A crowd of 26 people showed up for Thursday, March 27 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the BC Simonsen indoor theater for an intimate and haunting performance by pianist Liana Pailodze Harron and percussionist Ksenija Komljenovic. The concert was organized by the Performing Arts Department who gave them an opportunity to play their music through stories with different dynamics, which was an experiential performance.

Even though they had a low attendance, the duo played with passion and energy. Each piece had a story behind it, which added an emotional depth to the performance. Before the second piece, Harron remarked, “This next piece is my favorite because it reminds me of my childhood.” Then the next piece after that, named “Variations for The Healing of Arinushka” by Arvo Part was a sentimental piece because, “He wrote this while his daughter was in surgery.” Knowing that fact added another level of seriousness to the music.

The performers also pushed the boundaries of sound in a new way. Harron, at one time, played the inside of the piano instead of the keys, creating a startling, mesmerizing effect. Soft humming was also added to another piece, which added a meditative atmosphere. There were vibrations bouncing off the wall from the xylophone when it filled the room. It was almost as if they had the audience in a trance.

Throughout their breaks in between pieces, the duo explained to the audience how they met and came to be. “I was in Texas, and she was in New York,” said Komljenovic. “She called me and said we should be friends.” That phone call started both of their music careers together and now they get to perform together and play their unique style of music through storytelling.

The final piece they played brought the feeling of spring, full of shifting tempos and emotions. Though the crowd was small, the music resonated deeply, proving that passion and creativity go beyond the size of the audience.