Bio
VESNA DUO
Vesna [ˈvɛsna] / - a goddess associated with youth and springtime in early Slavic mythology
Vesna Piano/Percussion Duo devotes its passion to bringing new and reimagined works to life. Their performances span a fiery arrangement of The Rite of Spring, to re-envisioning pieces by Avishai Cohen, Arvo Pärt, J. S. Bach, and Astor Piazzolla. Their performance and album Vesna Duo Presents: The Rite of Spring (arranged for marimba and piano) garnered rave reviews at the Chamber Music America Conference, the Percussive Arts Society International Conference, as well as on their tour across New York, Pennsylvania, California, North Carolina, Texas, Alabama, Arkansas, and Indiana.
Tim Page (The Wall Street Journal) said of the album "As a fresh perspective on a masterpiece, the Vesna Duo’s performance is smashingly effective." Kira Grunenberg (Throw the Dice and Play Nice, NPR) described it as "A masterclass in performative focus, as well as an exquisite demonstration of musician chemistry to the most natural and audibly entrancing of results... Unto itself, Vesna Duo’s take on the Rite of Spring, is impressive, unexpected, whimsical, and beautifully captured."
Hailing from The Republic of Georgia and Serbia, Dr. Liana Pailodze Harron (piano) and Dr. Ksenija Komljenović (percussion), embrace their dynamic backgrounds while exploring a diverse blend of musical traditions, cultures, and styles. Between them, Dr. Harron and Dr. Komljenović share multiple international solo and chamber music awards.
LIANA PAILODZE HARRON
PIANO
Dr. Liana Pailodze Harron, blending her Georgian heritage with an American spirit, captivates audiences with daring performances that breathe life into contemporary classical music. Her artistry has graced esteemed venues across the United States and Europe, including iconic stages like Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the New World Center, and the United Nations.
Dedicated to pushing the boundaries of music, Liana thrives on diverse collaborations, fueled by her unending artistic curiosity. Whether as a soloist with orchestras like the Shilakadze Chamber Orchestra, the Georgian Television Orchestra, or the Frost Symphony Orchestra, she's continuously championed contemporary compositions. Collaborating recently with saxophonist Dr. Thomas A. Giles, she delved into the works of Györgi Ligeti and Olivier Messiaen, showcasing her versatile talent on their album 'Mysteries of the Macabre.'
An avid recording artist, Liana's repertoire spans from contemporary compositions by György Ligeti and Archil Giorgobiani to cherished classics by Hindemith and Respighi. Her versatility shines through modern works by John Adams and Ólafur Arnalds, which she skillfully arranged for piano and Loopstation. Her solo album, 'Light-Year,' is an emotive collection that weaves together intimate pieces from cinematic composers like Jóhann Jóhannsson, Max Richter, Philip Glass, Ólafur Arnalds, and Kris Lennox. And her latest album,’Kartli: Stories of Georgia,’ a collection of 20th-century Georgian classical music, was featured on Billboard Georgia.
Beyond her performances, Liana is a dedicated educator, imparting her musical wisdom through applied music lessons, group classes, and sought-after masterclasses and workshops at universities across the United States. Holding a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Piano Performance from the prestigious Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, she continues to inspire both audiences and aspiring musicians alike.
KSENIJA KOMLJENOVIĆ
PERCUSSION
Dr. Ksenija Komljenović (Belgrade, Serbia), a prizewinner of the International Percussion Competition Luxembourg, is a percussionist, educator, and composer. Ksenija's musical journey has taken her across continents, performing, teaching, and studying in Europe, the United States, and Asia. She holds the distinction of being the first woman from Serbia to earn a Doctor of Musical Arts in Percussion Degree.
In Fall 2023, Ksenija joined the esteemed faculty at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, following four years of teaching at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. In recent years, she has been recognized for her performances in Hong Kong, England, Spain, Portugal, Russia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Poland. As a performer and an educator, she has presented hundreds of concerts and conducted over 60 masterclasses, continuing her mission to mentor aspiring musicians worldwide.
In 2024, Ksenija celebrated her Carnegie Hall debut as well as the world premiere of Episodes for Marimba and Orchestra, written for her by Chris Boardman, an Academy Award nominee and six-time Emmy Award winner. Reflecting on her artistry, Boardman writes: "Intellectually brilliant, musically curious, intuitive, with the heart of an artist is how I would describe Dr. Komljenović. As with other supremely gifted people I have had the privilege to work with, she is humble, sensitive and consistently displays a compassionate graciousness towards everyone she meets…"
Beyond her musical endeavors, Ksenija has been a driving force behind pioneering cultural-exchange projects between the U.S. and Serbia. She facilitated the first drumline camp and contemporary percussion workshop in her home country, contributing to the advancement of percussion education. She has a history of dedicating her time to creating opportunities for others, whether it be through organizing festivals [SoundWaves Music Festival 2021 and 2022], competitions [TIERRAS South Texas Percussion Competition 2022, director], or co-producing a podcast [At Percussion Podcast 2019-2022].
As a composer, Ksenija strives to explore her Slavic and Balkan roots. Notably, her recent work Slavdom for Wind Band, commissioned by ten universities in the US, premiered in Arkansas in November 2022 and the recording was released on Tōnsehen label in October 2023. Her composition Epilog [Epilogue], a collaborative work with dancers, was featured in the ceremonial reopening of the annex of the Memorial Museum of Ivo Andrić (a Yugoslav Nobel Prize winner) in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Ksenija holds degrees from the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, Illinois State University (Ksenija was the recipient of 2023 Outstanding Young Alumni Award), and the Faculty of Music in Belgrade, Serbia. Her primary teachers include Svet Stoyanov, Matthew Strauss, Dr. David Collier, dr Srđan Palačković, and Miroslav Karlović. She is a Marimba One Artist.