UNCSA Media to release Vesna Duo's 'Poptimism'
UNCSA Media will release “Poptimism,” a new album by Vesna Duo that reimagines pop, rock, and indie favorites for piano
and percussion, on March 1, 2026.
Conceived as a mixtape of music that has lived in their headphones for several decades, “Poptimism” reflects the shared listening history of Vesna Duo members Liana Pailodze Harron (piano) and UNCSA School of Music faculty member Ksenija Komljenović (percussion). The EP features inventive reinterpretations of songs by Sting, Hozier, Soundgarden, Beyoncé, Dean Lewis and Rihanna — familiar repertoire reframed through a vivid acoustic lens. The release will be available on all major streaming platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music.
Vesna Duo / Photo: UNCSA
"We could talk for ages about these. From feeling pumped, to invincible, to exploring loneliness and heartbreak, these songs have been a soundtrack of our lives for the past 3 decades,” said Komljenović.
“We’ve danced to these songs, cried to them, worked out and headbanged to them — and even found comfort in hospital rooms."
Arranged by Miloš Branisavljević, the works on “Poptimism” are not replicas of the originals, but creative reconstructions shaped specifically for piano and percussion. Across the EP, listeners encounter a wide palette of colors and techniques, from blanketed vibraphone and prepared piano to the use of extended textures. The writing moves fluidly between intimacy and concerto-scale energy, inviting audiences to hear familiar music in entirely new ways.
“Poptimism” Track List
- Diamonds – Rihanna
- With You – Dean Lewis
- Shape of My Heart – Sting
- Take Me to Church – Hozier
- Black Hole Sun – Soundgarden
- Run the World (Girls) – Beyoncé
Vesna Duo will perform a program of works from “Poptimism” on Sunday, March 1 at 7:30 p.m. at Watson Hall on the campus of UNCSA. The concert will also be livestreamed for free. Visit uncsa.edu/performances for tickets and information.
About Vesna Duo
Vesna Duo devotes its passion to bringing new and reimagined works to life. Their performances span a fiery arrangement of Stravinsky’s “The Rite of Spring” to re-envisioned works by Avishai Cohen, Arvo Pärt, J.S. Bach and Astor Piazzolla.
Their album “Vesna Duo Presents: The Rite of Spring” (arranged for marimba and piano) garnered rave reviews for its bold and imaginative reworking of Stravinsky’s landmark score. The Wall Street Journal praised the recording as “a fresh perspective on a masterpiece … smashingly effective,” while NPR described it as “a master class in performative focus, as well as an exquisite demonstration of musician chemistry … impressive, unexpected, whimsical, and beautifully captured.”
Hailing from the Republic of Georgia and Serbia, respectively Liana Pailodze Harron,
D.M.A. (piano) and Ksenija Komljenović, D.M.A. (percussion) embrace their dynamic
backgrounds while exploring a wide range of musical traditions, cultures, and styles.
Between them, they share multiple international solo and chamber music awards.
About Miloš Branisavljević
Miloš Branisavljević is a percussionist, vibraphonist, composer and arranger, and a full-scholarship graduate of Berklee College of Music, where he received the “Most Active Drummer” award. He has collaborated with artists including Phil Wilson, performed in projects such as the Zildjian Mega Drum Project and with Dream Theater at the Boston Opera House. He has worked across the U.S. and Europe as a performer, arranger, conductor, and Head of Percussion for the United Nations Orchestra. Miloš's recordings include work with the Phil Wilson Rainbow Big Band and the Greg Hopkins Concert Jazz Orchestra. He is the founder of the Miloš Branisavljević Quartet and co-founder of the New York-based band V3. Miloš performs regularly with leading Serbian classical institutions, including the Belgrade Philharmonic and National Theatre Opera.
About UNCSA Media
UNCSA Media is a mission-driven media publishing arm that features the creative projects of faculty
and alumni from UNCSA across all disciplines and offers curricular opportunities for
students to gain practical career skills in intellectual property and entrepreneurship.
With two to three releases per year, UNCSA Media will feature music, film and video,
plays, dance, and more, leveraging the conservatory’s five disciplines on one campus
and its extensive worldwide network of talented alumni and faculty. UNCSA launched
UNCSA Media in September 2023 with the release of “Windows,” a contemporary classical recording featuring UNCSA faculty members performing works
by Valerie Coleman, Jessie Montgomery and Reena Esmail, as well as a world premiere
commission by Kamala Sankaram, followed by alumna and singer/songwriter Cashavelly’s
“Meditation Through Gunfire” in October 2024, and Stravinsky’s “Firebird Ballet Suite” with the UNCSA Symphony Orchestra in May 2025, and Zéphryos Winds’ “Desert Pass” featuring works by Reena Esmail, David Sanford and UNCSA alum Tyson Gholston Davis
in June 2025.
UNCSA Media is made possible with funding and programmatic support by the Thomas S. Kenan Institute for the Arts.
For more information about “Poptimism” and other releases, visit: www.uncsa.edu/uncsa-media
For review copies and press inquiries, contact:
Amanda Sweet – Bucklesweet | amanda@bucklesweet.com | 347-564-3371
Katherine Johnson – UNCSA Media | johnsonka@uncsa.edu | 336-770-1402
About The Thomas S. Kenan Institute for the Arts
The Thomas S. Kenan Institute for the Arts was established in 1993 to strengthen the arts by initiating and incubating new ideas within the various constituencies and settings of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA). By leveraging the extraordinary talents and creative energies of students, faculty, staff, and alumni to bring distinction to UNCSA, the Kenan Institute acts as a springboard to the broader creative community. For more information visit www.uncsa.edu/kenan.
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February 10, 2026