Divesh Karamchandani

Divesh Karamchandani is a San Francisco-based percussionist performing in chamber music and large orchestral projects throughout the Bay Area. He is the Principal Percussionist of One Found Sound and co-founder of Prism Percussion. His 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.

Karamchandani advocates contemporary music and seeks to champion new works, especially by underrepresented composers. He firmly believes in creating a more equitable and diverse artistic community. Karamchandani has commissioned, premiered, and recorded several new works through his solo ventures and involvement with Prism Percussion. Karamchandani’s arts advocacy inspired him to serve on the Board of Directors of the New Works Project for several years, a non-profit organization promoting equity in commissioning and performing new music by lowering financial barriers and increasing representation.

Karamchandani is the Director of Percussion Studies at CSU East Bay and West Valley College. He is also a Teaching Artist with the San Francisco Symphony’s Music and Mentors program, providing weekly group lessons to music students in San Francisco public schools. Throughout his tenure as a Teaching Artist, Karamchandani has taught orchestral percussion, marching percussion, and concert percussion ensembles. His private studio students range in age and skill levels and have excelled in music competitions and auditions. Karamchandani’s educational impact has garnered him an endorsement as a Marimba One Educational Artist. 

Karamchandani graduated summa cum laude in 2012 from California State University, Stanislaus, with a Bachelor of Music in Percussion Performance and Instrumental Music Education. In May 2014, he graduated from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music with a Master of Music in Percussion Performance. He studied under the tutelage of Jack Van Geem, Jacob Nissly, James Lee Wyatt III, Chris Woodham, and Allen Brown.