About
I am a violinist, composer, and educator with a unique musical story that crosses countries, cultures, and genres. Born in Memphis, TN, I started to play violin and piano at the tender age of 2 in a home filled with the sounds of music, from the likes of Michael Jackson, the Beatles, and Simon and Garfunkel to Indian devotional/classical music. I pursued Violin and Piano Performance studies at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, during which time I performed in renowned Classical festivals in the USA and in Europe. My desire to find a more creative form of expression led me closer to my cultural heritage, and I received a Fulbright Research grant to formally study South Indian Classical music (2006) in Chennai, India. This special opportunity opened up a whole new way of listening and improvising; it also seeded my aspiration to communicate across cultures and musical styles.
Drawn to London (2008) for the diverse musical experiences it could offer, I completed a Masters and more recently a doctorate in Creative Learning at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama whilst developing my professional career. I have performed internationally with leading artists including Anoushka Shankar, Nitin Sawhney, Talvin Singh OBE, Kae Tempest, Oi Va Voi, Jocelyn Pook, Manu Delago, Bianca Gismonti, and London Contemporary Orchestra, amongst others. Close to my heart are two exciting ensembles that I have co-founded with musical partners, Quest Ensemble and Balladeste. Both create a lyrical tapestry of sound, blending improvisation with collaboratively written, original compositions.
I strongly affirm the power of the arts to transform lives and to empower everyone, regardless of background, age, culture, or ability, to find their creative voice. With this ethos driving my practice, I regularly lead creative workshops for organisations including London Music Masters, Soundscreative Projects, London Symphony Orchestra, Barbican Centre/Guildhall, and Aldeburgh Music, I have also forged special international relationships through my leadership and professional training for artist-teachers in Korea, Israel, Palestine, Southeast Asia, and India.
Alongside my thriving artistic life, I am passionate about yoga and wellness and have completed a teacher-training at Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram, a renowned centre in Chennai specialised in ‘viniyoga’ and yoga therapy. This journey inwards has inspired me to create and express human and spiritual connection in my first collection of solo compositions (Rebirth and Bleeding Heart EP, 2021).
