Beyond the Stage: From Concert Pianist to Advocate for Young Musicians
Sixteen-year-old Aya Okimoto ’27 is hitting all the right notes both as an award-winning concert pianist and as an advocate dedicated to helping other young musicians. Her passion culminated in the creation of the World Wave Music Festival, a nonprofit organization that provides a free, international platform for young musicians to showcase their talents online without the financial hindrance often associated with competing.
For her work, Okimoto has earned many accolades, including the 2024 Youth Advocate Award, presented by Hawai‘i Governor Josh Green at the State Capitol this fall. “I was blown away when I received the email,” she said. Now she’s more motivated than ever, procuring opportunities for young talent.
“Competition fees, which can be $180 to $300, can be a barrier for musicians,” Okimoto explained. “I wanted to create a fee-free festival that students from all over the world could take part in.” To support this effort, she created the Music Festival Club at Punahou so she and a small group of students, including Lily Nomura ’26 and Nicholas Nishimura ’27, could fundraise and coordinate the festival.
The festival, which ran from Nov. 30 – Dec. 6, garnered support from big-name corporations including Google, Microsoft, Salesforce, Canva and Dell Technologies. She was able to assemble a prestigious judging panel of global artists and music professors from the likes of Juilliard, Harvard, MIT, NYU, Yale, Columbia and UC Berkeley. The festival included 877 student musicians from 77 countries, including Canada, Turkey and Australia.
Okimoto – an accomplished pianist and violinist – started her own musical journey at age 6, performing on some of the world’s grandest stages. “Music has been a huge part of my life,” she said. “I’ve loved it. Music has taught me to be disciplined and creative. It’s something that helps me communicate my thoughts through playing, and it’s a stress relief.”
The 10th grader’s list of accolades and accomplishments are a testament to her dedication and skill. At age 10, Okimoto entered her first piano competition in 2019, the Steinway Junior Piano Competition, where she took first place.
Her proudest moment was winning the American Virtuoso Music Competition, which earned her a performance at Carnegie Hall in 2023 – a “life-changing” moment. “I was nervous because it’s the biggest and most renowned stage in America,” Okimoto shared. “I wasn’t used to playing in that kind of environment – I was used to Montague Hall. But performing in front of a big audience was very rewarding. It was a whirlwind of amazing, positive emotions. I met so many talented musicians, and we still stay in touch.”
Okimoto enjoys playing a variety of genres, from jazz to classical to pop. “With violin, you can use vibrato and bow strokes to express yourself, while on piano, it’s through touch – how you press the keys,” she said. “Each instrument lets me convey different emotions, whether it’s a darker piece or something joyful.”
Balancing school, music and a nonprofit is no small job, but Okimoto credits her community and passion for music for keeping her on track. “I’m fortunate to have amazing people supporting me, such as my parents, teachers and classmates,” she said. “If I didn’t love music, I wouldn’t be willing to invest so much time in it. Music helps me so much – to express my feelings and relax – and I want to give others the opportunity to experience that.”
As she continues to grow as an artist and advocate, her future looks bright. Whether through her performances or her community initiatives, she certainly is inspiring a new generation of musicians to dream big and play on. “I aim to continue to expand the World Wave Music Festival and look forward to providing opportunities for even more student musicians,” she said.
