# Ardit Gjebrea

Ardit Gjebrea (born 7 June 1963) is an Albanian television presenter, singer-songwriter and producer.

## Life and career

Gjebrea began singing at the age of five in Albanian children festivals, he was awarded prizes at local competitions for interpreting songs by Avni Mula such as "I ëmbël zëri i gjyshës" and "Kur kendoj per ty moj nënë" in the 1970s.
His first composition "E Shtrenjta Toka Ime" was interpreted by Liljana Kondakçi and the text was written by Radio Television Albania editor Zhuljana Jorganxhiu during the Spring Festival of 1987, although no surviving copy of the recording is publicly available according to researcher Nicolas Tochka.
On 17 December 1991, he made a breakthrough in his career, winning the Festivali i Këngës në RTSH prize with the song "Jon". In 1995, he won the same prize with his song "Eja".
Gjebrea has released three albums throughout his career, beginning with the eponymous "Ardit Gjebrea" in 1992. In 1997, he released "Projekt Jon", a best-selling album in Albania. "Projekt Jon" showcased Gjebrea's artistic range as he merged influences of Albanian traditional music, Balkanic and Mediterranean sounds and instruments, as well as recent trends in international music. In 2004 he released "Ja ku jam".
Gjebrea has held some 250 concerts in Albania, as well as performances in the US, Canada, Germany, United Kingdom, Greece, Romania, Turkey, Italy, Belgium and China.
His daughter, Anna Gjebrea, represented Albania in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2021.

### Career as a presenter and producer

Throughout his career, Gjebrea has presented and produced several TV shows including TeleBingo, several editions of the annual Miss & Mister Albania, Dua më shumë Shqipërinë, Rokoloko, and Krishtlindje në Tiranë.
In 1996, Gjebrea was host of the Miss Europe Contest, held that year in Albania. In 2007, he hosted the 19th edition of the 'Miss Model of the World' contest held in China.

### Kënga Magjike

Every year, in a process starting in June and ending in November, Gjebrea, through his production house JonMusic and in cooperation with KLAN Television produces and finalizes Kënga Magjike, a festival of the contemporary music for artists from Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Montenegro. The first Kenga Magjike was held in 1999, and the last edition took place in November 2016. Kenga Magjike is broadcast live in Albania by Klan TV, Ora News and STV, in Kosovo by RTV21, in Macedonia by Alsat and across the Balkans by the Bulgarian network Ballkanika Music Television.

### E Diela Shqiptare

Since 2008, Gjebrea is the producer and host of E Diela Shqiptare (Albanian Sunday), a Sunday afternoon show. E Diela Shqiptare includes debates, ballet, live music, performances, guests, sport results, and games.

## Awards and nominations

Festivali i Këngës
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| 1991 | "Jon" | First place | Won |
| 1995 | "Eja" | First place | Won |
| 2000 | "Ante i tokes sime" | First place/As Producer | Won |
| 2009 | "Nuk mundem pa ty" | First place/As Producer and writer | Won |
Kult Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| 2005 | "Ja ku jam" | Album of the Year | Won |
Videofest
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| 2004 | "Ja ku jam" | Best Male Video | Won |
| 2004 | "Ja ku jam" | The Most Popular Video | Won |
Zhurma Show Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| 2004 | "Ja ku jam" | Best Song | Won |
| 2004 | "Ja ku jam" | Best Album | Won |