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Executive Team
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!
Secretary
Jessica Hong
My name is Jessica Hong. I am a junior and a member of Tri-M Music Honor Society at East Brunswick High School. As a devoted cellist in the 10th year of study, I have been playing in the NJ All State and Region orchestras since the sixth grade and will join the 2025 All-Eastern Honors Orchestra. For solo and chamber performances, I have won awards from various music competitions, such as MTNA State competition, NJMTA YMC competition, BYO Concerto Competition, and NYYPP International Competition. Serving on Helping Harmony’s executive team to help refugee children is incredibly fulfilling and rewarding, allowing me to contribute to society through music. A fun fact about me is that you could find a drawing of a gigantic seat belt by me on the internet.
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Outreach Director
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.
Translations Direct
Ashely Figueroa
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Website Director
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!
Teachers
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.
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!
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.