the "Antoniane" musical band. He composed his first songs with the accordion, such as "Çik, o mori çikë", "Ndal, bre vash", "Me lule të bukura", and "Bjeri Gajdes Gajdexhi". He graduated from high school in 1947 and then studied at the Moscow Conservatory, where he finished in 1956. He returned to Albania and worked at the Ministry of Education and Culture. He was also the artistic director of the Ensemble of Songs and Dances for 18 years (1962-1980). He composed many musical works, such as the operetta "Lejlaja", the opera "Pranvera", and the first Albanian ballet "Halili dhe Hajria". He also composed music for films, such as "Tingujt e luftës", "Kryengritje në pallat", "Komisari i Dritës", "Debatik", and "Fëmijët e saj". He was also a very good football player, playing for Flamurtari and becoming one of the top scorers of the Albanian Superliga in 1948. He taught composition at the State Conservatory of Tirana, where he trained many generations of composers, musicologists, and instrumentalists. He died in Tirana in 2003 at the age of 77. He was awarded the title of People's Artist of Albania and was a member of the Academy of Sciences of Albania.