Schreiber Student Wins American-Asian Fine Arts Association Music Competition

BY: Kimberly Suzzan

She may have won playing time at the world-renowned Carnegie Hall with a piece entitled “Pathetique,” but this rising star is anything but “pathetic.” Natasha Talukdar, a senior at Paul D. Schreiber High School, has spent the past six months taking the music world by storm. While Natasha also has made a name for herself in the local community playing at establishments such as Dolphin Bookshop, it is her achievements at the national and international level that need to be recognized.

In the summer of 2012, she was a finalist in the New York International Music Competition, and in December, she was chosen as the winner of the World Journal’s Piano Competition. Most recently, however, she has received her greatest honor to date. Out of 400 competitors, she was chosen as one of the winners of the American-Asian Fine Arts Association (AAFAA) Music Competition with Beethoven’s “Pathetique” Sonata in C minor, 1st movement. She will be participating in the competition’s Winners Concert on March 9 at the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall.

A classical pianist, Natasha has studied and perfected her craft for many years. Music has always been an active part of her life, as she makes evident with her participation in many music related activities both in school and out of it. At Schreiber, Natasha is a member of both the Concert Band as a flutist and the Concert Choir as both a singer and the accompanist. She is also co-president of the Tri-M Music Honor Society, an organization at Schreiber that strives to make music an influential part of the school community.  

Natasha’s dedication and level of achievement as a musician ranks her as one of the finest high school musicians on Long Island. Her commitment to the Schreiber music department often finds Natasha performing solo literature at district events as well as accompanying solo performers and the Schreiber Choir. Natasha is a superior musician and the students and staff of the Port Washington Music Department are proud of her achievements and look forward to watching and hearing her continue to perform at the highest level of musicianship.