PRE 6/1/18: Houston Hospitals, TX

Members: Houston Methodist Hospital & Texas Children's Hospital, TX

Varun Bansal, Founder (2014) Status: Active

Varun is a junior student at Rice University. He graduated from West Shore Junior/Senior High School (Melbourne, FL) in 2013. He has studied violin since the age of nine. As an active member of the music community, Varun has performed with the Rice University Campanile Orchestra (Houston, TX), the Brevard Symphony Youth Orchestra (Melbourne, FL), & the West Shore Chamber Orchestra. He has also participated in the Florida All-State Orchestras Brevard All-County Orchestras, Solo and Ensemble, and Federation of Music Clubs. Varun was concertmaster of West Shore Chamber Orchestra and Principal Second violinist for Brevard Symphony Youth Orchestra from 2011-2012. In addition, during his 10th grade year, Varun mentored two violin students at Club Esteem, an after-school program for local underprivileged children. In his free time, he enjoys good books, sports, and hanging out with friends.
Instrument(s): Violin Biography last updated: Feb 2016

Zoe Tao Member Since: July 2014 Status: Study Abroad

Zoe Tao is a junior at Rice University ('17) studying psychology and pre-medical studies. She plays the guitar, violin, and pipe organ, but her main loves are in piano, voice, and composition. Prior to attending Rice, she studied piano with a professor at the Shepherd School of Music for seven years and violin with a member of the Houston Symphony for four years. Her senior year of high school, she started training her own orchestra minions (aka teaching lessons to middle school students). After playing in public school orchestras and ensembles for seven years, making fourteen years total of classical music training, Zoe decided to join the Rice Jazz Band and Combo and now greatly enjoys spontaneous improvisation. Outside of playing music, Zoe enjoys reading about complementary and alternative medicine (such as music therapy!), practicing yoga, working on research in neurodegenerative disease, and DJing for ktru, Rice's radio station.
Instrument(s): Piano/Voice Biography last updated: Feb 2016

Julia Zhang Member Since: Sept 2014 Status: Active

Julia is currently a junior attending Rice University as a Bioengineering major. She is classically trained soprano and has had over 7 years of experience as well as training. She has participated in many concerts as a soloist as well as advanced as a semifinalist/finalist in many vocal competitions such as All-State as well as Solo & Ensemble. She enjoys singing arias as well as solos from musicals. Outside of MusicMDs she participates in laboratory research at the Pediatric Cardiac Bioengineering Lab at Texas Children’s Hospital as well as clinical research in pediatric gastroenterology, also at Texas Children’s Hospital.

Instrument(s): Voice Biography last updated: Feb 2016

Jennifer-Carson Gonzàlez Member Since: Sept 2014 Status: Active

Jennifer Carson-González is a junior, biochemistry major at Rice University. She has been playing piano since age 6. Jennifer studied under Rice’s Dr. Sohyoung Park in high school and took a gap year to record and perform Frédéric Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in Montréal. As a student at Houston’s High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Jennifer earned second place in a school solo and ensemble competition by performing a selection from Brahms’ Sonata for 2 Pianos, Op. 34b. Jennifer enjoys cooking and loves to travel.

Instrument(s): Piano Biography last updated: Feb 2016

Ava Jang Member Since: Nov 2014 Status: Active

My name is Ava Jang. I am part of the class of 2016 at Rice University in Houston, Texas. It has been about 10 years that I have been playing the violin. Throughout middle and high school, I participated in the school orchestra. I was also a member of the Junior District orchestra in Fairfax County, Virginia. Besides playing the violin, I love to listen to hip-hop and acoustic music, as well as watching various genres of movies.

Instrument(s): Violin/Voice Biography last updated: Nov 2015

Elizabeth Godfrey Member Since: Jan 2015 Status: Active

I have been playing the viola for ten years and have studied with Winston Turbeville, Chris Parsons, and Beverly Bias. I have played in the Stinson Middle School Varsity Orchestra, the Health Careers High School Varsity Orchestra, the YOSA Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Rice University Campanile Orchestra. I was the principal violist in both Varsity orchestras and the second chair violist in the Campanile. I have received over a dozen first division awards for solo and group performances playing both the violin and viola, including a first division viola solo award at the Texas State Solo and Ensemble competition. I was also honored with membership in Region 11 TMEA Orchestras from 6th to 12th grade. Outside of music, I am studying Bioengineering as a premedical student, with the goal of becoming a medical innovator and practicing clinician.
Instrument(s): Viola Biography last updated: Apr 2015

Chelsea Wu Member Since: Feb 2015 Status: Active

Chelsea Wu is currently a sophomore pre-med studying biochemistry at Rice University (’18). She has been playing violin since the age of six and has been playing for 12 years. Chelsea is currently a violinist with the Rice University Campanile Orchestra. She has participated in various honor orchestras including the Arizona West Regional Orchestra, Arizona All-State Orchestra, and All-National Honors Orchestra in Nashville, TN. In high school, Chelsea was also a member of the Phoenix Youth Symphony; and, in addition to larger orchestral playing, Chelsea also enjoyed playing with her high school’s string quartet. During her free time, Chelsea likes to spend time with friends, watch movies, read, write, and eat good food.
Instrument(s): Violin Biography last updated: Feb 2016

Zohra Baig Member Since: Apr 2015 Status: Active

Zohra is an undergraduate student at Rice University (’18), where she is studying English and Biological Sciences. She has played viola for over 8 years as a section leader in Varsity Orchestras throughout junior high and high school as well as earned division one’s on all solo pieces throughout school. She was also honored to be a member of the All-Region 23 TMEA Orchestras throughout junior high and once again in high school. Currently, she plays viola at Rice for the Baker Quartet and Companile Orchestra. Apart from music, Zohra enjoys volunteering to mentor economically disadvantaged high school students reach higher education as well as spending time with her friends and family in Houston. Zohra hopes to attend medical school one day and practice neurology in order to soothe the minds of her patients just as she does with her music.

Instrument(s): Viola Biography last updated: June 2015

Gabriela Barrios Member Since: Apr 2015 Status: Active

Gabriela Barrios is a rising junior (class of 2018) at Rice University. She is a pre-medical student who plans to study chemistry or math. She has played the piano independently for 14 years, and she has played the violin for 13 years under private instruction. She has performed in several solo recitals and in one of her high school’s theater productions. Gabriela participated in her high school’s orchestra for two years, becoming the concertmaster in addition to participating in the Denver Continental League Orchestra her senior year. She is currently a violinist in the Rice Campanile Orchestra for non-music majors. Her interests include spending time with friends, dancing, drawing, and watching movies.

Instrument(s): Violin/Piano Biography last updated: Feb 2016

Natasha Mehta Member Since: Sept 2015 Status: Active

My name is Natasha Mehta and I am a sophomore at Rice University. My instruments include piano, which I have practiced for twelve years, and voice, which I have practiced for six years. I received private instruction for both instruments throughout high school and gained high rankings in Solo and Ensemble for both instruments and in the All-State competition for voice. In addition to those honors, I was section leader for all alto, soprano two, and soprano one throughout my high school choral career, and served as the teaching assistant for two years. In addition to music, I also enjoy reading, cooking, and SCUBA diving.

Instrument(s): Voice/Piano Biography last updated: Sept 2015

Haley Kurisky Member Since: Nov 2015 Status: Active

Haley Kurisky attends Rice University, and is a member of the class of 2018. She is an avid singer who has been singing her entire life. She was a member of prestigious choirs for over 8 years pre-college, and has been a featured soloist in over 9 shows. Her musical achievements include admission to the Texas All-Region Choir, Solo and Ensemble 1st place (3 times), and being picked to be a solo artist in multiple high school and travelling productions. Her hobbies include swimming and playing water polo, and she enjoys reading and hanging out with her friends and family.

Instrument(s): Voice Biography last updated: Jan 2016

Michelle Zhong Member Since: Nov 2015 Status: Active

My name is Michelle Zhong, and I am a part of Rice University’s Class of 2019! I started playing the flute when I was in the 6th grade, and have been blessed to be a part of the Georgia All State Bands through middle and high school and the Atlanta Youth Wind Symphony in high school. I currently play in the Rice Campanile Orchestra for non-majors. With regards to hobbies outside of flute, I am a part of Rice’s Camp Kesem chapter, and am looking to join Rice’s EMS team as well.

Instrument(s): Flute/Voice Biography last updated: Jan 2016

Tonya Burton Member Since: Nov 2015 Status: Active

Violist Tonya Burton is currently studying at the Shepherd School of music with James Dunham. She received her Bachelor of Music from the Cleveland Institute of Music, where her principal teachers were Jeffrey Irvine and Lynne Ramsey. The recipient of the Angela Svendson Memorial Music Scholarship and the Elaine Christian Creative Arts Scholarship, Ms. Burton is currently studying under full scholarship. An avid chamber musician, Ms. Burton has been a fellow at the Perlman Music Program and the Caroga Lake Festival. She has appeared on the Brecksville Chamber Music Series, the Chamber Music Connection Conservatory Series, and on a CIM Faculty Chamber Recital. She has had the privilege of collaborating with esteemed artists such as, Donald Weilerstein, Jeffrey Irvine and Mark Kosower. As an orchestral musician, Ms. Burton has been the principal violist for the Shepherd Symphony Orchestra, MasterWorks Festival Orchestra and the associate principal for the Portland Festival Symphony. She has participated in music festivals including the Heifetz International Music Institute, Domaine Forget Academy, the Brevard Music Festival, and recently did an apprenticeship at the MasterWorks festival.
Instrument(s): Viola Biography last updated: Jan 2016

Grace Lim Member Since: Jan 2016 Status: Active

Grace is a junior Piano Performance and Music Theory major at Rice University. She has been studying the piano for 14 years and plays all genres ranging from Classical, Pop, Jazz, and Christian. She also plays the flute, guitar, and sings. She has performed in Los Angeles and Houston, and received first prizes from Southern Youth Music Festival. In high school, Grace was also part of the jazz band, and received awards for her improvisation and improvement. In her free time, she likes to run, cook, and spend time with her friends.

Instrument(s): Piano Biography last updated: Jan 2016

Danna Ghafir Member Since: Jan 2016 Status: Active

My name is Danna Ghafir, and I am a Biochemistry and Cell Biology major in Rice University's Class of 2018. While my primary instrument is voice, I also play piano and guitar to accompany myself during performances. I began singing before I started speaking, but received private classical instruction during the latter half of my time in high school and for a semester at Rice. I achieved my greatest vocal accomplishment in the spring of 2013 when I sang a solo in Carnegie Hall with the National Youth Choir. I am currently the Music Director of Rice Nocturnal, one of Rice University's co-ed a cappella groups, and I am the lead singer of my Rice University-based rock band, called Half Patrick.
Instrument(s): Voice Biography last updated: Jan 2016

Rishi Suresh Member Since: Jan 2016 Status: Active

Rishi Suresh is a junior at Rice University studying Cognitive Sciences. Rishi plays violin, guitar, and also sings. He is a member of both Basmati Beats and Nocturnal, two a cappella groups on campus. Rishi has been playing violin and singing since he was in elementary school and has performed in front of a variety of different audiences. He was also a member of his school’s orchestra from 6th to 12th grade and has performed with groups like the Bay Area Youth Symphony.

Instrument(s): Voice/Guitar/Violin Biography last updated: Feb 2016

Emily Shen Member Since: Feb 2016 Status: Active

Emily Shen is a freshman at Rice University (’19). She has played violin for 10 years, and served as concertmaster in both her high school’s varsity orchestra and in the area’s all-regional orchestra. Currently, she plays in Rice’s Campanile Orchestra for non-majors. Her activities outside of music include volunteering in the Texas Medical Center and planning campus-wide social events.

Instrument(s): Violin/Piano Biography last updated: Feb 2016

Allison Burns Member Since: Mar 2015 Status: Inactive

Allison Burns is a senior (’16) at Rice University studying Cognitive Science. She has played guitar for the past six years and has been singing ever since she could talk. An active member of the Rice community, Allison is the president of The Low Keys -- Rice’s only all female a cappella group. She spends a lot of her free time volunteering and aspires to be an occupational therapist when she is an adult someday.

Instrument(s): Guitar/Ukulele/Voice Biography last updated: May 2015

Trevor Jamison Member Since: Apr 2015 Status: Inactive since Aug 2015

Trevor is a rising sophomore (class of 2018) at Rice University studying Biochemistry and History and pursuing a career as a physician. He has played the guitar for the past seven years. He is currently the lead guitarist on the worship team at First Colony Christian Church, and he was formerly lead guitarist on the worship team at Fort Bend Christian Academy High School. Outside of music, Trevor enjoys volunteering at Houston Methodist Hospital, doing research on cancer immunotherapy at Baylor College of Medicine, and reading good books.

Instrument(s): Guitar Biography last updated: Jan 2016