The People Who Make it Happen
Mockingbird Melody (MBM) is composed of several high school volunteers who are always ready and willing to bring music to the ears of the people. MBM alumni also join them when in town.
NaYoung Yang
Founder
Violinist NaYoung Yang studied violin performance at the Juilliard Pre-College with Dr. Ann Setzer from 2009 to 2014, and with Dr. Eugenia Choi. During the Pre-College, she also studied piano as a secondary instrument with Ms. Adelaide Roberts. During college, she studied violin with Prof. Soovin Kim of the New England Conservatory of Music. She debuted as a soloist at Alice Tully Hall in Lincoln Center as a winner of the 2010 New York International Music Competition, and won ~20 national and international music competitions since her first win in 2008. NaYoung played 10 times as a soloist with various orchestras in NY, NJ, and PA, gave four solo recitals and frequently played as a soloist and chamber in various venues. During college, she played as a concertmistress at a few concerts of the Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra (HRO) and was a concertmaster of Harvard College Opera. She served as President of the HRO in 2017 and is currently a Board Member of the HRO Foundation. She is a former soloist and concertmaster of the London Doctors Orchestra and Choir during the 2019 season.
After receiving her BA from Harvard University in 2018, she earned her Master of Public Health from Imperial College London in 2019. She is currently a medical student at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School as a Global Health Scholar.
Meet The Team
Evelyn Chao
Violin & Piano
President 2021-23
Evelyn Chao is a junior attending East Brunswick High School. She has been in Mockingbird Melody for the past two years and has been president for the past year. Evelyn has played the violin for 7 years and has also played the piano for 9. In the NJ Solo and Ensemble Festival, Evelyn received gold medals on both violin and piano with a perfect score on violin. She is also the assistant concertmaster of the Bravura Youth Orchestra and has played several times with the award-winning Bravura Philharmonic Orchestra. In her free time, Evelyn enjoys spending time with her friends, going shopping, cooking, and playing volleyball.
Hannah Lin
Violin
Vice President 2021-23
Hannah Lin is a junior at East Brunswick High School. She has played the violin for over a decade and is currently studying the violin with Dr. Sharon Cho. Hannah has participated in Central Jersey and New Jersey regional intermediate orchestras for consecutive years and has received an All-State Intermediate Orchestra recognition award from the East Brunswick Board of Education. Auditioning around the country, she also wins in several national and international music competitions, many of which are accompanied by performances at renowned venues, such as Carnegie Hall and the Merkin Concert Hall. At the 2021 New Jersey State Solo and Ensemble Festival, Hannah was judged by a world-class panel of adjudicators and won gold class as both a violin soloist and violinist in a duet. Apart from the violin, Hannah likes to volunteer and bake bread and desserts.
Keshav Ramesh
Cello
Music Director
Keshav Ramesh has played the cello for six years, beginning his journey in the East Brunswick orchestra program. His passion for music has only grown as time continued. Keshav has played in both the CIMEA Regional Orchestra and the NJMEA All-State Orchestra. He has also won multiple awards at the MAMTG Music Festival. Alongside learning the cello, Keshav has continued to develop his musical abilities by studying composition and orchestral conducting—skills that have given him an even deeper appreciation for classical music.
Allison Lee
Violin
Music Director
Allison Lee has been playing the violin for eight years and is excited to be Mockingbird Melody's Music Director! As a freshman, Allison was concertmaster of the CJMEA High School Orchestra and assistant concertmaster of the NJMEA All-State Orchestra. She also received a perfect score and a Gold rating in the New Jersey Solo and Ensemble Festival. Other than playing violin, Allison enjoys playing tennis and going to concerts.
Nishka Rao
Vocal
Vocals Director
Nishka Rao is a junior at East Brunswick High School. She has been singing for eleven years and has won competitions such as the New York Lyric Opera and performed in Symphony Space Hall. Along with singing, she enjoys drama club, watching musicals, spending time with friends, and other hobbies like reading and swimming. She is very excited to be on the executive board for the next school year!
Shayan Chaudhury
Vocal
Director of Outreach
Shayan Chaudhury will be MBM's 2022-23 Director of Outreach. Shayan is a vocalist who has participated in CJMEA choirs and also plays the guitar. He loves music and writing and is excited to be a part of the MBM exec board!
Prashasth Turaga
Vocal
Secretary
Prashasth Turaga has been singing since the age of 4, exploring both Indian classical music and Western music, including pop and choral music since 4th grade. He has also been playing piano for nine years, performing at the Carnegie Hall Winners Recital in 2019. He is excited to join the MBM Exec Board for the next school year as Secretary!
Ethan Lee
Cello
Treasurer
Ethan Lee is a junior and will be Mockingbird Melody's treasurer for the 2022-2023 school year. He plays the cello and has been playing under the guidance of Dr. Hyojin Lee for 7 years. Ethan also likes to listen to music, play Valorant and volleyball, and rock climb.
Isabella Francisco
Double Bass
Website Manager
Isabella Francisco is a sophomore in high school. She's been playing the double bass for 5 years and plans to continue throughout high school. So far, she has participated in the CJMEA High School Orchestra and NJMEA Orchestra and Wind Ensemble in her freshman year. Other than playing, she likes to make visual art and bake. She's excited to see what she can do with the MBM website the next school year!
Emily Asuncion
Vocal
Social Media Manager
Emily Asuncion is a junior at EBHS and is excited to be managing MBM's social media this year. She has been performing with MBM as a vocalist and was a part of chorus for 6 years. Other than singing, she enjoys photography, sketching, exploring new music, and learning new languages as well.
Emma Lin
Cello
Emma Lin is currently a senior attending East Brunswick High School. She has been practicing the cello for about seven years with private lessons and has experience with piano and violin. Apart from Mockingbird Melody, throughout the years, she has participated in the Central Jersey Music Educators Association Orchestra and the New Jersey Music Educators Association Orchestra. Emma continues to attend several music competitions, some of which have allowed her to perform at the Weill Recital Hall in Carnegie Hall numerous times. She enjoys listening different kinds of music, walking in nature, and experience as much as possible.
Michael Kim
Violin & Piano
Michael Kim is currently a junior at EBHS. Michael plays the piano as a secondary instrument and enjoys listening to music. Other than being a musician, Michael has a keen interest in science and likes to read. He hopes to do well academically and continue his musical endeavors.
Justin Ham
Viola
Justin Ham is a junior at East Brunswick high school. He has been playing the viola for the last 6 years, starting in 4th grade. He currently plays for the Veritas Youth Symphony Orchestra and has been for the last 3 years. Justin also participated in the CJMEA Regionals Orchestra and currently works under William Law. Besides the viola, he has also played the piano as he traveled to Carnegie Hall and won the Gold award for the Golden Key Music Festival from 2015-2018. In his free time, Justin enjoys various activities such as golf.
Jessica Hong
Cello
Jessica Hong is a freshman in Churchill Junior High School. She has been learning the cello for 7 years while playing the piano for 9 years. Having won awards in various cello and piano competitions, such as Golden Key Music Festival, IMPACT Young Artists Competition, International Young Artists Competition, and NJMTA Young Musicians Competition, Jessica is a member of the Bravura Youth Symphony Orchestra and was also the principal cellist of the CJMEA Intermediate Chamber Orchestra. In her free time, Jessica enjoys drawing, bike-riding, birdwatching, and spending time with her friends.