{"podcast":{"title":"The Piano Pod - a global hub for innovation, education, and connection in classical piano music","slug":"the-piano-pod-a-global-hub-for-innovation-education-and-connection-in-classical-piano-music-3417546","podcast_index_feed_id":3417546,"rss_url":"https://media.rss.com/the-piano-pod/feed.xml","website_url":"https://thepianopod.com","image_url":"https://media.rss.com/the-piano-pod/20250214_080208_d98acf1c20b41521de56c03ae56b288f.png","author":"Yukimi Song","episode_count":231,"summary":"...where tradition meets innovation. Together, we bring PIANO into the FUTURE. a global hub for innovation, education, and connection in classical piano music Hey, 🎹 enthusiasts out there! My name is Yukimi, a classical pianist and educator from NYC and executive producer of The Piano Pod. The Piano Pod🎙 is a one-of-a-kind podcast that delves deep into the fascinating world of classical music, with a specific focus on the 🎹 piano. In a biweekly format, the show explores intriguing discussions with guests breaking exciting new ground in the classical music industry. The Piano Pod aims to nurture a thriving community that embraces innovative approaches to ensure classical music's relevance and vitality in today's dynamic landscape. \"How can I present the beautiful tradition of classical music to the 21st-century audience in a fun, contemporary, and engaging way?\" When I started building a piano studio in the trendy neighborhood of Downtown Manhattan in 2007 while in the NYU graduate program in piano studies, I began to ponder this question. I realized the stark difference in expectations toward classical music and music education between music professionals and the general public. T…","last_synced_at":null,"page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-piano-pod-a-global-hub-for-innovation-education-and-connection-in-classical-piano-music-3417546"},"episode":{"title":"Between Worlds: Mirna Lekic on Cultural Crossings, Sonic Identity, and the Art of Connection","slug":"between-worlds-mirna-lekic-on-cultural-crossings-sonic-identity-and-the-art-of-connection","published_at":"2025-12-10T00:40:08+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-piano-pod-a-global-hub-for-innovation-education-and-connection-in-classical-piano-music-3417546/between-worlds-mirna-lekic-on-cultural-crossings-sonic-identity-and-the-art-of-connection","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-piano-pod-a-global-hub-for-innovation-education-and-connection-in-classical-piano-music-3417546","url":"https://rss.com/podcasts/the-piano-pod/2369357","audio_url":"https://content.rss.com/episodes/192273/2369357/the-piano-pod/2025_12_04_21_10_12_0bee88b6-1ecf-4820-a8ad-8fbb9950d005.mp3","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…","meta_description":"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 mu…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":4915,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-piano-pod-a-global-hub-for-innovation-education-and-connection-in-classical-piano-music-3417546/episodes/between-worlds-mirna-lekic-on-cultural-crossings-sonic-identity-and-the-art-of-connection/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-piano-pod-a-global-hub-for-innovation-education-and-connection-in-classical-piano-music-3417546/between-worlds-mirna-lekic-on-cultural-crossings-sonic-identity-and-the-art-of-connection.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}