Tell us a little about yourself and career.
I was born and brought up in Delhi, India. I received my Master’s degree from the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay. I then moved to Zurich, Switzerland, where I earned a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the University of Zurich. Following that, I did post-doctoral research at the University of Chicago. I moved to Memphis in April 2021 to become a scientist at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. At St. Jude, I work on assay development and screening to discover new drugs.
Tell us a little about your family.
My wife, Anwesha, has a Ph.D. in Biophysics from the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay. She is also a professional artist and teaches painting. She recently displayed her art at GPAC and will have an exhibition at the Memphis Botanic Garden in September. Our son, Agastya, is three years old.
Tell us about your musical experiences.
I have always loved music but could not study it as a child in India due to lack of opportunities. I am very proud that I can study music now. I took up violin in 2014 and piano in 2022.
Tell us about your piano lessons with Steve.
I feel very fortunate to be part of Steve’s studio. I still remember my first class with Steve, when he immediately understood the right level for me to start my piano journey. Steve’s guidance always motivates me whenever I hit a roadblock in a piece. He always explains the underlying meaning, mood, and expression to help me enjoy and interpret each song we work on.
Tell us about Steve as a teacher.
Steve is a very kind and caring teacher who makes learning piano very comfortable for me. He has lots of patience for many mistakes that I make and questions that I have. Because of his vast teaching experience (more than 50 years), he knows when and how much a student needs to be pushed to grow and reach the next level. Every lesson with Steve is challenging but fun.
What does piano study add to your life?
Learning piano brings joy and happiness to me. As we all are living in a very fast-paced world with a lot of distractions around, piano guides me toward a sense of calm that is very dear to me.
What are some of the pieces you have most enjoyed playing?
There are so many pieces which I have loved! Some that immediately come to mind are Hare Krishna Hare Rama, As Time Goes By (from Casablanca), An American Trilogy (Elvis), Unchained Melody (Righteous Brothers), This Night (Billy Joel), Crying (Roy Orbison), Melody of the Soul (Bulokhova), Sonatina Opus 36 No. 1 (Clementi), Du bist die Ruh (Schubert), and The Best of Times Is Now (from La Cage Aux Folles).
Do you enjoy chord songs or treble/bass songs more?
I enjoy both chord and treble/bass songs. However, treble/bass is always more challenging and takes me more time to learn.
Tell us about your hobbies.
Besides piano, I enjoy cricket, yoga, and meditation. I love watching movies. But currently, I most enjoy spending time with my three-year-old son and seeing him grow and develop.