Episode

Between Worlds: Mirna Lekic on Cultural Crossings, Sonic Identity, and the Art of Connection

Podcast
The Piano Pod - a global hub for innovation, education, and connection in classical piano music
Published
Dec 10, 2025
Duration seconds
4915
Processing state
not_requested
Canonical source
https://rss.com/podcasts/the-piano-pod/2369357
Audio
https://content.rss.com/episodes/192273/2369357/the-piano-pod/2025_12_04_21_10_12_0bee88b6-1ecf-4820-a8ad-8fbb9950d005.mp3
JSON
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Markdown
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Summary

In this episode, I sit down with pianist and educator Mirna Lekić for a conversation that spans continents, sound worlds, and the deeper layers of what music can mean in a human life. Born and raised in Sarajevo during the Bosnian War and now based in New York City, Mirna brings a rare perspective to the piano — one shaped by resilience, migration, devotion, and an unshakable belief in music as a stabilizing, healing force. We explore her acclaimed 2023 album MIRAGE , a breathtaking collection of sonic illusions and cultural crossings that reimagines the piano as a global storyteller — moving from Azerbaijan to Spain, Armenia to Java, and beyond. This episode dives into: how early musical experiences during war shaped Mirna’s artistic identity the healing and stabilizing role music played during her family’s resettlement the depth of Bosnian and Balkan musical influences how cultural diversity becomes musical philosophy, not performance MIRAGE and its groundbreaking approach to sound, resonance, and identity collaborative work with living composers, shadow puppeteers, and multidisciplinary artists how educators can guide young musicians toward authenticity in a rapidly changing world It’s a conversation about healing , devotion , heritage , and the power of sound to help us make sense of where we come from — and where we’re going. 🌟 SOUND BITES “Music was a healing presence.” “Music study demands devotion.” “Music can be a lifeline.” 🎧 FEATURED LINKS FROM MIRNA'S WORK From the album Masks : Debussy, The Toybox (opening ) Villa-Lobos: Negrinha , No. 5 from Baby’s Family From MIRAGE : Ali-Zadeh — Music for Piano Lachenmann — Guero Cowell — Aeolian Harp From Eastern Currents : Ramin Heydarbeygi — Aramesh Mirna’s Shadow Puppetry Collaborations: https://youtu.be/V5Tj2ZHDGS8…