Giving Tuesday – Chandler Prep

For the Love of Music 

Crowded hallways, especially high school ones, are always filled with noise; chatter; footsteps; shouts and loud bells! However, on certain times of the day, the hallways at Chandler Prep are filled with the warm and soothing sounds of music… Recorders humming; instruments playing; and students’ singing.

One eleventh grade student, Manasa Subramanian, is part of all things musical at Chandler Prep. She is a part of the school’s A Cappella, Women’s choir, Schola Contrarum, and Orchestra. In addition, she has also represented the school in the All-regional and All-state choirs for the last two years. Where did her love for music first start? She was first introduced to Carnatic music, a form of South Indian classical music, by her mom, Mrs. Ramachandran (Algebra II/Trigonometry and Logic & Computation teacher at CPA), however, she has been continuing learning under the guidance of a professional musician from India.

Apart from being a beloved teacher of CPA, Mrs. Ramachandran also runs a nonprofit organization that helps promote the arts, and she trains students in Carnatic vocal music across the USA. Manasa has risen in the craft to a high-class performing level both in India and throughout the United States at various festivals. Last August, she performed a grand solo concert lasting 2.5 hours for an enormous crowd including the Mayor of Chandler!

In addition, for the past several years, Manasa heads to India during December to sing Carnatic music for the 2nd largest music festival in the world! Manasa says that she enjoys “exploring the connections between Western music and Carnatic music and finding the beauty in their uniqueness as well.” India is one of the few countries that has managed to preserve their traditions despite Western influence; however, making connections in music between the two cultures is important to Manasa.

She says she is “truly grateful to CPA for all their support over the years, especially in respect to giving me a chance to experience such a vast blend of music… I couldn’t do it anywhere else!”