About Asha

A Boston native, Asha began playing violin and viola at age six and attended the New England Conservatory extension division where she studied privately with Boston Symphony Orchestra members Michael Zaretsky and Edward Gazouleas.
Many years of classical training followed until she ultimately earned a bachelor's degree in music from Wellesley College. Upon graduation, she headed to New York City where she plunged into the world of "alternative" string music and began studying with Julie Lyonn Lieberman.

In January 2004, Asha moved to Los Angeles to pursue a full-time music career on her electric 7-string Viper violin designed by Mark Wood. She tours with Dee Snider (Twisted Sister) as well as Gnarls Barkley. She recently finished a US tour with Gnarls Barkley and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. She has performed with Roger Daltrey (The Who), Jeff "Skunk" Baxter (Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan), Jon Anderson (YES), Cheap Trick as well as Alanis Morisette, Mary J Blige and Jay-Z and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

In April 2006, Asha joined Porcelain, a rock band originally from Australia, that is signed to Universal Records. In Porcelain, she plays 7-string electric violin, viola, keyboard and sings backing vocals. Their debut album is due out in September 2008.

Asha has spent summers performing at Aspen, Tanglewood, Mark O'Connor's Fiddle Conference, Jazz String Fling at Berklee College of Music. Before focusing purely on performing, Asha taught violin and piano to children and adults in Boston and New York City.

As a breast cancer survivor at age 24, Asha is also active in spreading awareness to young women, and her story has been featured in many national magazines as well as on The Today Show, The Montel Williams Show and Lifetime Television. She has organized numerous benefit concerts to raise money for breast cancer, and if you wish to contact her about a benefit concert, you can email ashamevlana@gmail.com.

updated 4/27/08