Jetmir Zaganjori was born in Shkoder in 1994. The beginnings of his musical life were at the piano, during the age of 6–17 years, at the artistic lyceum “Prenkë Jakova” in Shkoder. In 2012, he began his Bachelor’s Degree in Composition at the University of Arts in Tirana, under the direction of Professor Vasil S. Tole.

In 2015, Jetmir continued his studies for a Master’s Degree, again under the direction of Professor Vasil S. Tole, and graduated in 2018. During this period, he worked on several projects and participated in numerous competitions. In December 2018, he won the Special Prize for Young Composer in a competition organized by the Ministry of Culture in Tirana, with his ballet “Ballkan Express”, based on the libretto by Stefan Çapaliku.

Jetmir uses a distinctive compositional language, characterized by the combination of modal harmony and contemporary techniques, maintaining the authenticity of his country’s folk music while integrating it within a modern musical context.

His ballet “Ballkan Express”, based on the libretto from the book of the same title by Stefan Çapaliku, features a diverse range of harmonic and rhythmic textures.

In 2019, Jetmir attended the Irish Summer School, where he presented a trio for piano, clarinet, and soprano titled “Muji, Halili and Zana”. The libretto of this work is inspired by Albanian epic songs, particularly from the “Songs of the Frontier Warriors.”

In November 2019, he attended the Tirana Composition Academy, with workshops and lectures led by Thomas Simaku (University of York) and Jérôme Comte (Conservatoire de Paris, Ensemble Intercontemporain), who also performed Jetmir’s solo clarinet work “Agony.”

In June–July 2022, Jetmir represented Vox Baroque Albania as a resident composer at the Ljubljana Festival. In December 2022, he won a prize in the Çesk Zadeja Competition, hosted by the Ministry of Culture of Albania.

In January 2023, he won third prize in the International Composition Contest “Flute & Clarinet” by Diaphonia Edizioni. In March 2023, he was a finalist in the Balkan Composer Competition in Prishtina for Sextet. In May 2023, he placed third in the O/Modernt Composition Award for Piano Quartet, while also winning first prize in the George Stephănescu Composition Competition for Piano and Soprano.

In July 2023, he won the competition as representative composer of Albania in the Western Balkans Youth Orchestra (WBO) with his symphonic work “Albania Folk Dance.” In December 2023, Jetmir received a special prize for the 70th anniversary of the Albanian National Theatre of Opera and Ballet with his work “Pak Dritë.”

In 2024, he won second place in the competition to represent Albania again as a composer in the Western Balkans Youth Orchestra, with his work “Albania Goes Pop & Rock.”

In 2025, Jetmir was accepted into the PhD Program in Musicology at the University of Arts in Tirana, with a dissertation titled “Monograph: Zeqirja Ballata – Life and Musical Heritage. His Place in Contemporary Albanian Music,” focusing on the evolution and phenomena of Albanian music in the 20th and 21st centuries.

As of September 2025, Jetmir is a member of the academic staff at the “Jordan Misja” Artistic Lyceum in Tirana, where he teaches solfeggio and composition techniques. He previously served as an assistant lecturer in Harmony at the University of Arts in Tirana during 2020–2021, a position he resumed in 2024 and continues to hold.

Alongside his pedagogical work, Jetmir remains actively engaged as a composer and musicologist, regularly participating in festivals and academic conferences, and contributing to musicological writings that promote Albanian music and its cultural identity. Through his work, he seeks to bridge tradition and innovation, presenting Albanian musical heritage in a modern and internationally relevant context.