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Upper School Musicians Shine at 2026 Dora Khayatt Music Competition

After an impressive display of musical talent from 30 Upper School students, four acts were named winners of the 2026 Dora Khayatt Music Competition on March 2, earning the opportunity to perform for the entire EA community. 

Held in the Class of 1944 Chapel, this year's competition showcased a "remarkable range and artistry," with performances spanning genres from jazz to classical, and featuring instruments including flute, sax, violin, cello, piano, guitar, bass, percussion, and voice. "There were so many memorable performances, and it made us all so proud of our Upper School students who put the time and energy into expressing themselves through the musical arts!" said Upper School Choral Teacher Jim Erwin, Hon.

The 2026 winners included:

  • Parvathi Balakrishnan '28 (voice), singing a haunting version of What Was I Made For, contrasting with a fun and swinging interpretation of Orange Colored Sky.
  • Aleksander Raué '28 (piano/original improvisation), performing his stunning rendition of In a Sentimental Mood, played with sensitivity and rich harmonic color.
  • Fraser Wein '27 and Nikolai Nawrocki '26 (voice and piano duo), performing Let Me Down Easy and The Little Mess You Made with exciting dynamics and a seamless musical partnership.
  • Daniel Adibi '26 (piano), performing one of the most difficult piano works in the classical repertoire—Rhapsody in B Minor by Johannes Brahms—with remarkable dexterity, dynamic control, and thoughtful interpretation.


Performing for the EA community was both "exhilarating and nerve-racking," Parvathi said. "I don't usually perform solo in front of that many people, so it was really crazy."

Parvathi, who has been singing since she was four years old, believes her mindset made all the difference this year. "My advice to future students auditioning [for Dora Khayatt] is be prepared, and don't stress yourself out," she said. "Before performing, I typically spend a lot of time worrying about if I will do well, and it turns out that the one year I stopped worrying and just decided to have fun and enjoy myself, I won!"

Meanwhile, Aleksander described performing for his peers as deeply rewarding. "Performing for everyone made the hours I spent practicing entirely worth it," he said. "With all the amazing performers that auditioned, I am still incredulous I won and am so grateful for the opportunity to share my piece with everyone."

Aleksander has been playing piano since he was seven years old, but only discovered his passion for jazz after joining the jazz band in 7th grade. "I instantly knew this freer style of playing was for me," he said. "Since then, my performance has skyrocketed, and I am having more fun than ever."

The annual Dora Khayatt Music Competition is open to all interested Upper School student-musicians, each of whom is assigned an eight-minute time slot to perform before professional musician judges. This year's judges included Fabian Brown, a saxophonist, pianist, and music producer; Adriana Linares, a violist and founding president and artistic director of The Arts and Community Network; and Sarena Rae, a singer and producer of Music That Raised Us.

"If you are on the fence about auditioning for Dora Khayatt, do it," Aleksander said. "It is a great opportunity to practice performing, and the feedback you will receive is great. If you mess up, no one is going to care; and if you win, performing for your peers is one of the most rewarding experiences available at EA."

The Dora Khayatt Art Prize at The Episcopal Academy was established in 1990 in memory of Dora Khayatt, an artist and the wife of former Classics Department Chair John Plant. The fund provides annual support for student awards recognizing excellence in fine arts and music.