Vesa Basha was not a classically trained vocalist when she arrived at UNC Greensboro, but she’s graduating from the School of Music as a polished singer-songwriter with marketable skills for success in the music industry.
For Basha, an emotive artist with a warm smile and the voice of an angel, none of this would be possible without UNCG’s PopTech program and “God’s perfect timing.”
“This is where I would not just grow as a singer, but as a full artist,” she says about UNCG as she prepares to graduate with honors, earning her Bachelor of Music in Performance – Popular Music and Technology.
Basha’s Background
In 1998, Basha’s parents and older brother boarded a plane in war-torn Kosovo, bound for North America. They didn’t know exactly where they’d be relocated; the couple just knew they wanted better opportunities for their children. Settling in North Dakota, the Bashas built a life that soon also included a daughter with an extraordinary voice and a growing love for music.
When Basha was a teenager, the family moved to Charlotte, N.C., where she began to consider college and a career in the music business. She had little performance experience and had only taken a few voice lessons, but she loved collaborating with friends in choirs and making music videos with her cousins.
At the same time, the UNCG College of Visual and Performing Arts was developing a concentration in Popular Music and Technology (PopTech) for its music performance majors. PopTech was designed for musicians and vocalists who want to write, arrange, and produce music across diverse genres. The curriculum is broad — including creativity classes, technology courses, music theory, and subjects like media law — and it immediately drew musicians with interests ranging from songwriting and mixing to video game and movie scoring.
In 2022, Dr. Mark Engebretson welcomed more than 20 musicians into PopTech’s first cohort and began recruiting students for the 2023 school year. Basha was one of those students, winning over faculty with her raw talent and ambition.
“Dr. E’s encouragement meant so much to me,” Basha explains. “He knew that what I wanted in a college experience was exactly what UNCG was offering in this new program, and he saw my potential before I even started. I’m so grateful that I crossed paths with him.”
Keep it Poppin’
Basha thrived with the instruction and broad skills offered by the PopTech program.
“I wanted to learn everything — not just how to sing, but how to write, produce, collaborate, and understand music as a whole,” she says. “UNCG gave me that.”
Professor Janinah Burnett became her vocal coach. As the current leader of the program, Burnett brings a wealth of experience as an actor and vocalist who has performed in opera, theater, television, and film. She admires Basha’s work ethic and her willingness to learn all aspects of music production.
“PopTech gives students access to world-class artists who are working in today’s music industry and teaches them many facets of the music business beyond performance,” Burnett says. “Faculty encourage students to be versatile in the execution of their artistic practice and to embrace the fact that excellent work does not happen in a vacuum; collaboration is paramount.”
Basha counts collaboration with her fellow students among the biggest opportunities she discovered at the School of Music. She gained performance experience with ensemble vocal groups like 3-2-1; she brought her original music into the studio with musicians to develop arrangements and mixes; and she grew from critiques and ideas generated in PopTech studios and rehearsals.
“Learning how to be a listener and take other people’s input into consideration is huge. You’re learning from others as much as from faculty,” she says. “In this program, you’re collaborating with all kinds of musicians every week. I was in the practice rooms all the time — that’s where the work happens. The practice rooms in the School of Music are where I grew as an individual. That place has my heart.”
Authentically Vesa
She had become more confident in her performance skills when she took a video production class, which motivated her to create a music video for a song she wrote called “21.” The electronic dance single is a blend of English and Albanian lyrics that represents her journey of independence and growth. Connecting with professionals in Kosovo, she traveled there in 2024 to produce the video for “21”.
Basha is currently working on a new song called “Authentically,” which also has Albanian and English lyrics but more of an Afro House beat. “’Authentically’ promotes being yourself, loving yourself for who you are, and embracing who you are,” she says. “I’m just very excited to showcase it to the world and bring that positive message to people.”
Aside from the technical training she received in the PopTech program, Basha credits the University for giving her “the space to be authentic as an artist and a person.” Representing her culture and inspiring others is at the core of all her projects. It’s a nod to the sacrifices her parents made for her.
Before coming to the United States, her father was a dentist and her mother a psychologist. They had to start over, taking jobs in accounting and teaching. Now, Basha is committed to honor their sacrifices by succeeding in the music industry. “Because their degrees weren’t accepted here, they had to give up their passions for a better life for their children,” she explains. “This is part of my story.”
Burnett believes that Basha’s authenticity will be a guiding force in a competitive field: “The world needs our individual and creative voice! The truer we are to this fact, the more successful we will be overall,” she says. “In my studio, we do the work to find one’s authentic true voice. We get to know our bodies, our senses, our minds and hearts and practice using them all to interface with art making.”
A Voice with a Vision
It’s evident that Basha is a musician who cares more about inspiring others than garnering fame and fortune. Her Capstone project, “Vlera Bliss,” provides further evidence. It isn’t a vocal project nor a creative passion piece. Instead, she developed a business model for a teaching studio that provides voice lessons with a focus on student wellness and mental health through creative expression.
After establishing a career as a vocalist and performer, she wants to be an educator. “I want to teach people to accept their imperfections and love themselves for who they are,” she says. “When you’re an artist, you’re putting yourself out there and it’s very intimate. I want to teach performing artists to gain confidence within themselves.”
Whether writing and producing original music, performing on stage, or teaching others to express themselves through music, UNCG has prepared Basha to use her talents to uplift and serve others.
“Vesa is incredibly devoted to her artistic vision and deeply understands the hard work and business mindset that will serve her well in all of her endeavors after college,” says Billie Feather, Basha’s Capstone advisor. “She is an inspiration within the PopTech community, and I am so excited to see how she will inspire others with her art.”
As she prepares to cross the stage at commencement, Basha has nothing but gratitude for what she’s learned at UNCG. “When opportunities arise or doors open for me, I believe it is all part of God’s plan,” she says candidly. “When I’m riding my bike to the music building on a beautiful day, I realize how grateful I am. I know that God brought me to this school, because the experience has been so unexpected.”
Story by Becky Deakins, University Communications.
Photos by Sean Norona, University Communications.
Video by David Row, University Communications.
CELEBRATE OUR GRADS!
Graduates and their families are encouraged to share their accomplishments on social media by tagging the University accounts and using the hashtag #UNCGGrad. Visit UNCG’s digital swag page for Commencement-themed graphics and templates.
Mention @UNCG in celebratory posts on Instagram and X and @uncgreensboro on TikTok.
