MEET THE CON BRIO 2025 SEMIFINALISTS
PIANO SEMIFINALISTS

ADI GUPTA
Adi has been passionately playing the piano for 13 years since he was 7. He learns under world renowned concert pianists Natallia Kapylova and Liudmila Drazhnik. Currently pursuing an undergrad degree in Electrical Engineering at IIT Bombay, he is on his way to completing his FLCM in piano. Adi does regular solo and salon music performances.

ALTHEA FRANCESCA DESOUZA
Coming from a a musical background, Althea DeSouza was exposed to music from a very young age . She started playing the piano from the age of 5. She is currently in Std XII, St Xavier's College. A typical teenager, she loves moving out with her friends and playing piano duets with her cousin. Her diverse interests include tennis, baking, drawing, and painting. She has sung with the StopGaps Junior choir and was the 1st runner up in the inaugural Junior Con Brio piano competition in 2022. She has performed at the NCPA at the Budding Brigade Concert series. Her musical talent as a pianist has been carefully nurtured and guided by Emma Gilljam Tillu .

ANIKET ANAND
Aniket Anand, 23, began teaching himself the piano at age 7 in a remote town in Uttar Pradesh before formally studying piano from 2013. He completed Trinity College London grades at an accelerated pace, earning multiple distinctions. Aniket studied classical piano at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London, under Caroline Palmer. His repertoire includes works by Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Liszt, and Rachmaninoff. He has appeared at Milton Court and Silk Street Concert Halls and participated in chamber music and vocal duo projects. Passionate and driven, Aniket continues to explore repertoire with depth and clarity as he prepares for advanced musical study.

ASMI MORE
Asmi More is 11 years old and lives in Pune, Maharashtra. She was introduced to the piano during the pandemic, but started learning formally from September 2022. Asmi was a finalist in the 5th edition of Brillante Piano Festival 2024, in the junior category (13-16 yrs). She was the winner of the 10th piano competition of Around the Globe International Music Festival 2024, in the short recital - youth category (10-11yrs). She passed her MTB Grade 8 piano exam with distinction in January 2025. She received third prize in the 11th International Music Competition of Nouvelles étoiles for the little soloist category (10-12yrs) in February 2025.

HRISHEEK GANESH
Hrisheek Ganesh is a classical pianist and accompanist currently based in Bangalore. He is a graduate from Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Glasgow in Piano Performance and KM music Conservatory, Chennai and has been trained under Dr Adam Greig and Mr Fali Pavri. He has played in a variety of ensembles like progressive metal bands, chamber ensembles, ROLI Seaboard ensemble, etc. Some of the major projects he has been a part of include Dr. A R Rahman’s Pop-Opera project ‘Sempre Libera’ that performed at the NH7 Weekender in Pune and performing with the ROLI Seaboard ensemble in London. He is currently employed at the Subramaniam Academy of Performing Arts (SaPa) where he works as a a piano educator, music programmer and arranger.
_JPG.jpg)
SEAN NOEL
Sean Noel is an 18-year-old pianist and composer from Pune, whose journey with music began at the age of five. Under the mentorship of Ms. Sonam Lodhi at Studio Meraki, he developed a strong classical foundation and a deep connection to the piano. He holds a distinction in Grade 8 piano from Trinity College London, where he performed one of his original compositions as part of the final assessment. In 2018, he placed fifth in the All India Kawai Junior Piano Competition and is currently preparing for his ATCL diploma. Influenced by Mozart’s structure and Chopin’s emotional depth, Sean’s playing is marked by clarity, expression, and heart. He also plays the guitar and drums, allowing his musicality to extend beyond the piano. Over the years, he has performed in several recitals and led worship at St. Mary’s Church for over a decade

SWARA UPADHYAY
Swara Upadhyay, 17, is a dedicated and versatile pianist and violinist from Ahmedabad, Gujarat. With a deep-rooted foundation in both Western and Indian classical traditions, she has emerged as one of the most promising young musicians of her generation. Her piano repertoire includes works from Beethoven, Rachmaninoff, Chopin, Liszt, and others performed with expressive clarity, structural awareness, and developing artistic depth.
VIOLIN SEMIFINALISTS

ARYA SIDDHARTH MAYUR
Arya Mayur; a 19 year old Chemical engineering student based out of Pune in Maharashtra. The violin has been his best friend for nearly 15 years since the very first time he lifted thermocol cut outs of violins and played twinkles variations to performing large sonatas and concertos. This journey has been just magical for him, and he still has a long road to tread with lots more to learn which makes it so exciting. He finds serene peace in music and being able to express himself through music is a gift that he is forever grateful for.

E. CHRIS HARRIS SAM
Chris Harris Sam is a 17 year old violinist from the coastal city of Thoothukudi. His journey of playing the violin started when he was in grade 1. He is very passionate about this instrument. He has completed his grade 8 with distinction. He loves to play violin and enjoys classical music. He was a finalist in Con Brio for Violin in 2023 and 2024. He is currently preparing for his LTCL under the guidance of Mrs. Eshvita Menezes. He is doing his school studies and is in grade 12 in the computer science group. He is also a sports enthusiast and plays football for the school. He is very honored to be a semifinalist of the Con Brio violin and violo competition this year as well. For him, playing violin is not just about music. He sees it as a journey of discipline, growth, and self-discovery.
.jpg)
NATASHA JANISA PERIERA
Natasha Janisa Periera is a 17 year old violinist from Panjim, Goa, who began her musical journey from the age of 4. Currently in 12th standard, she is pursuing her LTCL in Violin performance and preparing for her Grade 8 Piano exam. Shehas also completed her Grade 4 in Vocals (Pop & Rock). Natasha plays several instruments including the ukelele, guitar, and melodica, and continues to shape her voice as a versatile young artist. She has served as concertmaster in orchestras and has performed a wide range of violin solos, often praised for her expressive tone and confident stage presensce. Natasha has also performed in various string quartets, trios and various ensembles, developing a strong foundation in collaborative music making.

NIAH ANNE NORONHA
Niah Noronha is a 14 year old violinist from Goa, India, whose deep passion for music has shaped her journey since the age of five. She completed her Grade 8 Violin under the guidance of Prof. Winston Colaco in Goa and currently continues her musical training at the Symphony Orchestra of India Academy, at the NCPA, Mumbai, under thr tutelage of Miss Nazikgul Zhanazarova.

RAKSHITHA SENTHIAPPAN
Rakshitha, aged 12, from Tuticorin, a very energetic and enthusiastic girl studying class 8 in The Vikasa School, Tuticorin. Rakshitha started her music lessons at the age of 5. She was taught with strong fundamentals in violin and Piano by Mr. Daniel Prakash, then joined the Chennai Youth Sinfonietta team as one of the violinists in 2023. Then she developed her violin playing skills from Mr. Pedro Gomez Briceno, teacher in Chennai Youth Sinfonietta. Rakshitha will complete grade 5 in violin, she is also learning piano from Mrs. Mira Ben Rodrigo, Tuticorin. Rakshitha attended a masterclass from Mr. Nic Pendeldury, Trinity Laban at Chennai in May 2025.

RIYA SEBASTIAN
Riya Sebastian (b. Feb, 2008) displayed a keen interest in music from a very young age. Her musical journey began as a singer when she was just 1 and a half years old, inspired by her brothers' performances in various reality shows at both the regional and national levels. She has successfully completed Grade 8 in violin from Trinity College London and is currently preparing for her Diploma courses, aiming to pursue excellence in her musical career.
.jpeg)
SMITHA SASIKUMAR
Smitha Sasikumar is a classical violinist from Chennai, tamil Nadu. Currently aged 17 years old, she has had a profound passion for the violin since the age of 9. She has completed 8 grades of ABRSM and is currently pursuing her ARDM diploma. Her interests are a vast spectrum of classical and contemporary for the violin, randing from Bach to Lindsey Stirling. She plays with the Genesis Chamber Orchestra and the MMA Symphony Orchestra.
