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Executive Team
Founder and Previous Executive Director
Tehya Lim
Hi! My name is Tehya and I am the Founder of Helping Harmony. I’m a senior in high school and have played cello for 10-11 years, winning Grand Prize and Silver awards for competitions such as the International Young Artist Competition and IMPACT International Competition, and have received High Honors for multiple NJMTA recitals. I have also been involved in Regionals/All State/All Eastern Orchestra since middle school - most recently placing 1st in All State (‘23) and 2nd in All Eastern (‘23). I am the Principal Cellist of the Bravura Youth Orchestra, and will be soloing with BYO in December of 2023. Besides my own musical journey, I hope to major in public policy in college - continuing to provide others with what I believe are necessities in life: musical experiences and community integration.
Previous Executive Director
Evelyn Chao
Hi everyone! My name’s Evelyn, I’m an incoming senior at East Brunswick High School and the Executive Director of Helping Harmony. I’ve been playing the piano for 11 years and violin for 8, having performed at various venues including Carnegie Hall as a Grand Prix Winner of Music Fest and Gold Winner at the International Young Artists Competition. I am also the 2-yr assistant concertmaster of the Bravura Youth Orchestra. Apart from the Bravura Youth Orchestra, I’ve also played with the Bravura Philharmonic and NJ All State and Regional Orchestra for 6 years. Outside of Helping Harmony, I’m also the president of Mockingbird Melody, a nonprofit that performs music for senior homes and other community venues to raise money for charity. One fun fact about me is that I’ve played on tour with The Piano Guys in fall 2022!
Executive Director
Keaton Chien
My name is Keaton Chien, and I am currently a senior attending The Peddie School. I am both the Executive Director and a music teacher of Helping Harmony. I’ve been playing the viola for 8 years. I’ve played in both the NJ All-State and Regionals Orchestras since sixth grade and have attended the Boston University Tanglewood Institute summer Young Artists Orchestra Program. In addition to music, I am the team captain of my school’s varsity rowing team, and I love playing basketball. A fun fact about me is that I have a very large Lego Star Wars collection!
Assistant Director
Sahil Kochhar
Sahil Kochhar is the Assistant Director of Helping Harmony, and a senior at East Brunswick High School. Sahil has experience as the President of his own non-profit organization, Youth Voice in Action, as well as multiple first-place awards at various bollywood dance competitions. He also has a havanese dog named Toby!
Director of Social Media
Emily Asuncion
Hi! My name is Emily Asuncion and I am a rising senior at East Brunswick High School. As HH’s social media director, I overlook our instagram and take part in designing posts and flyers to keep others updated about our cause, goals, and progress online! I’m very grateful to be part of a unique organization which combines music, education, and community. A fun fact about me is that I love photography and learning new languages!
Director of Website/Visuals
Kunal Singh
Hello! My name is Kunal Singh, and I am a senior currently attending Central Jersey College Prep Charter. I am the Director/Executive of the Website and Visuals for Helping Harmony! I do weekly updates on the website such as posting our events, new chapters, and even new members on the about us page! As an individual interested in pursuing a technology-oriented career, working at HH is a great opportunity and I am glad to be a part of the team! One fun fact about me is that I have been video editing for almost 6 years!
Director of Outreach
Natalie Cheng
Natalie Cheng is a sophomore attending Montgomery High School and serves as an outreach assistant in Helping Harmony. She has been playing violin for six years and is a member of the Youth Orchestra of Central Jersey (YOCJ). Natalie has played in the CJMEA Regional Orchestras, is an officer of Montgomery High School’s Orchestra Council, and has received an academic award for her contributions to her school’s orchestra program. In addition to violin, Natalie enjoys singing karaoke with her friends.
Director of Translations
Andrea Sanchez
Hi! I'm Andrea, a senior at CJCP. I have been a Spanish translator for HH since June 2022. I volunteered at a school as a teacher and translator. I love listening to music and baking!
Director of Fundraising
Ava Khong
Hi! My name is Ava Khong and I am the Fundraising Director of Helping Harmony. I am a senior at Immaculata High School. I organize and run fundraisers like the Bubble Tea Bake Sale and the Clothing Drive! A fun fact about me is that I love volleyball and theater.
Teachers
Teacher
Joie Kuan
Hi! I'm Joie, a rising senior at Central Jersey College Prep. I have been a teacher in HH since June 2022, and I love playing solo piano and participating in the chamber/orchestral setting as well as teaching. I was principal pianist for All-Eastern Band '23, have won solo/chamber awards for NJMTA and NLPA. I am also the principal violist and Student President of the Bravura Youth Orchestra. In my free time I enjoy taking photos, learning electric bass, and going on runs.
Teacher
Nishka Rao
Nishka Rao is a senior at East Brunswick High School and a voice teacher for Helping Harmony. She has been singing for eleven years and has won various competitions such as the New York Lyric Opera, NATS, MAMTG, Laurita Idol and the American Protégé We Sing Pop International Competition. She has also performed at Symphony Space Hall and Columbia University. Aside from music, she enjoys swimming and watching Broadway shows, with her favorite musical being Wicked!
Teacher
Savani Abeynayaka
Hi! I am Savani Abeynayaka, I’m a senior at East Brunswick High School, and I play the piano. I have been playing piano for almost nine years and have completed up through grade 7 or ABRSM. Outside of playing piano, I enjoy reading, going on hikes, and listening to music. A fun fact about me is that I am bilingual!
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Teacher
Julia Peldunas
Julia Peldunas is a senior at New Providence High School. Julia has volunteered as a guitar teacher with Helping Harmony since March of 2023. She has played the guitar since she was in the 7th grade. Over the past two years, Julia has played the guitar in her school’s pit orchestra, performing scores written for professional musicians. Besides playing the guitar, Julia is the center marimba for the front ensemble in the NPHS Marching Band, where she has been a Section Leader for the past two years, and the NPHS Indoor Drumline, where she has been the Front Ensemble Captain for the past three years. Julia is also a percussionist in the NPHS Concert Band and plays the guitar for the NPHS Jazz Band. When she is not playing the guitar, Julia enjoys composing music, writing, and playing softball for the NPHS Varsity Softball team. One fun fact about Julia is that she plans on studying Journalism in college to help bring awareness to the refugee crisis and other social injustices.
Team
Social Media Director Assistant
Austin Wu
Hi, my name is Austin Wu, I'm in 8th grade, and I'm the social media director’s assistant and the visual arts director’s assistant in Helping Harmony. I play the cello and have received first place in the Little Mozart competition and am on the Math and Science Olympiad team at my school. One fun fact about me is that I play Soccer, Badminton and Volleyball.
Social Media
Jillian Kenny
Hi! My name is Jillian Kenny, I am a senior at Immaculata High School, and I am currently a part of Helping Harmony’s social media team. Despite my life being more artistically oriented, I also enjoy playing the guitar, bass guitar, and clarinet as a part of various bands. At IHS I am the president of our Art Club and Video Club, the Co-Director of our Art Crew, and the Women in STEM club’s Social Media/ Visual Director. Additionally, I am currently starting the Coloring Books for a Cause Club at my school, a program that will share the joy of art with community members by donating monthly coloring books to nearby nursing homes, assisted living centers, and preschools. Outside of school, I spend the majority of my time volunteering at a local art center, the Center for Contemporary Art, and enjoy playing volleyball, drawing, and being a Starbucks drink connoisseur.
Fundraising Assistant Director
Jodi Sun
My name is Jodi Sun and I'm a fundraising assistant for Helping Harmony. I'm in 12th grade and I play both piano and violin. A fun fact about me is that I love Studio Ghibli!
Fundraising
Somin Lee
Hello! My name is Somin Lee, a member of the fundraising team of Helping Harmony. I am a high school senior who has various experience in conducting fundraisers and bake sales to promote my own clubs and organizations within and outside of school! Apart from my desires to build monetary support for a good cause, I have also played the violin for nine years, winning various competitions and participating in in-school, regional, and voluntary orchestras throughout new jersey, so an organization like Helping Harmony which directs its focus to teaching children music seemed the perfect opportunity to express a combination of my two interests! One fun fact about me is that I have re-watched the complete Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise in order 3 times, a major inspiration to my ambition to help and advance the world through my passions!
Fundraising
Jessica Hong
​Hi, my name is Jessica Hong and I am a sophomore attending East Brunswick High School! I have played the cello for eight years and have won awards from various music competitions, including MTNA, NJMTA, and the Bravura Youth Orchestra Concerto Competition. In my free time, I love to draw and play badminton with my friends. Serving on Helping Harmony’s fundraising team and raising money for our future endeavors was a rewarding experience for me this summer, and I am eager to continue contributing to HH’s amazing cause this year!
Website/Visual Media
Grace Lo
Hey everyone! My name is Grace Lo and I am a rising sophomore. I work on the website/visual media team. I also play flute and piano and won two gold prize awards in AAFAA for flute. I enjoy reading, coding, and cooking!
Outreach Assistant Director
Matthew Ho
My name is Matthew Ho, and I am a sophomore at East Brunswick High School. I am the
Assistant Director of Outreach here at Helping Harmony. I started playing the cello in 4th grade
with my school orchestra and currently study at the Juilliard Pre-College. I was the NJ State and
Eastern Division winner of the 2022-2023 MTNA Competition in the junior strings division and
the principal cellist of the Juilliard Pre-College Symphony in the 2022-2023 winter season. I had
the chance to perform with the Camerata New Jersey Orchestra and the Bravura Philharmonic
Orchestra after winning their concerto competitions. I’ve also won other competitions such as
the NLPA International Young Artists Competition and the VIVO International Music
Competition. I love to give back to my community with my music! One fun fact about me is my
favorite ice cream flavor is vanilla bean.
Website/Visual Media
Adeline Chen
My name is Adeline Chen, I’m a rising senior, and I am part of HH’s Website/Visual Team! I play the flute, piano, and ukulele.
Outreach
Hannah Lin
Hello! My name is Hannah Lin, and I am a rising senior at East Brunswick High School. I’m currently on the Outreach Team for Helping Harmony, helping to reach out to everyone who can support our mission. I’ve been playing the violin for over a decade; I love playing orchestral music and music has helped me connect with so many friends and mentors. In particular, Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto never fails to make me sweat and smile. Along with participating in the regional and state orchestras, I’ve won international and national music competitions. A fun fact about me is that I love to bake, especially cheesecakes, but I eat them too quickly for my friends to taste.