Asha Mevlana is an electrifying violinist known for bridging the worlds of classical mastery and contemporary performance. She is currently the lead violinist for the Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s West Coast Tour and has toured with legendary rock and pop artists including Dee Snider (Twisted Sister) and Gnarls Barkley. Her performance credits also include collaborations with Mary J. Blige, Jay-Z, the Black Eyed Peas, and Roger Daltrey of The Who.
A Boston native, Asha began studying Suzuki violin and viola at the age of six. She honed her classical foundation at the New England Conservatory Preparatory School, where she trained privately under Boston Symphony Orchestra members Michael Zaretsky and Edward Gazouleas. She later earned her Bachelor of Music in Performance from Wellesley College.
After years of classical training, Asha turned her attention to alternative string styles, studying with genre-defying educator Julie Lyonn Lieberman. This shift opened the door to a dynamic career that has taken her across musical genres and major stages. While based in Los Angeles, Asha was a regular with the American Idol band, The Tonight Show band, The Ellen DeGeneres Show band, the MTV Movie Awards and the Grammys.
Her performance background includes appearances at prestigious summer festivals such as Aspen, Tanglewood, Mark O’Connor’s Fiddle Camp, and the Jazz String Fling at Berklee College of Music.
Beyond the stage, Asha is a passionate music educator. She has led workshops for high school music programs across the country, inspiring the next generation of string players to explore both traditional and contemporary styles.
She has taught music workshops at high schools around the country. (Click here to view a program she did for Musician’s Toolkit.)
(photo credit: Florian Stangle)
Television
The Tonight Show with Alanis Morrisette
The Tonight Show with CeeLo
The Grammys 2008 with Gnarls Barkley, nominated for Best Record
American Idol 2009 season and 2009 Finale
The Ellen Show with the Jonas Brothers
Jimmy Kimmel Live with Gnarls Barkley
MTV Movie Awards
TLC- The Napoleon Perdis Project Featured band
Telemundo Television Christmas Special
John McEnroe Show Dee Snyder”s Van Helsing's Curse
KROQ Acoustic Christmas Show
Hey, Hey It's Saturday (Australia)
Broadway World “Touring Sisters”
ABC3 (Australia)
Today FM (Australia)
Rage (Australia)
Channel V (Australia)
National Basketball League Finals (Australia)
Performed with:
Alanis Morrisette
Antonio Solis
Black Eyed Peas
CeeLo
Cheap Trick
Chris Issak
DaKah Hip Hop Orchestra
Damien Leith (Australia Idol winner)
Dee Snider (Twisted Sister)
Enrique Iglesias
Gary Burr (Songwriter for Carole King, American Idol, Faith Hill)
Gnarls Barkley
Guided By Voices
Jason Mraz
Jay Z
Jeff “Skunk” Baxter (Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan)
Jonas Brothers
Jon Anderson (YES)
Jose Feliciano
LeAnn Rimes
Lionel Ritchie
Los Super 7
Mary J Blige
Mission of Burma
Queen
Raul Malo
Roger Daltry (The Who)
Ronn Moss (Bold and the Beautiful)
Ruben Blades
Steve Martin
Three Doors Down
Tricky
Trans Siberian Orchestra
Opened for Red Hot Chili Peppers
Opened for Flaming Lips
Vanity Fair “Rites of String”
Strad Magazine “Pump Up the Volume”
Strad Magazine “The Spice of Life, Teaching Different Styles”
Strings Magazine “Power Up”
Strings Magazine “Building the Better Player"
Journal of the American Viola Society “Going Electric”
Sforzando "Pump Up the Volume"
Sacramento Press - Christmas with the TSO
ITN Magazine - Interview with Asha Mevlana
Metal Talk - "Savatage and TSO Make Metal History at Wacken"
Cronoco Torino (Italy) - Asha Mevlana: “Amo l’Italia e la sua passione per la vita”
SFSonic - TSO's Magical Christmas
Journal Star - TSO at the Pinnacle Bank Arena
The Mercury “Porcelain Returns Home”
Daily Telegraph “Single of the Week”
National Rock Review - "TSO & Savatage Make History in Germany"
AntiMusic - "TSO and Savatage Team Up for Unique Performance"
DNA Magazine “Breakthrough”
Daily Texan “Australian Band Gives Inspirational Concert”
Ralph Magazine “The Lo Road”
Bakotopia.com “Porcelain Live”
Gear
Time Out NY CD Review
Time Out NY “Fab Four”
Time Out NY “String Summit”
New Yorker “String Summit”
Billboard Magazine “Guided By Voices New Album”
Sarasota Post: TSO Rocks Christmas in Tampa
Tmblr: TSO Review
Deseret News: Hottest Shows in Town
Music Video
3 Doors Down, “Landing in London”
Porcelain, “The Last Song”
Marco Antonio Solis Music video
Leonardo DaVinci DVD Featured speaker/performer
Pope John Paul II DVD Performer