Loreta Kovacic-Parani
Known for her virtuoso performances from Boom Boom Room to Carnegie hall, she is also recognized as an author of imaginative children's music. Her original children's album “Brother Tadpole classics” was nominated for a Grammy. She started out as a classical pianist in her home country of Croatia. After graduating with a Doctorate in Music from Rice, she continued her work as a performer and piano teacher, later adding an original children's theatre, the "Alchemist Piano Theatre", as a non-profit for children.
She is a Houston Heights landmark with her annual Christmas family show at "Lights in the Heights". She performs as a pianist – entertainer, playing in variety of styles from classical and ragtime to country. Her music and her "Liberace coat" has embellished many wedding ceremonies and fundraisers, adding a touch of joyful artistry to themed parties and Halloween extravaganzas.
Loreta writes and performs original piano music inspired by Charlie Chaplin and Georges Melies. She has been accompanying silent movies at the MFA Houston as well as Discovery Green for the Silent Movies series sponsored by KUHF. She is a regular performer on public radio stations in Houston and occasionally she appears live on Croatian TV. Her music is inspired by artists from around the world, a unique international mixture of influences.
“She moves from classical to jazz and pop genres as fluidly as her fingers dance around the ivories (Houston Press)”. “Genuine artistry at the keyboard” (Vecernji List, Croatia).
“Her show has a distinctively cabaret feel to it, with all the notes filtered through her larger then life personality” (Culturemap, Houston, 2010).
http://loreta-kovacic.squarespace.com/loreta-kovacic-enterainer/
