Ishan Nandi, an 8th Grade student at the Bridgwater-Raritan Middle School, won the Princeton Brass Band Concerto Competition.
That winning showing will set up his performance on Sunday, May 31, when Ishan will perform "Gallop" from The Comedians by Dmitri Kabalevsky on solo xylophone, accompanied by the Princeton Brass Band at its Spring Pops Concert.
The concert will be held at Middlebush Reformed Church in Somerset at 4 p.m. on that Sunday.
The 13-year-old Ishan began studying drums at the age of 8 and percussion a year later. He performs in the Bridgewater-Raritan Middle School Wind Ensemble, Jazz Club and Modern Band.
A three-year member of the New Jersey all-State Choir, Ishan was also selected as a mallet player for the Central Jersey Music Educators Association Symphonic Band.
Ishan believed that his practice and devotion had led to this honor.
“I was psyched when I heard that I won. I worked hard for it,” Ishan said.