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

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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 (open.spotify.com/album/58SibrOpungxRAJnnZon0b?…), 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 (youtu.be/0STZXD_cv8M?si=t1NcBkT6RGUycNd2))
• Villa-Lobos: Negrinha, No. 5 from Baby’s Family (youtu.be/D3WFfcjtyg0?si=ydGdD5RxSaYED1xR)
From MIRAGE:
• Ali-Zadeh — Music for Piano (youtu.be/JAjhFodgAcE?si=V-QvAj6QTIp_uSoH)
• Lachenmann — Guero (youtu.be/D3GmwlPTNtc?si=EEoYgTtVk2t7JANq)
• Cowell — Aeolian Harp (youtu.be/w83pggzCN7o?si=C1nSHQRquFxyMySH)
From Eastern Currents: Ramin Heydarbeygi — Aramesh (youtu.be/RoyXECB53bg?si=_MMIX4TkRIYBPI-6)
Mirna’s Shadow Puppetry Collaborations:
• youtu.be/V5Tj2ZHDGS8?si=Aa05gwPs0R0evO8r
• youtube.com/watch?v=duMJtVPVOIs&t=262s
Read my review on Mirna's Album, MIRAGE on Substack (open.substack.com/pub/thepianopod/p/meet-our-g…)