Vesna [ˈvɛsna] — a goddess associated with youth and springtime in early Slavic mythology.
Vesna Piano/Percussion Duo is devoted to bringing reimagined repertoire to life, with performances ranging from iconic ballets and baroque works to tangos, jazz, contemporary music, and - more recently - pop and rock repertoire.
Their latest EP, Poptimism, released on the UNCSA Media label, marks a bold expansion of the duo’s artistic voice, reimagining iconic pop, rock, and indie songs for percussion and piano. Arranged by Miloš Branisavljević, the album reframes music by artists such as Sting, Hozier, Soundgarden, Beyoncé, Dean Lewis, and Rihanna, spanning approaches from minimalist intimacy to expansive, concerto-like virtuosity. Conceived as a mixtape of the duo’s personal listening, these songs are reimagined as concert works that finally belong on the stage.
Their performance and debut album Vesna Duo Presents: The Rite of Spring (arranged for marimba and piano by Ksenija Komljenović) garnered rave reviews at the Chamber Music America Conference, the Percussive Arts Society International Conference, as well as on 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… 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.