One of Chodhari’s students, Arushi Patel, a junior at High School South, has been studying with her since April, 2012. She recently performed in her second concert.
“When I heard a santoor concert for the first time, I was completely mesmerized by the melodious sound of the instrument,” says Patel. Her mother, Smita Patel, searched for a santoor teacher and discovered Chodhari.
She was taught to play some basic notes during their first meeting. “I have grown to love the instrument and appreciate its unmatched sound even more,” says Patel. “My prior exposure to Indian classical music and dance has helped me grasp the intricacies without much difficulty.”
Her father, Manoj Patel, a mechanical engineer by training, owns a business in the field of industrial controls. Her mother, a graphic artist, is involved in family business. Her brother, Prerak Patel, 22, is pursuing a master’s degree in electrical computer engineering at Carnegie Mellon University.
“My entire family has a deep love for the arts,” she says. “Due to my parents’ interest in Indian classical music and dance, my brother and I were introduced to Hindustani music and Indian dance right from a very young age.” Her father is learning Hindustani vocal music and her brother is studying the tabla.
Patel has played the flute in concert bands at school for six years and plays the djembes (African drums) at community events. She has been studying Kathak, Indian classical dance, for eight years, and has a black belt in Tae Kwon Do.
She went to South Africa in 2012 during a People to People Student Ambassador program. “I collaborated with local artists to further develop my djembes skills,” she says.
At school Patel is involved in SAASA (South Asian Awareness Student Association), and serves as co-president for the school’s Relay for Life American Cancer Society committee.
“Santoor is known to be a difficult instrument to learn and master,” says Patel. “My guru takes special care to explain and teach me the nuances that can be only taught through a guru-shishya (student) relationship. She is very patient and understanding.” She had an opportunity for a solo concert after only a year of studies.
Patel performed her second concert on September 22 at the Bal-Gandharva festival held at the TV Asia Studio. She was invited by host Archana Nrityalaya to demonstrate extraordinary young talent in the Indian classical music industry. “Both my performances have been very well appreciated, and I have received accolades and congratulations from the audience for coming so far and playing so beautifully in such a short span of time,” says Patel.
