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Mina Gajić

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Mina Gajić is a Serbian musical artist and pianist known for her albums, Boundless: Schubert Sonatinas (2020), Confluence: Balkan Dances & Tango Nuevo (2022), Sonic Alchemy (2023), Boulder Bach Festival (2023), Bach UnCaged (2024), and AEQUORA (2025).[1] She is also the Artistic and Executive Director of COmpass REsonance (formerly Boulder Bach Festival).[2]

Early life and education

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Gajić was born in Serbia, (formerly Yugoslavia), and grew up in the city of Belgrade.[3] She studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Belgrade while in Europe and then moved to the US where she earned degrees at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University. Later she earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Colorado Boulder.[4]

Career

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Gajić has been  associated with Colorado's Boulder Bach Festival where she currently serves as the Artistic and Executive Director.[5][6] She was appointed the Colorado Boulder Bach Festival’s Artistic Director and Executive Director in July 2019, having previously served as the organization’s Director of Education.[3]

Gajić is also the founder and Artistic Director of Boulder International Chamber Music Competition - Art of Duo.[7] She has also taught at Sam Houston State University School of Music in Texas[8] and at the University of St. Thomas Music Preparatory School in Houston, Texas.[1]

Musical work

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Her notable performances include period instrument renditions of works by Antheil, Brahms, Britten, Berg, Bartók, Chopin and Ives.[9][3][10][11] In 2021, Gajić performed Mozart’s Piano Concerto in A Major for SPRING, a Colorado Concert Film. She has performed as recitalist and concerto soloist in South America, Europe, and the United States.[15][33] Her performances have been featured on BBC Radio 3.[12]

Gajić is also part of the classical fusion duo Mystery Sonata alongside violinist Zachary Carrettin, to whom she is also married.[13][14] Along with Carrettin, she has released five albums on the Sono Luminus label, Boundless: Schubert Sonatinas (2020), Confluence: Balkan Dances & Tango Nuevo (2022), Boulder Bach Festival (2023), Bach UnCaged (2024), and AEQUORA (2025).[15][16] Boundless consisted of Gajić and Carrettin’s renditions of Franz Schubert’s Op. 137 sonatinas,[17][18] while Confluence featured violin and piano tangos written by Ray Granlund and Balkan dances composed by Marko Tajcevic.[19][20] Boulder Bach Festival’s first commercial recording featured instrumental and vocal works by J.S. and J.C. Bach, while Bach UnCaged featured J.S. Bach’s music on electric violin alongside prepared piano works by John Cage. AEQUORA is a recording of contemporary music by four Icelandic composers: Anna Thorvaldsdottir, Maria Huld Markan Sigfusdottir, Pall Ragnar Palsson, and Daniel Bjarnason.[21][22]

Gajić served as Artistic Director and harpsichordist on the Boulder Bach Festival’s first album, which was recorded in 2022.[23]

Gajić collaborated with violinist YuEun Kim and cellist Coleman Itzkoff on the album Sonic Alchemy, which was released in 2023.[24][25] The album featured renditions of pieces composed by Mozart, Pärt and Vasks.[24][25]

Gajić collaborated with Icelandic composers Pall Ragnar Palsson and Maria Huld Markan Sigfusdottir, performing the world premieres of new work commissions.[26]

Gajić has collaborated extensively with contemporary and aerial dance, including performances with Bandaloop at Breckenridge International Festival of Arts, and performances with 3rd Law Dance/Theater, performing on piano, prepared piano, chamber organ, and electric keyboards.[26][27][28][29]

Gajić is the Founder and Artistic Director of BICMC Art of Duo, (Boulder International Chamber Music Competition), and is Co-Founder of World Bach Competition.[22][27]

Discography

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Albums

Title Label Released
Boundless: Schubert Sonatinas (with Zachary Carrettin) Sono Luminus 2020[1]
Confluence: Balkan Dances and Tango Nuevo (with Zachary Carrettin) Sono Luminus 2022[1]
Boulder Bach Festival (with Zachary Carrettin ) Sono Luminus 2023[1]
Sonic Alchemy (with YuEun Kim and Coleman Itzkoff) Sono Luminus 2023[1]
Bach Uncaged (with Zachary Carrettin) Sono Luminus 2024[30]
Aequora (with Zachary Carrettin as Mystery Sonata) Sono Luminus 2025[31]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Mina Gajić Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More..." AllMusic. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
  2. ^ "Boulder Bach Festival Week rolls in an antique piano, festival-focused art exhibit and top-tier talent". Yahoo News. 2022-05-14. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
  3. ^ a b c "Boulder Bach Festival finale reinvigorates classics with sounds of Romanticism". Boulder Daily Camera. 2019-04-25. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
  4. ^ "Mina Gajić Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More..." AllMusic. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
  5. ^ "Boulder Bach Festival is back on stage with 'Across Time Across Cultures'". Yahoo News. 2021-10-14. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
  6. ^ "Boulder Bach Festival: Next Generations". thescen3.org. Archived from the original on January 21, 2023.
  7. ^ Hansen, Kelly Dean (2017-09-29). "Boulder Chamber Orchestra returns to its roots". Boulder Daily Camera. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
  8. ^ "Boulder Magazine Summer 2019". Issuu. 2020-07-21. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
  9. ^ Hansen, Kelly Dean (2015-09-11). "Local stars adorn Boulder Chamber Orchestra's 12th season". Boulder Daily Camera. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
  10. ^ "CU Presents Magazine Fall 2017, September 24, 2017". Issuu. 2017-09-21. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
  11. ^ America, Early Music (2019-05-13). "Boulder Bach Festival Goes Beyond Bach » Early Music America". Early Music America. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
  12. ^ "BBC Radio 3 - Essential Classics, Ian Skelly with Jane Ross's Londonderry Air, Essential Brahms, Britten's Matinee musicale". BBC. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
  13. ^ Turner ·, Brad (2014-12-16). "Classical duo Mystery Sonata focuses on tango, Balkan folk dances". Colorado Public Radio. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
  14. ^ Hansen, Kelly Dean (2023-10-19). "Boulder Bach Festival brings four-concert season to Dairy Arts". Boulder Weekly. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
  15. ^ Channel, The Violin (2022-04-27). "OUT NOW | Violinist Zachary Carrettin and Pianist Mina Gajić's New Album "Confluence"". World's Leading Classical Music Platform. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
  16. ^ "Violin and Piano Recital: Carrettín, Zachary / Gajić, Mina - GRANLUND, R. / TAJCEVIC, M. (Confluence)". www.naxos.com. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
  17. ^ "CD Review: Schubert Sonatinas Performed By Brilliant Duo » Early Music America". Early Music America. 2025-05-18. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
  18. ^ Flynn, Lisa (2020-03-31). "Boundless: Zachary Carrettín, Mina Gajić". WFMT. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
  19. ^ "A Catchy Confluence - Classics Today". www.classicstoday.com. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
  20. ^ Popovic, Ivana (2022-07-01). "Confluence: Balkan Dances and Tango Neuvo - Zachary Carrettin; Mina Gajić". The WholeNote. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
  21. ^ Schmidt, Hannah (2024-10-09). "Zachary Carrettin und Mina Gajić: Nicht kaputt zu kriegen". Die Zeit (in German). ISSN 0044-2070. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
  22. ^ a b Magazine, Sheen (2025-01-08). "Mina Gajić and Zachary Carrettin Explore New Musical Horizons in Bach UnCaged". Sheen Magazine. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
  23. ^ Kuta, Sarah (2023-09-19). "Boulder Bach Festival Unveils New Season". Travel Boulder. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
  24. ^ a b "'Sonic Alchemy'". Gramophone. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
  25. ^ a b "Sonic Alchemy - CD invokes musical "timelessness," pairing classical and contemporary compositions". earrelevant.net. 2023-10-05. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
  26. ^ a b "Classically-Trained, World-Focused Pianist Mina Gajić Is Dissolving Musical Barriers - Magnetic Magazine". magneticmag.com. 2024-04-12. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
  27. ^ a b Jones, William (2024-10-24). "COmpass REsonance: How Mina Gajic and Zachary Carrettin Transformed a Bach Festival in Boulder, Colorado". Under30CEO. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
  28. ^ "COmpass REsonance: How Mina Gajic and Zachary Carrettin Transformed a Bach Festival in Boulder, Colorado". MSN. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
  29. ^ "Sono Luminus reimagines Bach and John Cage in new album 'Bach UnCaged'". Retrieved 2025-05-19.
  30. ^ Bach Uncaged - Zachary Carrettin, Mina Gajić ... | AllMusic, retrieved 2025-06-24
  31. ^ AEQUORA - Mystery Sonata, Zachary Carrettin, M... | AllMusic, retrieved 2025-06-24
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