Kaiden Surti – 1st Prize with Special Mention, Composition
Kaiden Surti, a 14-year-old musician and composer, began his musical journey at the age of 5 when he began playing the tabla (Indian percussion), inspired by his grandparents and Indian culture. He was then introduced to the violin at age 6, igniting his passion for performing, recording, and composing music.
Kaiden is trained in classical Indian tabla and classical Western violin. He has performed at a variety of venues ranging from concert halls, festivals, private events, open mics, churches, and temples. Kaiden has captivated audiences of all ages and backgrounds, whether it’s playing Mozart for his 3-year-old cousin, jamming for dancers, deeply immersed in a chamber performance, or at a spiritual bhajan. Kaiden is currently in the Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA) Montage performing group, collaborating with singers, dancers, instrumentalists, and actors in performances around the community.
Kaiden first started composing at the age of 9, using voice memos on his mother’s iPhone. From there, he developed his skills and expanded his tools to compose pieces that span multiple genres and cultures. Kaiden composed “Turning Winter,” which was premiered by the Prelude Chamber Strings Orchestra. His tabla and violin concerto “Hear Me” won the PTA Reflections Outstanding Interpretation award. His fusion piece “We Beat Together” was selected for the NPR KCRW Young Creators Project, which was aired on the radio and performed live at School Night at Bardot in Hollywood.
Kaiden pushes boundaries while embracing tradition, aiming to spark a conversation about creating music that inspires.
Winning video:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1XUXINXLF_DBuUlaUf-CYOU3o8eHUwmHQ?usp=drive_link