Bio
VESNA DUO
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, indie, and grunge repertoire.
Their latest EP, Poptimism (released on UNCSA Media label and supported by Thomas S. Kenan Institute for the Arts), marks a bold expansion of the duo’s artistic voice, reimagining iconic pop, indie, and grunge 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.
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
A prizewinner of the International Percussion Competition Luxembourg, Ksenija is a percussionist, educator, and composer. Ksenija's journey has taken her across continents, performing and teaching in Europe, the United States, and Asia. Ksenija is a faculty member at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, the oldest public arts conservatory in the United States. She holds the distinction of being the first woman from Serbia to earn a Doctor of Musical Arts in Percussion Degree.
Ksenija has been recognized for her performances in Hong Kong, England, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Russia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Poland. In 2024/2025, she made her Carnegie Hall debut with the New York premiere of Gabriela Ortiz’s Can We Know the Sound of Forgiveness. That same season, she premiered Episodes for Marimba and Orchestra, composed for her by six-time Emmy winner and Academy Award nominee Chris Boardman.
Her concerto appearances include Viet Cuong’s Re(new)al; Sideman by Grammy Award–winning composer Mason Bates; and, in 2025, the premiere of Emmanuel Séjourné’s Gotan Concerto in its version for two marimbas and wind ensemble. She has presented hundreds of concerts and conducted masterclasses at more than 70 educational institutions worldwide, maintaining a strong commitment to mentoring aspiring musicians globally.
As a composer, Ksenija draws inspiration from her Slavic and Balkan heritage. Her wind band piece Slavdom, commissioned by a consortium of ten universities, features her singing and is available on the Tōnsehen label. Her collaborative work Epilog, created with dancers, was featured at the ceremonial reopening of the annex of the Memorial Museum of Ivo Andrić (a Yugoslav Nobel Prize winner) in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Offstage, Ksenija is dedicated to expanding opportunities for young musicians and fostering cultural exchange. She has founded and directed events such as the SoundWaves Music Festival and the TIERRAS South Texas Percussion Competition, co-produced the At Percussion Podcast, and organized Serbia’s first drumline camp and contemporary percussion workshop. Additionally, she writes a blog in both English and Serbian providing free resources for students who wish to pursue a music career.
Ksenija holds degrees from the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, Illinois State University (where she was recently honored with the 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.