MUSICIAN Composer, Singer-Songwriter and a Pianist with leadership roles in the community
Style: Alternative Folk, Rock, World, Jazz, and Classical (AKA "Fossil Pop")
Dr. Loreta Kovacic is a lifelong pianist, singer-songwriter, and proud Houstonian-by-way-of-everywhere. Her music reflects a life lived in many keys, seamlessly blending Balkan, Latin, and Gulf Coast soul. As early as high school, she made history as Croatia’s and ex-Yugoslavia’s first female rock electronic keyboard player, rocking original music on her Moog synth with the band Video Se in Zagreb.
Loreta went on to earn a Doctorate Degree in Music from Rice University and became highly regarded for her classical piano recordings of masterworks by Prokofiev and Beethoven. However, after facing tendinitis in her late 30s, she shifted her focus. A profoundly meaningful conversation with Willie Nelson right here in Houston inspired her to transition into a more expansive, creative songwriting journey.
Today, her original music explores powerful themes: woman power, immigration, humanity, and dark, mystical witch worlds. Known for her larger-than-life personality, theatrical stage presence, and sharp sense of humor, Loreta performs everywhere from Carnegie Hall and international stages in Croatia and Ireland, to beloved local Houston venues like McGonigel’s Mucky Duck, The Continental Club, and Notsuoh.
She performs solo or as a piano-theremin duet or with the Loreta Kovacic Band—a dynamic ensemble featuring Jeff Vyner (drums), John Edward Ross (guitar), and her family members Stanislav Kovacic (cello), John Parani (voice/melodica), and Joe Parani on the theremin, making them the only band in Texas with a dedicated live theremin player! Spelled with just one "T," Loreta has over five hours of music waiting to be discovered on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube, and teaches a few students on Sundays out of her studio in the Houston Heights.
Houston (lyric video)
This is a love song to my adopted home-town Houston. I talk about how this love story evolved. I mention most of my favorite events and places in H-town: Art Car Parade, NASA Mucky Duck, Montrose, Chinatown, etc.
BELLA BELINDA BRUJA is on my YouTube channel. Please subscribe. New album is in the making. “HALLOWEEN YEAR” Release your inner Bruja. Go girls! ❤️
Piano Lessons
As a teacher, Dr. Kovacic is eclectic in her choice of music and focused on inspiring students to be creative thinkers, not just piano players and singers.
Loreta started playing as a 5 year old child with her uncle in his church on island Hvar in Croatia where she spent her summers. It was a game on an old pump organ: an exchange of pumping pedals or playing on the keys: keys were easier and more fun! There was also singing. and magic, and stories from the past and the future. Languages too. Learning music was so fantastic. It is a lifelong process of learning and discovery and Loreta loves it even at her age. because it is a CREATIVE fine art.