Prism Percussion

Explore the expressive colors of percussive sounds, utilizing non-standard instruments

Prism Percussion explores the expressive colors of percussive sounds utilizing non-standard instruments and seeks to champion works by BIPOC, Women, and Queer composers.

Based in San Francisco-based, this percussion duo was founded in 2018 by Divesh Karamchandani and Elizabeth Hall. Since their inaugural performance, Prism Percussion has continuously curated projects showcasing new works for percussion duo written by underrepresented composers. Their presence on stage is "both musically and visually stunning" affirms Jessica Balik of San Francisco Classical Voice. 

Performance includes a World Premiere from composer Haruka Fujii!

Join us in person, by live-stream, OR on-demand! (For on-demand viewing, simply purchase a live-stream only ticket, and then watch the recording at your leisure anytime in the following two weeks.)

WE GUARANTEE ALL OF OUR PERFORMERS A MINIMUM FAIR WAGE - thanks to support from people like you!

COVID Safety Protocols:

• Masking is encouraged as an individual choice; this protects everyone from the spread of viruses. Masks will be readily available to those who want one.
• Up-to-date immunizations (including flu, COVID, pneumonia and RSV) are strongly encouraged.
• Hand sanitizer will be available, and is encouraged.
• Whenever weather permits, we will ventilate our spaces to the maximum degree possible, and employ the use of air purifiers.
• If you have tested positive for COVID, or feel at all unwell, we urge you in the strongest possible way to stay home.

Very best,

Calliope: East Bay Music & Arts Board of Directors

Artist Profiles

Divesh Karamchandani (founder)

Divesh Karamchandani is a San Francisco-based percussionist and Coordinator of Percussion at San Jose State University.  He is the Principal Percussionist of One Found Sound, Prism Percussion's co-founder, and Orphic Percussion's newest member. 

Karamchandani’s other notable engagements include the San Francisco Symphony, New Century Chamber Orchestra, San Francisco Contemporary Music Players, San Jose Chamber Orchestra, Berkeley Symphony, Stockton Symphony, Opera San Jose, and Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera, among other ensembles.

Karamchandani advocates contemporary music and seeks to champion new works, especially by underrepresented composers. His firm belief in a more equitable and diverse artistic community has led to commissioning, premiering, and

 recording new compositions through his solo ventures and partnership with Prism Percussion. 

Karamchandani is honored to be acknowledged as a Marimba One Educational Artist and proudly endorses Marimba One instruments.  He studied under the tutelage of Jack Van Geem, Jacob Nissly, James Lee Wyatt III, Chris Woodham, and Allen Brown.

Elizabeth Hall (founder)

Based in San Francisco-based, this percussion duo was founded in 2018 by Divesh Karamchandani and Elizabeth Hall. Since their inaugural performance, Prism Percussion has continuously curated projects showcasing new works for percussion duo written by underrepresented composers. Their presence on stage is "both musically and visually stunning" affirms Jessica Balik of San Francisco Classical Voice. 

Mika Nakamura (guest artist)

Mika Nakamura is a percussionist, educator, and arts administrator. She has collaborated with the Magik*Magik Orchestra, yMusic, Sō Percussion, eighth blackbird, New Century Chamber Orchestra, Mainly Mozart All-Star Festival Orchestra, and the San Francisco Symphony. Ms. Nakamura is a graduate of UCLA and San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

Jimmy Chan (guest artist)

Jimmy Chan, originally from Hong Kong, is a versatile solo, chamber, and orchestral percussionist based in the San Francisco Bay Area. He has performed with ensembles including the San Francisco Symphony, California Symphony, Hong Kong Sinfonietta, Marin Symphony, Oakland Symphony, Sacramento Philharmonic. A Marimba One Artist, Chan has appeared on prestigious stages worldwide, including Royal Albert Hall and Walt Disney Concert Hall. He has been featured as a concerto soloist with the Billings Symphony and Colburn Orchestra, and has appeared as a guest artist at the Bellingham Festival of Music and Stanford University. In chamber music, he is percussionist with One Found Sound, a conductorless chamber orchestra in San Francisco. Chan is the percussion ensemble director and faculty at California State University, East Bay. 

Haruka Fujii (featured composer)

Multi-percussionist Haruka Fujii has become one of the most prominent solo percussionists and marimbists of her generation. Since 2010 Ms. Fujii has performed as an artist of the Grammy Award winning Silkroad Ensemble, joining a group of international musicians founded by Yo-Yo Ma and now serves as the Associate Artistic Director alongside with the artistic director Rhiannon Giddens. She is a member of Utari Percussion Duo, a duet project with her sister Rika, which she has written several pieces for including Small Chat I & II.  

Ms. Fujii has recently joined the percussion faculty of San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and has been a frequent guest instructor at several international percussion festivals. She is also a founder and creative director of a nonprofit organization Nippon Kobo.