About Tara
Tara Bhrushundi (pronounced "broo-SHOON-dee") is a pianist, composer, educator, and businesswoman who thrives on hard work, who loves what she does, and who has a long list of accomplishments to demonstrate a standard of excellence in all areas of her work. Bhrushundi is driven by her desire to serve as well as to lead, and to connect in a meaningful way with those around her.
Business
In 2008, Bhrushundi and a colleague founded Sweet Harmony as a music duo serving New Jersey, New York City, and Philadelphia. Bhrushundi later became the sole leader of the group, incorporated it, and expanded to include a network of nine sales reps and hundreds of musicians serving the entire United States. The company now performs for more than 500 events each year.
In 2019, Sweet Harmony won the Growth Success Award for its region from the New Jersey Small Business Development Center. Bhrushundi was also chosen for a podcast interview at USA Today's Local iQ branch, sharing her experience and insights with other small businesses. Sweet Harmony has won national sales awards on industry websites and has been featured in local newspapers.
Among Sweet Harmony's clients are Douglas Elliman Real Estate (the nation's fourth largest real estate company); Hollywood movie star Tunde Adebimpe ("Rachel Getting Married," TV on the Radio); Webster Bank Arena; Parkway Toyota of Englewood Cliffs, NJ; the Italian Consulate of Miami; Campbell Soup Company; Lord Abbett; and Bachem Americas.
Piano Performance
Tara Bhrushundi is as comfortable in Sunday afternoon classical ensembles as she is in late-night jazz jam sessions. Her 30 years of performing experience have taken her to The Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage in Washington, D.C.; Ortlieb's Jazzhaus and World Cafe Live in Philadelphia; the Waldorf, The Carlyle, and the National Arts Club in Manhattan; New Jersey's PNC Bank Arena; the Trenton, NJ Women in Jazz Festival; and the New Jersey Independent Music Festival among many others.
In May 2011, Bhrushundi was one of eight young female jazz pianists from around the world chosen to participate in the 2011 Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Emerging Artist Workshop, held at The Kennedy Center. Her unique solo performance of "Round Midnight" was praised by jazz legend Toshiko Akiyoshi as "fantastic."
In 2013, Bhrushundi completed her Master's degree in Jazz Piano Performance at Rutgers University, where she was a Pee Wee Russell Jazz Scholarship winner. Her principal mentors at Rutgers were Stanley Cowell and Conrad Herwig. She has also studied with Kenny Barron, Charles Tolliver, Bill O'Connell, Ralph Peterson Jr., Connie Crothers, Laurie Altman, Bevan Manson, and John Harmon.
In addition to piano performance, Bhrushundi has experience in various accompaniment settings. She has accompanied Broadway tap dancer Maurice Chestnut, musical theater at the Hopewell (NJ) Off-Broadstreet Theatre, and ballet classes taught by the American Ballet Theatre's retired principal ballerina, Susan Jaffe. Bhrushundi has also worked with the world-class Manhattan vocalist Margaret Dorn. And, she often performs for church services of various denominations.
Bhrushundi draws from this rich diversity of experiences and talents to inform her art. "It's all connected through what I feel," she says. "When I'm on stage playing for people, I'm sharing all that I am. I want the audience to come away feeling new and inspired, like they have just experienced something rare and special."
Composition / Songwriting
Bhrushundi is the 2012 Grand Prize Winner of the New Jersey Arts Collective's annual graduate student composition contest. This contest required contestants to compose a piece of music based on an abstract painting of shapes. By imagining the shapes dancing, Bhrushundi was able to construct music to connect the still forms to the movement of sound. Her music compositional ideas are called "ingenious" by Grammy-nominated composer/pianist Laurie Altman.
Bhrushundi's compositions include jazz instrumentals, original songs, Christmas music, and modern jazz-influenced church solos and hymn settings. Her church solo sheet music is available for sale at www.watchfiremusic.com.
Teaching
Coming from a family of educators -- both of Bhrushundi's parents received degrees in education and taught full-time -- Bhrushundi learned the value of real teaching and learning. She has taught music since her graduation from college, and her teaching experience now includes private lessons, jazz ensemble coaching, jazz history lectures, and directing summer jazz camps. She has taught at Westminster Conservatory in Princeton, NJ; Rutgers Community Arts; and the French School of Music in Plainfield, NJ among others.
Her teaching project entitled "Bhrushundi Total Piano" prepares students to be the kind of pianist she is, at ease with any kind of music, and finding the joy and power of the piano as the expressive instrument.
Bhrushundi is fluent in Mandarin Chinese and spent two years in mainland China teaching piano and jazz history in this language to young Chinese music students.
Community Service
In the community, Bhrushundi brought her dedication and talents to the non-profit Greater Princeton Steinway Society, where she served on their Board of Directors for eight years. She spearheaded the Society's jazz activities, choosing artists to perform for jazz piano concerts, and organizing a jazz piano workshop for high school students.
Bhrushundi is also active in her church, accompanying the singers on piano and contributing original jazz arrangements of hymns and solos.