Priyanka Topé: Bio

Priyanka Topé

I am 15 years old, and I live on Long Island, NY. I want to help kids in need all around the world. I have been learning music from early childhood; first at home and then from my two gurus, and I decided to use my musical abilities to reach people and to help underprivileged kids.

I am fortunate to have two outstanding Gurus. Smt. Sanghamitra Chatterjee(Chhandayan) has taught me many of these songs, and continues to teach me more. Dr. Aruna Sharma teaches me Indian classical music. I am grateful to Pt. Ramesh Mishra, Sri Ulhas Bapat, and all the accomplished instrumentalists from India who found me worthy of their accompaniment. My special thanks to Mr. Kamlesh Bhadkamkar, Mr. Vinay Patankar, Mr. Vijay Marur, Mr. Avdhoot Wadkar, Mr. Satish Padhye, Mr. Ramji (Saregama USA), Dr. Naren Budhkar, and Mr. Robert Thomas for their respective contributions and encouragement. I thank Pt. Sameer Chatterjee for his blessings.

Other interests & accomplishments: - Member of the National Junior Honor Society - Recipient of the first prize in the classical vocal music category at the annual Holi Cultural Competition at Hanuman Mandir, Hempstead, NY (March 2006)
- School Volleyball Team since 2004
- Selected among Suffolk County's best vocalists for the fourth consecutive year in 2007 (SCMEA)
- Learning Bharatnatyam from the renowned Indian classical dancer and choreographer, ‘NATYA KALA SEVA RATHNA’, Smt. Satya Pradeep.
- Reached 6th level of NYSSMA (New York State School Music Association) in 2007
- Learnt the 'Devnagri' script, and Marathi at home, and have learnt some Sanskrit from Dr. Laxmi Swaminathan.
- Completed two levels of the Kathak curriculum (north Indian classical dance) for Gandharva Mahavidyala under the tutelage of Smt. Archana Joglekar-Mulye.
- Member of Youth for Change International. YFC is a forum to increase awareness against Poverty, War, Goverment Abuse of Power, Pollution and more.
- Pratham Volunteer
- on CRY-America's Honor Roll
- Top fundraiser for the UNICEF Emergency Response Team

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Tejas Tope - Tabla

Tejas has been learning tabla from Pt. Samir Chatterjee for the past 4 years. At the age of 7, with the blessings of his Guru, he participated in a tabla ensemble at the 5th Annual All Night Concert (May 2004) held in NY City, organized by Chhandayan.

Tejas has received First prize in the instrumental category in 2005, 2006, and 2007 at the annual Vedic Heritage’s Holi Youth Talent Competition in Hempstead, Long Island, NY. In the Summer of 2006, he played at the 6th Marathi European Sammelan in Almelo, Netherlands, as also at the 13th BMM Convention in Seattle (June 2007).

Tejas is in 4th grade (at the time of the concert in September he will be entering 5th grade and 10-years old), loves math, and is in the Gifted and Talented (GATES) Program at the Joseph A. Edgar Intermediate School, Rocky Point, New York.

Tejas has been accompanying his sister, Priyanka Topé, on tabla, over the past couple of years. Tejas loves playing tabla. He enjoys his musical time together with his family. He is aspiring to be the best tabla player he can be!