About Ananya (she/her)
Ananya Akula is a senior in high school. She is from Northern Virginia.
Ananya's passion for music began at the age of 5 as she studied Carnatic music. Since then, she has been accepted into choral ensembles across the country from the county to national level. Choir allows her to build a family through the universal language of music, while working with a group of diverse and exciting musicians. Through choir, Ananya set several new records within her community as early as her first year of high school. In 2021, she became the first freshman from Loudoun County Public Schools to get accepted into the Virginia All-State Choir. In 2022, she received a perfect score on her Virginia All-State Choir audition, earning the first chair across the state. Ananya is grateful for the opportunity to participate in multiple American Choral Director's Association (ACDA) Regional and National Choirs, along with the National Association for Music. She values all of these organizations' initatives to nurture lifelong involvement in choral music by providing opportunities for music students and educators across the country to attend workshops, perform, and build a network.
While participating in numerous ensemble organizations, Ananya has had the privilege of participating in masterclasses with Carnegie Mellon University Voice Coach Ellen Rissinger, New York University Voice Professor Jacob Carr, Broadway Lead Judy McLane, and James Madison University Voice Professor Dr. Sonya Baker. Moreover, Ananya has participated in various ensembles led by University of Michigan Director of Choral Activities Dr. Eugene Rogers, University of Miami Director of Choral Activities Dr. Amanda Quist, Trinity University Director of Choral Activities Dr. Gary Seighman, Southeastern Louisiana University Director of Choral Activities Dr. Frances Fonza, University of Washington Director of Choral Activities Dr. Geoffrey Paul Boers, Carthage College Director of Choral Activities Dr. Maggie Burk, Shenandoah University Voice Professor Dr. Fotina Naumenko, Dr. Edyrn Coleman, Dr. Kathleen Bell, and Dr. Steve Jennings.
Through Ananya's leadership in the arts, she has positively impacted her community. In Rock Ridge Sings, the choral program at her high school, Ananya serves as the Choir Board President, Teacher's Assistant for Fine Arts Department Chair and Choral Director Jordan Markwood, Student Choral Conductor, and member of the Chamber Choir. Guided by their mission statement, "Uniting Voices and Building Community Through Song", Ananya actively contributes to a leadership team that celebrates a new theme each year that ties concerts, outreach initiatives, and events together. Themes like "Uplift", "Connection", and "Unity" deeply resonate with Ananya, intertwining with her life's priority to use her passions to be the change in her community.
Leading volunteer opportunities for the Fine Arts Department at Rock Ridge, Ananya collaborates with Waltonwood Senior Living, Pacifica Senior Living, Mobile Hope, and Dulles South Food Pantry to host and participate in monthly performances for the senior residents, along with planning and promoting food and clothing donation drives at concerts. Seeing the transformative power of music reignite a spark in people is truly inspiring. Ananya finds immense joy in giving back to her community as she sees the impact art makes on people - from a smile to refueling a craft. One morning, Ananya had a conversation with a resident who expressed his gratitude towards these organized performances as they brought music into his life, and he started playing the piano again.
Ananya is the president of the Rock Ridge United Sound Chapter, which is designed to remove barriers between people with disabilities and to foster social change through music education. One of Ananya's professional goals is to make music equitable and accessible for all regardless of learning ability, cultural background, socioeconomic status, or geographical location; she loves sharing the joy of music with those that have not previously had this opportunity.
Ananya takes initiative on her interests in music research and innovation, as she pursues a project on the effect of concentration of dopamine released from music therapy on apoptotic cells from the Burkitt's Lymphoma cell line. In fact, in 2022, she collaborated with NeuroSound Music Therapy to host a gala sponsored by the Tri-M Music Honor Society. Through this opportunity, she educated her local community on music's transformative power to heal in the medical field, encouraging musicians to donate time to share art at nursing homes. Ananya is fascinated by the effects that songwriting, improvisation, and movement to music can have on all individuals. From incorporating these activities into her lesson plans as a future music educator to participating in clinical-based research with patients, Ananya is excited to bring this project into action.
Ananya plans to major in music education in college. In Ananya's free time, she enjoys playing the piano, guitar, traveling, and teaching.
Ananya's passion for music began at the age of 5 as she studied Carnatic music. Since then, she has been accepted into choral ensembles across the country from the county to national level. Choir allows her to build a family through the universal language of music, while working with a group of diverse and exciting musicians. Through choir, Ananya set several new records within her community as early as her first year of high school. In 2021, she became the first freshman from Loudoun County Public Schools to get accepted into the Virginia All-State Choir. In 2022, she received a perfect score on her Virginia All-State Choir audition, earning the first chair across the state. Ananya is grateful for the opportunity to participate in multiple American Choral Director's Association (ACDA) Regional and National Choirs, along with the National Association for Music. She values all of these organizations' initatives to nurture lifelong involvement in choral music by providing opportunities for music students and educators across the country to attend workshops, perform, and build a network.
While participating in numerous ensemble organizations, Ananya has had the privilege of participating in masterclasses with Carnegie Mellon University Voice Coach Ellen Rissinger, New York University Voice Professor Jacob Carr, Broadway Lead Judy McLane, and James Madison University Voice Professor Dr. Sonya Baker. Moreover, Ananya has participated in various ensembles led by University of Michigan Director of Choral Activities Dr. Eugene Rogers, University of Miami Director of Choral Activities Dr. Amanda Quist, Trinity University Director of Choral Activities Dr. Gary Seighman, Southeastern Louisiana University Director of Choral Activities Dr. Frances Fonza, University of Washington Director of Choral Activities Dr. Geoffrey Paul Boers, Carthage College Director of Choral Activities Dr. Maggie Burk, Shenandoah University Voice Professor Dr. Fotina Naumenko, Dr. Edyrn Coleman, Dr. Kathleen Bell, and Dr. Steve Jennings.
Through Ananya's leadership in the arts, she has positively impacted her community. In Rock Ridge Sings, the choral program at her high school, Ananya serves as the Choir Board President, Teacher's Assistant for Fine Arts Department Chair and Choral Director Jordan Markwood, Student Choral Conductor, and member of the Chamber Choir. Guided by their mission statement, "Uniting Voices and Building Community Through Song", Ananya actively contributes to a leadership team that celebrates a new theme each year that ties concerts, outreach initiatives, and events together. Themes like "Uplift", "Connection", and "Unity" deeply resonate with Ananya, intertwining with her life's priority to use her passions to be the change in her community.
Leading volunteer opportunities for the Fine Arts Department at Rock Ridge, Ananya collaborates with Waltonwood Senior Living, Pacifica Senior Living, Mobile Hope, and Dulles South Food Pantry to host and participate in monthly performances for the senior residents, along with planning and promoting food and clothing donation drives at concerts. Seeing the transformative power of music reignite a spark in people is truly inspiring. Ananya finds immense joy in giving back to her community as she sees the impact art makes on people - from a smile to refueling a craft. One morning, Ananya had a conversation with a resident who expressed his gratitude towards these organized performances as they brought music into his life, and he started playing the piano again.
Ananya is the president of the Rock Ridge United Sound Chapter, which is designed to remove barriers between people with disabilities and to foster social change through music education. One of Ananya's professional goals is to make music equitable and accessible for all regardless of learning ability, cultural background, socioeconomic status, or geographical location; she loves sharing the joy of music with those that have not previously had this opportunity.
Ananya takes initiative on her interests in music research and innovation, as she pursues a project on the effect of concentration of dopamine released from music therapy on apoptotic cells from the Burkitt's Lymphoma cell line. In fact, in 2022, she collaborated with NeuroSound Music Therapy to host a gala sponsored by the Tri-M Music Honor Society. Through this opportunity, she educated her local community on music's transformative power to heal in the medical field, encouraging musicians to donate time to share art at nursing homes. Ananya is fascinated by the effects that songwriting, improvisation, and movement to music can have on all individuals. From incorporating these activities into her lesson plans as a future music educator to participating in clinical-based research with patients, Ananya is excited to bring this project into action.
Ananya plans to major in music education in college. In Ananya's free time, she enjoys playing the piano, guitar, traveling, and teaching.