Our Group.
Tzu Tsen Wu
Ruan
Tzu Tsen Wu is a musical adventurer, exploring cultural and artistic boundaries through music. She was born in, 1990, Taiwan, appreciate and perform a remarkably wide range of international music, from Taiwanese music, Chinese music, and Western classical to contemporary Pop from around the world. Tzu Tsen plays many instruments and mostly plucked instrument in addition to ukulele, guitar, piano, banjo, and Jakhee, specializing in Chinese zhongruan and liuqin. Always striving to become a better musician, she looks for new challenges in different musical traditions and diverse styles. Tzu Tsen started college as a biology major before turning to music full time. She has two bachelor’s degree, one in Biology from National Chiayi University and the other in Chinese music from National Taiwan University of Art and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in the acclaimed World Music Program at Northern Illinois University. An accomplished performer and pluck instrument teacher in both Asia and the U.S., Tzu Tsen is also a director, composer, and accompanist.
Saraswathi Ranganathan
Veena
“Saraswathi played with as much savagery as dreaminess in a rivetingly dynamic (Carnatic) set” – New York Music Daily “unique and enthralling…” CMA review “Chicago’s most versatile Veena artiste and cross cultural ambassador – Tribune, Saraswathi brings with her a legacy of firsts. She is the first Indian woman and Veena artiste to win a Chicago Music Award in its 35-year history, the first Veena artiste to perform as an orchestra member of Disney’s Jungle Book production and the first Veena artiste to receive a $10,000 grant from the Logan Foundation in Chicago. She attributes her path-carving success to the inclusive energy in her music and in her life. Her goal? Bring artists and listeners together as one community united in music and understanding. Saraswathi constantly endeavors for sounds of the Veena to reach a cross cultural global audience. She learned Veena from her mother Shantha Ranganathan and from Karnataka Kalashree EP Alamelu in Bangalore. She has been performing and teaching for over three decades now. Saraswathi also has the distinction as being the first Veena artiste whose original multi-lingual song “Ennai Azhaithaen – I embraced me” was commissioned by the Chicago Humanities Fest. Saraswathi is the first Veena artiste to perform live music for Chicago International Moves & Music Fest with original score for a vintage Hollywood film. If life weren’t be expressed in concise hashtags Saraswathi’s mission would be: #Veenalove #liveasonefamily #onestageOneMusiconeCommunity
Tamir Hargana
Throat Singing, Mongolian Horse-Hair Fiddle
Tamir Hargana is a world-class and award-winning performer of Mongolian and Tuvan music. Now based in Chicago, Tamir is from the far northeastern region of Inner Mongolia. At the border with Mongolia, China and Russia. He received his M.M. in World Music Performance from Northern Illinois University in 2017 and received his undergraduate degree from Inner Mongolia University Arts College with a specialty in throat singing (khöömii). He is one of the only active performers of khöömii in the United States and is also a multi-instrumentalist, accompanying himself on traditional instruments from Mongolia and Tuva, such as the morin khuur (Mongolian horse-head fiddle), tovshuur (Mongolian lute instruments), doshpuluur (Tuvan lute instrument) and igil (Tuvan string instrument). Tamir has earned high honors and awards in throat singing competitions in Mongolia, Tuva, Inner Mongolia, and Manzhouli, China. He has performed in concerts, presentations, and workshops in the U.S., Mongolia, Russia, Indonesia, Taiwan, and China. He was also featured in TV documentaries about throat singing and has taught throat singing at the Inner Mongolia University Arts College High School Preparatory Division from 2013-2014. Recently, he performed in Carnegie hall and NAMM show. He currently teaches khöömii and Mongolian music in Chicago area.
Ugochi Nwaogwugwu
Voice, Poetry
Ugochi Nwaogwugwu is a multidisciplinary creative. An internationally renowned poet, writer, musician and founder of Spirit Speaks, Inc., Ugochi has executive produced, written and co-arranged three album projects; African Buttafly, A.S.E. and Love Shot. Ugochi’s poems and essays have been published in international anthologies as well as nationally in USA. Ugochi has created an original Pan African poetry form called Ike, (pronounced EE-kay) #Ikepoem, paying homage to her Igbo culture of Nigeria. Ugochi is also a playwright, activist, TRHT practitioner, member of the AACM & Recording Academy/GRAMMY.
Hitesh Master Nayak
Voice, Harmonium
Hitesh Master's legacy started from Junagadh. He was born and raised in the town of Nadiad, Gujarat. His gifted talent for music has been passed on from generations, going far back to 1417 when his forefathers were designated royal singers in the Rajvi Parivar. The whole family was designated official royal singer for Junagadh Rajvi Parivar known as Rajgayaks. His forefathers were associated with the Maharaja of Gwalior since 16th century. Hitesh has four Gurus: Ustad Rajankhan and Ustad Bashirkhan of Dewas from Mewati Gharana whom he learned Hindustani classical music; and also learned harmonium playing from Pandit Rambaba Petiwale and Pandit Mohan Junoir of Deshi Natak Samaj of Mumbai. One of his Pioneer gurus was his own father Vrajlal Nayak who put him under training at the tender age of 3. Hitesh gave his first performance at the age of 6. He earned his Master degree in music from Gandharva Mahavidyalay of Ahmedabad in singing. Nayaks are known as heritage singers who learned and trained in music from their forefathers. He was also associated in Bollywood for 12 years working with ShankarJaikishan Duo one of the greatest musicians in the Indian film Industries in during the Golden Era of Bollywood. Jaikishanji was trained in Classical Music by his forefather Nayak Vadilal Shivram. Sangeet Kaladhar, a great music literature book was written by his forefather Raj kavi Dahyalal Shivram Nayak of Bhavnagar State in Gujarat. Hitesh Master is now based in Chicago,IL teaching and performing music.
Sophia Uddin
Violin
Sophia Uddin is a Chicago-based violinist, violist, and composer. She was raised in Maryland, and attended Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania, where she majored in Music and Biology. She studied violin with Barbara Govatos of the Philadelphia Orchestra, and composition with Gerald Levinson. Her main college chamber ensemble, the Mandelbrot Quartet, was coached by David Yang. She moved to Chicago in 2013, and has played with many area ensembles, including The Gabriel Construct, Pavlov3, and Folklear Nuclei. She joined the Middle East Music Ensemble, directed by Wanees Zarour, in 2013 and has played with them since then. Sophia is also an active session musician. She appears on records for drummer Travis Orbin, vocalist Sacha Mullin, The Gabriel Construct, CHEER-ACCIDENT, and various other artists. Outside of music, Sophia is a fourth-year medical student at the University of Chicago. She shares her home with a spunky cockatiel named Willow. She enjoys cooking, the great outdoors, and volunteering with parrot shelters.
Juan Pastor
Percussion
Pastor began studying percussion under the tutelage of Eusebio Sirio “Pititi,” master of Afro-Peruvian percussion. At the Concervatorio Nacional de Lima, I studied classical music for five years.
After realizing his interest in jazz, he moved to Chicago to study at Northern Illinois University where he received a Bachelor of Music and was part of the top jazz ensemble under the direction of Ronald Carter. He also studied under Greg Beyer, Rich Holly and Robert Chappell. In 2013 he received his Masters of Music from DePaul University studying under Dana Hall.
Pastor has played jazz festivals all over the world, in Europe, North Sea Jazz Festival, Poznan – Poland, Made in Chicago Jazz Festival. In the USA, New York , IAJE, Chicago Jazz Fest, Hyde Park Jazz Festival, Elkhart Jazz Festival. In Mexico, JazzUV International Jazz Festival in Xalapa, XIV San Miguel De Allende Jazz & Blues International Festival. In Nicaragua, Nicaraguan Jazz Festival. In Peru, Lima Jazz
Festival, and many others.
In addition, he has performed with notable recording artists such as Miguel Zenón, Howard Leavy, Jimmy Heath, Fareed Haque, Patricia Barber, Ryan Cohan, The Chicago Afro Latin Jazz Ensemble CALJE, Marquis Hill, Victor Garcia, and many others.
In 2018 he took the position of percussion teacher and combo director at La Universidad Católica del Perú. Currently he is adjunct music faculty member at Benedictine University and Northern Illinois University.
Juan Pastor is also the leader of Chinchano, a fusion of jazz with Peruvian Rhythms, their first album was released in 2014. Chinchano has gotten critical accolades from publications such as the Chicago Tribune, Downbeat, Modern Drummer, All About Jazz, and others.
Their second album “Un Cambio” was released in 2015 and got me nominated to best drummer-percussionist in the magazine modern drummer.
