Nevin Atodaria, a junior at Brophy College Preparatory, (pictured center) composed an original orchestral work, titled “Karna,” that was selected by the Phoenix Symphony for performance during its 2025-2026 season (submitted photo).
Nevin Atodaria, a junior at Brophy College Preparatory, has composed an original orchestral work inspired by a Hindu story told by his grandmother.
His work, “Karna,” was performed by the Phoenix Symphony April 23 as part of the Symphony for the Schools Field Trip Program, with his grandmother and parents in the audience. Nevin himself introduced the piece to hundreds of students, including his own classmates from Brophy.
“My grandmother has always told me some amazing stories, all capturing my imagination. I was particularly inspired by ‘Karna,’ the central character from Mahabharata. I wrote this composition around his life,” said Nevin.
Karna was a hero in the Hindu epic, and he had a very hard journey, starting with abandonment as a child and going through many struggles and battles. Nevin’s composition follows Karna’s life, taking listeners through the emotions of his struggles and victories, culminating in a powerful final battle and spiritual ascension. The soaring music takes listeners to a final triumph that is powerful and uplifting.
What was Nevin’s musical journey? He started piano lessons when he was 6, and now also plays viola and guitar. As a violist himself, he says he was especially excited to give the viola a strong voice within the orchestra.
“I’ve composed smaller works before, but nothing as big as this, featuring many instruments. It has been a lot of fun. And the fact that it will be performed by amazingly talented Phoenix Symphony musicians at Symphony Hall is pretty exciting!” he said.
Where did this high schooler get the idea to compose an orchestral piece of this magnitude?
“My dad was reading the North Central News last year and he read about this program through the Symphony for the Schools Field Trip Program. It invites students to compose original works and write an essay about it. I had some time over the summer, so I decided to go for it. I’m really glad I did,” the Brophy student said.
Nevin and his family moved to North Central Phoenix to get closer to his school, and it’s been a good move, he says. “There is so much to do in North Central – like go to the symphony.”
“The Symphony for the Schools Field Trip Program offers free field trip experiences to thousands of Arizona students, so they can experience an Arizona student’s creativity elevated to the professional level,” said Jordonna Matlock, assistant director of Education Programming at the Phoenix Symphony.
“By featuring ‘Karna’ within Symphony for the Schools, we celebrate not only professional excellence but also the talent, imagination and potential of Arizona students – we show young listeners that their own creative voices matter.”
The program is open to students in grades one to 12 (split into two age groups) and will expand next year, with details available this summer. As Nevin said, students must submit an essay describing inspiration for their work, as well as a biography. Works must be a minimum of two minutes and a maximum of six minutes and require at least four instruments.
Information about the 2026-27 program will be on the Symphony website this summer and shared via email with music faculty throughout the Valley. The window for submissions is usually January through May.
What does Nevin advise young students who may be reluctant to engage in music lessons?
“OK, I will admit that I was forced to take piano lessons,” he said. “But I am so glad that I did! I would say just try it. You may find joy in getting a note just right, in mastering a little passage, in improvising. I found that I enjoyed not only learning music but also improvising – and learning how to create my own music.”
And an insider’s tip from Nevin: “When you play music, it gathers people around you, which is a lot of fun.”
Nevin credits Dr. Johnathan Robinson, music director at Brophy, for inspiring him and also teaching him how many musicians must work together to perform a piece.
“I have learned so much from Dr. Robinson – he has helped shape me as a musician and as a person.”
And Nevin’s parents? Drs. Shilpa and Neil Atodaria can’t play a note. Or, as his dad says, “We’re not at all musically inclined, but we really are enjoying it through our son!”
His mom added, “We owe a huge thanks to North Central News – as a direct result of a story in your paper last year, Nevin participated in this competition. His piece was chosen and we are so proud that it will be performed by Symphony musicians at Symphony Hall.”
