Marina Baranova is a celebrated Ukrainian-born pianist, composer, and improviser, recognized for her innovative approach to classical and contemporary music.
Birth and Early Life: Born on August 5, 1981, in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Baranova grew up in a musical family-her mother taught classical music and her father taught jazz, fostering her early love for both traditions.
Education: She began piano lessons at age five and was accepted into a specialized music school for gifted children by age seven. In the late 1990s, she moved to Germany to study under Professor Vladimir Krainev at the Hanover University of Music, Drama, and Media.
Career Highlights: Baranova has won prestigious competitions from a young age, performed internationally as a soloist and chamber musician, and collaborated with leading orchestras and ensembles. Her performances are noted for their emotional depth, technical brilliance, and creative interpretations.
Compositional Style: Her work blends classical, jazz, minimalism, and world music influences, often incorporating improvisation and her synesthetic perception (associating colors with sounds).
Notable Projects: Baranova’s albums include Cosmic Calendar, Atlas of Imaginary Places, and Hypersuites. Her 2025 release, Salon de Ravel (Berlin Classics), celebrates Maurice Ravel’s legacy with reinterpretations and original compositions inspired by Ravel’s style.
Current Residence: She is based in Hanover, Germany, and continues to perform and compose internationally.
