2019 Songwriting Alumna
Cottage: Fir
BIO: Roopa is a leading second-generation Indian classical and crossover vocalist in the American diaspora known for her powerful and emotive voice, collaborative spirit, and community-building. She is the bandleader of the crossover ensemble Roopa in Flux, director of the innovative choir Navatman Music Collective, and a sought-after vocalist for leading Bharathanatyam dancers. Roopa received major Carnatic training under Asha Ramesh and further under Suguna Varadachari in India through the Fulbright scholarship. She has performed in diverse venues as Music Academy during the December festival in Chennai, Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana, which awarded her the Kala Ratna title, Carnegie Hall, MET Museum, the Chicago Cultural Center, and Hollywood Bowl. She is a soloist on several albums, including Christopher Tin’s Grammy Award-winning Calling All Dawns, and has been invited to residencies at Banff Center for Arts and Creativity, Hedgebrook, Armitage Fellows, and MASS MOCA. Roopa is a 2020 member of Joe's Pub Working Group. In a previous avatar, Roopa worked in public health policy, following degrees from Stanford University.