-STAFF MEMBERS-

2025-2026 Artists and Writers: Samyukta Anoop, Nikhil Emani, Shimo Hu, Suzy Kim, Claire Lien, Elise Park, Harley Post, Anya Shi, Nivedita Singh, Rohit Skandan, Yash Srinivasan, Sahana Sriram, Ilina Upadhyaya

-EDITORS-

The Editors-in-Chief are responsible for leading bimonthly meetings at Miller Middle School, developing beneficial art and writing activities for staff members, leading workshop sessions, editing staff work, creating monthly issues, and developing marketing and PR strategies throughout the year through press opportunities as well as initiatives on the Miller Middle School campus.

Assistant Editors are responsible for assisting the Editor-in-Chief and collaborating with other editors to plan and lead engaging meetings, edit staff member work, and improve their own leadership skills in the process. Every Assistant Editor has the opportunity to become Editor-in-Chief after three successful years in the position. 

The leadership of the Editor-in-Chief paired with the assistance and collaboration of Assistant Editors is a vital aspect to the Overture family. 

Alex Cotterel (Editor-in-Chief) | Alex is a Senior at Lynbrook High School, and has been with Overture since the sixth grade when the program offered a space to explore narrative and artistic writing in an academic and welcoming environment that was hard to find elsewhere. The program fostered Alex's love for the medium and laid the groundwork for future linguistic adventures in highschool, such as slam poetry and journalism. After leaving Miller Middle School, Alex rejoined the club as an editor in sophomore year to support and teach young people in the position Alex once was, with a new found interest in visual arts to accompany Alex's love for writing.

Samantha Tai  (Editor-in-Chief) | Samantha Tai is currently a Junior in Lynbrook High School. She joined Overture as a student member in sixth grade, finding her passion for writing and drawing with friends during the club meetings. Samantha was able to learn techniques in poetry, prose, and art, and wanted to help others as an editor-in-chief. This year, she hopes to inspire others in their creative journeys and expand her knowledge of writing and art, both as a fun hobby and an interesting subject to study.

Dhruv Kirumakki (Assistant Editor) | Dhruv Kirumakki is currently a Sophomore at Lynbrook High School. He joined Overture in 6th grade as a way to explore creative writing and art, but quickly grew a passion for the community. After graduating, he decided to join Overture in high school as an assistant editor to help other students like him improve their writing and art pieces.

Prisha Pulastya (Assistant Editor) |

*Editors-in-Chief are bolded

2011-2012: Roopa Shankar, Kimberly Tan, Hima Rajana

2012-2013: Kimberly Tan, Hima Rajana, Indu Pereira

2013-2014: Hima Rajana, Indu Pereira

2014-2015: Hima Rajana, Indu Pereira, Alina Ying, Raksha Narasimhan

2015-2016: Indu Pereira, Alina Ying, Raksha Narasimhan, Kavya Balaji

2016-2017: Alina Ying, Raksha Narasimhan, Kavya Balaji, Divya Pereira

2017-2018: Raksha Narasimhan, Kavya Balaji, Divya Pereira

2018-2019: Kavya Balaji, Divya Pereira, Helina Li

2019-2020: Divya Pereira, Helina Li, Elizabeth Cheng

2020-2021: Helina Li, Elizabeth Cheng, Samantha Leong

2021-2022: Helina Li, Elizabeth Cheng, Samantha Leong, Mahati Ramakrishnan

2022-2023: Elizabeth Cheng, Samantha Leong, Mahati Ramakrishnan, Anusha Shringi 

2023-2024: Mahati Ramakrishnan, Anusha Shringi, Alex Cotterel, Samantha Tai

2024-2025: Mahati Ramakrishnan, Anusha Shringi, Alex Cotterel, Samantha Tai, Prisha Pulastya, Dhruv Kirumakki

2025-2026: Alex Cotterel, Samantha Tai, Prisha Pulastya, Dhruv Kirumakki

THE FOUNDERS

Kimberly Tan | Kimberly is a Stanford University graduate and has been writing prose and poetry for as long as she can remember. From entering Reading Rainbow contests in second grade to envisioning this literary magazine, writing has been an intrinsic part of her life. She hopes to use Overture to not only to share her love for writing with other youth, but also to foster literary talent and creativity and to engender a passion in others that will last a lifetime.

Roopa Shankar | Roopa is now a University of Pennsylvania graduate, studying Marketing & Communication at the Wharton School of Business. Roopa has been passionate about writing since she was 10. Having explored several writing forms since her elementary school days, Roopa has decided that she is truly passionate about creative writing. Through Overture, Roopa hopes to ignite that spark of creativity that she believes is present within everyone!

THE ADVISOR

Hiroko Niksch | Ms. Niksch currently teaches 8th grade Language Arts at Miller Middle School. She has had a lifelong love of literature, poetry, and art, and she has been producing work in all three forms for decades. She is very excited to see her former students leading this worthwhile endeavor and is pleased to have been invited to be a part of what she hopes will be an exciting journey.