My father’s keyboards were at home, and I could not separate myself from them. It was like an important childhood game for me, which later grew into my personal and intimate space, says our prominent pianist Dino Imeri about the love he had for his instrument.

Growing up in a musical family and at a time when, according to him, people were thirsty for new things, for art, Dino has been hanging out with the black and white keys since he was a child, and his love for the instrument, but also perseverance and work ethic raised him to be one of the best Macedonian and world pianists.

– Growing up in the early 90’s was very exciting for me. It seemed that music was playing whenever you turned, people were thirsty for new things, for art. Technology was expanding – advanced enough to be useful and underdeveloped enough not to harm the spirit. I, as a very curious child, was no exception. Growing up in such an atmosphere, I quickly absorbed it all – adds Dino.

Dino Imeri acquired his education working with professors Ludmila Romanova in high school, Professor Boris Romanov, in whose class he graduated from the Faculty of Music in Skopje with cum laude – honors, as well as with prof. Simon Trpceski, in whose class he received his master’s degree at the age of 22 with an average of 10. He has had many concerts around the world, as a soloist and with a number of famous symphony orchestras.

In the section “When I was a student”, which we create in cooperation with “Fakulteti.mk”, we returned to the faculty lectures, socializing, challenges.

Professor Romanova welcomed me with the words: “You have to work hard.”

In parallel with the primary school, Imeri studied music as a regular student in the elementary department of the MBUC “Ilija Nikolovski-Luj”. Although he was always a great student, that was secondary to Dino, who says: “I studied to learn, not to prove myself.”. A turning point in his life is the enrollment in high school, in the class of Professor Lyudmila Romanova, a professor who mentored a number of top pianists.

– My greatest interest at that time were the subjects in the field of humanities. I studied at the elementary school “Blaze Koneski” in Skopje. At the same time, I was a regular student in the elementary department of the MBUC “Ilija Nikolovski-Luj”, where I studied music. Although I was a responsible and fulfilling student, with an excellent average, I wasn’t quite ambitious in terms of showing my success. The greatest gift of that time for me was music, sports and friendship with my best friend from the class – Darko Ilievski, with whom I still share dear moments.

– I continued my education in the music high school “Ilija Nikolovski-Luj” in one of the most prestigious classes, that of prof. Lyudmila Romanova, a Russian pedagogue, who took out some of the most important pianists in our country. It was very difficult to get into this class! First I auditioned, personally with prof. Romanova, who decided to welcome me with the words: “But you should know … you have to work HARD. Do you understand?” My affirmative answer was followed by an entrance exam at school, which I passed. I entered high school with many dreams and an open notebook in which I was ready to write as much as I could.

During breaks between classes, he practiced the piano

He spent his high school days “glued” to the piano, even in those moments when there were too many other classes on the timetable. Dino knew how to use the breaks between classes to practice his instrument. It was just a confirmation of his determination and quality, which enabled him to finish high school music as an advanced student in 3 years.

– As a high school student, I devoted every possible minute to practicing the piano. Those days when we had a lot of classes at school, I often did not even use the breaks at all, and my friends knew where to find me – in the practicing cabinets. My promise was not only to prof. Romanova but to myself as well. She brought out the best of me, opened a whole new world for me and was incredibly committed to our work together. It instilled in me an incredible work ethic and discipline, a sense of constant search for better, truer, higher quality, more essential. Simply put, she taught me to start each day from scratch – to always be a student in the school of life. That was and remains my biggest ambition. It is reflected in everything that I do now, and I can say with confidence that in the pedagogical work I feel like a student who constantly learns from his students, while transferring his own knowledge and experiences.

In college – obsessed with the subject Philosophy

Professor Romanova left Dino Imeri in good hands during his studies at the Faculty of Music in Skopje, ie in the class of her husband, prof. Boris Romanov. It is interesting that of all the subjects at the faculty, Dino became most obsessed with Philosophy, being in constant need to learn more from the lectures of Professor Denko Skalovski.

– After I graduated in the class of prof. Romanova, I enrolled at the Faculty of Music in Skopje, in the class of her husband – prof. Boris Romanov, who is another great pedagogue responsible for the success of many important names. After graduating with honors cum laude, I continued my master studies in the program for Music Interpretation and Composition at FMU, which I completed under the mentorship of our renowned pianist – prof. Simon Trpceski.

– In the first year, my favorite subject was Philosophy, and it was taught by prof. Denko Skalovski. I listened to his lectures with great concentration, they were never enough for me and we often continued the discussions after the lectures. I was fascinated by his knowledge, but also his immediacy, warmth, respect for young people. Towards the end of my studies I had the incredible privilege of playing under the conducting class of prof. Sasha Nikolovski-Gjumar. He shone with a similar immediacy and immense love for young people. He had an incredible passion for music, and I remember his lectures on Conducting as if they are before my eyes today. From those professors who have played a significant role in my life, I have learned that, above all, you need to be human.

In some cases, he received help from Diana, his current wife

Everyday work, not the rushed one before exams, are the recipe that Dino was undertaking in preparing his exam material. Proudly points out that his wife, and then a colleague at the university, Diana Imeri-Ilkoska, as an extremely successful student with three degrees, knew how to help him with certain subjects with which he had difficulties.

– We were full of hope and joy. It is often really hard for me to see young people who have not seen anything yet and have already lost hope and joy. What I have discovered over time is that with daily more relaxed work I have achieved more than with campaign pre-examination kind of hard work. I prepared for the exams throughout the semester, very gradually and without stress. Of course, I had a lot of problems with many subjects! Fortunately for me, I had the huge support of my wife Diana Imeri-Ilkoska, who was completing her Orchestral Conducting course. Even then she had a very wide knowledge, so she often knew how to help me deal with those problems.

– Our regular dates were the visits to the concerts of the Philharmonic Orchestra in the Army Hall. After the concerts, we used to go out in one of our favorite bars or in the parks. We had very modest needs, often our friendships did not involve any financial expenses. Being in each other’s company, somehow seemed to be more important. I probably want to convey that no time has been better or worse than now. Each time brings with it its own difficulty. First of all, I want to wish good health to everyone. Everything in this world is transient, and so is this severe pandemic, which will not last forever! Be patient, meanwhile, do not let apathy overwhelm you. This is your time, use it.