Biography

Narain Darakananda is a violinist and music teacher based in Providence, Rhode Island. He is a violin faculty member at the Rhode Island Philharmonic  Music School and the music teacher at Meeting Street. An active performer, Narain’s concert career has included performances with Providence Candlelight Concerts, Vallejo Symphony, and Sacramento Philharmonic. His students have gone on to play at the Rhode Island Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, Rhode Island Solo and Ensemble Festival, Villa Sinfonia Foundation, CODA All-State Orchestras, Massachusetts Central District Orchestra, Golden Gate Philharmonic, San Francisco All-City Middle School Youth Orchestra, and Ottawa Youth Symphony.

Narain received his early start on the violin at the Villa Sinfonia Foundation studying with Lynn Oakley. He would later go on to earn his BA in music and psychology from Bard College, studying with Erica Kiesewetter and his MM in violin performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, studying with Kay Stern. He is also an alum of Round Top Music Festival 18’, DeLay Starling Violin Symposium 19’, and Emerald Coast Chamber Music Festival 20’. He has previously been faculty at the Amabile School of Music, Music City Academy, Exploring Music SF, Northern California Music and Arts Cultural Center, and Zephyr Point Chamber Music Camp. Awards include the Margaret and John Bard Scholars Prize in the Division of Arts (2021), the Margaret Creal Shafer Prizes in Composition and Performance (2021), and the Dr. Richard M. Siegel '43 Memorial Prize in Music (2020).