Biography
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Narain Darakananda is a distinguished violinist, string pedagogue, and music teacher in Providence, Rhode Island. Audiences have described his performances as “exceptionally moving” and “stunning.” He is a violin, chamber music, and youth orchestra 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 and Newport Candlelight Concerts, Vallejo Symphony, and Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera. He has performed as a soloist with the Bard College Community Orchestra and the Candlelight Concert’s Vivaldi Four Seasons series in Providence and Newport. He can be found performing at venues such as Bishop McVinney Auditorium, Central Congregational Church, the Carter Center for Music Education and Performance, and Belcourt of Newport.
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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 B.A. in music and psychology from Bard College, studying violin with Erica Kiesewetter and serving as her teaching assistant. Narain received his M.M. in violin performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, studying violin with Kay Stern and chamber music with Joseph Maile and Jeremiah Shaw. As a student, he was a winner of the San Francisco Junior Bach Competition (2014), and the Bard College Community Orchestra Concerto Competition (2018). Other 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). He is also an alum of the Teaching Artist’s Training Institute 24’, Round Top Music Festival 18’, DeLay Starling Violin Symposium 19’, and Emerald Coast Chamber Music Festival 20’.
A dedicated teacher, Narain draws extensively from his background as a performer, psychologist, and pedagogue. His students have won positions at the Rhode Island Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, Rhode Island Solo and Ensemble’s Honors Recital, 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. Previous faculty positions have included the Victoria’s Dream Project, Amabile School of Music, Music City Academy, Exploring Music SF, Northern California Music and Arts Cultural Center, and Zephyr Point Chamber Music Camp. Narain has the privilege of performing on a 1721 Antonio Zanotti violin.
A dedicated teacher, Narain draws extensively from his background as a performer, psychologist, and pedagogue. His students have won positions at the Rhode Island Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, Rhode Island Solo and Ensemble’s Honors Recital, 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. Previous faculty positions have included the Victoria’s Dream Project, Amabile School of Music, Music City Academy, Exploring Music SF, Northern California Music and Arts Cultural Center, and Zephyr Point Chamber Music Camp. Narain has the privilege of performing on a 1721 Antonio Zanotti violin.