Skanda Kandikere is a 21-year-old chromatic harmonica player from Bangalore, India. He specializes in South Indian Classical music and jazz. He was first exposed to the harmonica 13 years ago in a music workshop at his school. Since then, he enjoys the versatility of the harmonica and is composing original pieces. He is a multi-instrumentalist and likes to implement ideas he’s gained through other instruments into his harmonica playing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Neil Daniel Paulraj, age 12, is a chromatic harmonica player from the United Arab Emirates. His father is also a harmonica player and encouraged his son to take up the instrument. Neil plays gospel music and hopes to become a professional musician. He has progressed in his training by regularly watching SPAH-related videos on YouTube. Neil is currently studying with Todd Parrott.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Elwood Birgden, age 19, hails from Australia and was a Rosebush scholar in 2022. He started playing harmonica in April, 2020, after hearing the blues song “Hey Big Mama” by Roosevelt Sykes. Elwood, like Neil, was encouraged to play the instrument by his harmonica-playing father. Elwood’s main goal is to use the harmonica to revive the classic Chicago Blues style of the 1950s and 1960s. He has learned this by mimicking the style of Big Walter Horton, and tongue-blocking from Will Wilde. He has also studied online with Mark Hummel and Dennis Gruenling. Elwood continues to grow by playing and networking online with a variety of expert players.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lamont Pearley, Jr., is an 18-year-old diatonic blues player from Bloomington, Indiana. He became interested in the harmonica as a 7 year old, but didn’t start pursuing it seriously until he was 15. Lamont attended the Pinetop Perkins Foundation workshop for 3 years. He is currently studying with Grant Dermody. Lamont’s goal is to be able to jump in and participate with other musicians regardless of genre, and to work his way toward becoming a professional performer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kali Rose Kitt Bridges, now 8 years old, has had a harmonica in her hand on and off throughout her life, including as she took her first steps. She gets great joy from playing diatonic blues, especially with other people, when she tries to match their rhythm. She has a big heart and dreams of making a lot of music as a superstar musician and using her money to help others. She is self-taught, but has been around a lot of music and musicians, including her dad. Kelly Rose lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 2026 SPAH Youth Scholar & Aspiring Artist Poster

Branko Bergstrand, is a 24-year-old diatonic blues player from Sweden. He has played the harmonica for 18 years. When younger, he played the violin, piano, and saxophone. Originally self-taught, Branko has since studied with three harmonica teachers, including Joe Filisko. He has attended Hohner’s masterclass workshop in Trossingen, Germany, and the Pinetop Perkins Foundation workshop in Clarksdale, Mississippi.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Violeta Ávila González is a 26-year-old anthropologist, musician, pianist, and harmonica player from Bogotá, Colombia. She started playing the harmonica in high school at age 14 when given a Marine Band in C by her father. He started teaching her simple melodies and the repertoire of the Colombian Caribbean. Next, she discovered the tremolo diatonic harmonica and started playing traditional Colombian music. Subsequently, she took up the chromatic harmonica to play jazz, world music, and a fusion of Colombian music with other expressions. Violeta conducted research on the history and discography of the harmonica in Columbia and Latin America, which included interviews with various musicians and artists. This research resulted in a radio program of 20 episodes in Spanish that is undergoing revision for future publication as a book.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Perseus Morgan, age 24, hails from Hereford, England. He has been playing harmonica for 12 years, performing on both diatonic and chromatic instruments. He was a Rosebush Scholar in 2024. His interest in the harmonica began after hearing the haunting harmonica part in Ennio Morricone’s soundtrack for Once Upon a Time in the West. Percy is currently working toward becoming a classical harmonica soloist, specializing in arranging and performing chamber music from the 17^th century to the present day, and leading his own ensemble. Largely self-taught, he recently has been studying with Robert Bonfiglio, specifically focusing on Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Harmonica Concerto.