Episode 18: Dr. Karlyn Viña and Dr. Ksenija Komljenović

Hello and welcome back to the TAMS Percussion Podcast. After some time off to finish up a busy semester, we are back with some fantastic guests! In this episode, we are joined with two of the cohosts of the @Percussion Podcast, Dr. Karlyn Viña, and Dr. Ksenija Komljenović. We take time to discuss the perspective of female percussionists in the industry and talk about the experiences of these educators and how the modern percussion studio must be accepting of everyone. We are thankful for Karlyn and Ksenija sitting down at talking to us about these important issues in the community and we at TAMS hope that this may help you become a more informed ally!

Praised by the South Florida Classical Review for her "dazzling" and "incisive" performance, Dr. Karlyn Viña is a dynamic and creative percussionist based in Virginia. Dr. Viña is the newly appointed Assistant Professor of Percussion at Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, VA, and previously taught at Florida International University and New World School of the Arts in Miami, FL. During the summers, Karlyn serves as a percussion faculty member at Interlochen Arts Camp in Interlochen, MI. Karlyn maintains a busy schedule as an orchestral, chamber, and solo percussionist, and has a particular interest in works that incorporate theatrical elements. In addition to her teaching and performing, Karlyn can be heard as a co-host on the @Percussion Podcast and is proud to serve on the Percussive Arts Society's Education Committee. Karlyn earned her Doctorate of Musical Arts in Percussion Performance from the University of Miami as a fellow of the Henry Mancini Institute. Her dissertation focuses on the performance of works for theatrical percussion by Globokar, Kagel, and Smith. She also holds degrees in Percussion Performance and Music Education from The Boston Conservatory and the University of Maryland. Karlyn is proud to endorse Grover Pro Percussion, Marimba One, and Zildjian cymbals.

Dr. Ksenija Komljenović (Belgrade, Serbia), a prizewinner of the International Percussion Competition Luxembourg, is a percussionist, educator, and composer. Throughout her career, she has performed, taught, and studied across Europe, the United States, and Asia. Ksenija is the first woman from Serbia with a Doctor of Musical Arts in Percussion Degree. She holds the Assistant Professor of Percussion position at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. Ksenija serves as a producer and host on the At Percussion Podcast. She is on the organizational committees of the Tierras South Texas Percussion Competition and the SoundWaves Festival. Ksenija’s devotion to percussion is shaped by her advocacy for contemporary and chamber music, as well as intercultural collaboration. Her three chamber ensembles (PNEUMA, Vesna Piano/Percussion Duo, Balkan Percussion Duo) unite some of the finest young performers from across the world. Ksenija holds degrees from the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, Illinois State University, and the Faculty of Music in Belgrade, Serbia. Her compositions and arrangements are published by Bachovich Music Publications. Ksenija is a Marimba One artist.

For the full bios of these fantastic artists, you can find them on their websites:

https://www.ksenijakomljenovic.com/

http://www.karlynvina.com/