Lesa Terry and the Women's Jazz Orchestra is a documentary short that peeks into the rare convergence of Western classical music and jazz. Lesa Terry, a prolific composer and musician, offers a unique interpretation of symphonic and sacred vocal music, drawing on African and Western classical traditions. Assembling an all-women’s jazz orchestra in the tradition of the 1940’s International Sweethearts of Rhythm, they add a unique palette of instrumentation to create their sound. With Nedra Wheeler on bass, Maria Martinez on drums, Lori Andrews on jazz harp, and a big-band section, their music provides a rhythmic foundation with improvisational expression.

Leena Pendharkar, Director

is an award-winning writer and filmmaker. She recently completed principal photography on her feature film, Raspberry Magic, a coming-of-age story about a young woman who believes she must win the science fair in order to save her parents marriage from crumbling, which is slated for release this upcoming summer. She has worked in both narrative and documentary film, and she presently teaches writing and film production at Loyola Marymount University and Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles. She earned her Master’s degree in Documentary Film Production from UC-Berkeley.

Megha Kadakia, Producer

brings a unique blend of business experience and artistic vision to the world of independent filmmaking. She raised equity financing and put together a unique package of deals and services in order for Raspberry Magic, a feature film to see completion of production in winter of 2008 in the Bay area. The film is now in post-production with a scheduled release of fall 2009. She also raised equity financing for several independent films, and worked as a Director of Strategy/Finance at the Walt Disney Studios. She earned her Master of Business from Columbia University.