Mumbai, August 2025: Japanese violinist and educator Mika Nishimura along with Spanish educator Katheryn Murillo of the Real Madrid Foundation will bring Elevate 2025 (led by Sound Of Soul) to the prestigious Tata Theatre, NCPA.
Elevate is a week-long experience (running from August 11th– 17th, 2025) combining music, movement, and leadership offering 140 children from diverse backgrounds a rare opportunity to connect, express, and grow in a joyful, inclusive setting. The program will host children from across government schools, private institutions, leading schools from the city and NGOs in a shared, immersive space. It is a bold experiment in education that also brings together international mentors from India, Japan, Spain and Colombia along with many young leaders & volunteers. The week-long program will end with a grand finale at the Tata Theatre on Sunday, August 17th, 2025 with limited public tickets available. The entry to this is free of cost and only upon registration.
What began as a conversation between two women from different parts of the world with a joint belief and purpose led to the culmination of a dynamic platform- Elevate 2025. Mika and Katheryn met in Portugal and co-founded the camp with a shared vision. The program hence is not just another ‘summer camp’ but one where children are exposed to an inclusive experience where music, movement, leadership, and community come together as tools for deeper connection, self-worth, and social change. This helps build a joyful, respectful environment where children lead, collaborate, and grow as whole human beings.
International and local mentors will lead sessions with sensitivity and heart, bringing with them decades of experience in music, sports, wellness, and youth leadership.
Some of the mentors from overseas include:
Santiago Ozlate – Conductor, El Sistema (Cyprus), originally from Colombia;
Guillermo Díaz Wellness educator & athlete, Real Madrid Foundation (Spain);
Nitin Chandan – Fitness instructor & movement coach (India);
Yurri – Nutritionist and wellness mentor (Japan)
There’s an extended team of facilitators and local youth leaders: Inaya Merchant (Assistant Director, Elevate, India); Ali Merchant (Sound of Soul percussionist, young leader, sports section, Elevate) amongst others.
The main elements of the camp include:
Music sessions: Children will begin with wooden violins and cellos, creating silent instruments that build focus and imagination. By midweek, they will graduate to real instruments, rehearsing together under the guidance of international musicians culminating in a final concert of music, movement, and meaning.
Movement: Daily wellness sessions will build not just strength but presence, mindfulness, and teamwork. Physical expression becomes a language of empathy and self-trust.
Leadership: Empowerment workshops will be held to develop communication, decision-making, and community-building skills. Children will be able to then reflect, collaborate, and grow as leaders in their own families, schools, and lives.
The week will culminate in a public celebration at the Tata Theatre, NCPA on August 17 — a vibrant, inclusive performance that brings together music, rhythm, and movement. Children will take the stage not as performers, but as confident, connected individuals ready to share their journeys.
Speaking of the camp, co-founder Mika Nishimura says, “Elevate isn’t a traditional music camp. It’s a bold experiment in what education can feel like when joy, purpose, and inclusion come together. Children thrive when they are seen as whole people – capable of leading, creating, and healing – no matter where they come from.”
Adding to the conversation, co-founder Katheryn Murillo explains, ““A child holding a violin isn’t just making music, they’re building identity, discipline, and voice. We don’t teach performance, we teach connection.”
Elevate has also collaborated with 145, a leading restaurant in the city to provide freshly prepared healthy snacks for the children everyday. This is an attempt at including nutrition & wellness as a core element and part of the entire camp experience.
The passes for the public will be available upon registration at the following email addresses:
[email protected] and [email protected].
About the Founders:
Mika Nishimura is a violinist from Japan, currently based in Mumbai. She is the founder of Sound of Soul and co-founder of Elevate, an immersive learning program that uses music, movement, and leadership to empower children across socio-economic backgrounds. Inspired by her experience with AIM in Portugal, Mika envisioned Elevate as a way to bring holistic, joy-led education to children in India. A firm believer in the transformative power of music, she has taught for over a decade and is a graduate of the Jacobs School of Music, USA.
Katheryn Murillo is an educator and social impact leader from Spain from the Real Madrid Foundation. She has worked across the globe, designing and implementing youth development programs through sport and education. Deeply passionate about transforming lives through access and empathy, Katheryn brings a global perspective to her work and a strong commitment to building inclusive spaces for young people to lead and thrive.
Details:
Date: 17th August, 2025
Time: 10am to 12 noon
Venue: Tata Theatre, NCPA
Entry: Free upon registration.
Seats: Limited. First come first serve basis
Registration details: [email protected] and [email protected].
Media Relations:
Gauri Gupta- [email protected] +91 9820151087
Namrata Punjabi- [email protected]
