LORETA KOVACIC is an internationally acclaimed concert pianist originally from Zagreb, Croatia, and residing in Houston TX. While still attending the Music Conservatory in Zagreb, Loreta began her career as a classically trained concert pianist in Croatia, Germany and Italy. At that time she was also known as the first Yugoslavian female rock electronic keyboardist and composer. After immigrating to the US, as a young pianist, she completed her Doctorate Degree in Piano Performance at Rice University in Houston. Her solo debut at Carnegie Hall in 1997 brought her other engagements such as “cultural ambassador” at the Croatian Economic Summit in St Paul, followed by her first solo CD release featuring Prokofiev’s “Fugitive visions”.

Loreta actively composes music and teaches at her Alchemist Piano Studio in Houston. Large portions of her opus are songs composed for children. Her creative work often includes composing together with children and assisting them in their creative projects.

As a composer and a performer, Loreta has been interested in exploring relationships between music and other fine arts. She performed several live scores for Aurora Picture Show in Houston, as well as collaborated with other artists in performance art shows. Her “Tortured tendon tour” of 2005 integrated several performance art pieces by Jack Massing of the Art Guys and local citizen, Joe Parani. In 2007 she collaborated with the Art Guys for a show at the Diverse Works, entitled “Plywood”.

For her second CD, the “Piano Notturno”, Loreta chose mostly romantic piano music of Chopin, Beethoven, Liszt and a few of her own piano pieces. This CD has been played on the International Space Station, while in orbit. “Cantabile” is her third solo CD, released in 2007, and it features Loreta as an author. Most of the music for this CD is inspired by Slavic folk music.

Loreta Kovacic is currently preparing for her 2^nd solo concert at Carnegie Hall , scheduled for June 28 of 2008. She will play music of Mozart, Mussorgsky, as well as her own compositions.