Unfolding Talent: Aya Okimoto on Creativity, Versatility, and Her Award-Winning Performance in Music
- Beeffie
- Jun 3
- 5 min read
Aya Okimoto achieved outstanding success at the 2025 Season 2 UK International Music Competition, receiving multiple top honours across a range of categories. As a multi-talented musician specialising in piano, violin, and voice, she was recognised with several Absolute First Prizes and special awards celebrating her exceptional creativity and artistic excellence.
Could you tell us a bit about yourself, your music training journey, and your goals for the future?
Aloha! My name is Aya Okimoto, and I am 16 years old, currently attending Punahou School in Honolulu, Hawaii. I have a deep passion for music, particularly playing the piano and violin, as well as singing.
I began playing the piano at the age of six, initially focusing on Disney songs before gradually transitioning to classical piano. I started violin lessons at seven, exploring classical, jazz, and pop styles. Around the same time, I began vocal lessons after my teacher contacted my parents to suggest I needed speech therapy. Instead of traditional speech therapy, my parents chose to enroll me in vocal training, as they discovered that singing could be a fun and engaging way for me to improve my enunciation without feeling pressured at such a young age. This experience not only helped me develop a love for singing but also fostered my self-expression through music.
Thanks to my teachers, I overcame my speech difficulties, significantly improving my articulation. I also participate in the debate club, where I have further honed my speaking skills. I was honored to win 1st prize in the Punahou National Shakespeare Competition for excellence in understanding and reciting Juliet's Monologue.
As a musician, I recently created a nonprofit organization called the World Wave Music Festival. This platform provides young artists from around the world with the opportunity to join and gain access to resources for free. They can learn music education through the WWMF platform. To date, I have impacted 27,900 students from 170 countries, and I aim to continue sharing music education while promoting the importance of advocacy through my nonprofit organization.
For more information, please visit [World Wave Music Festival].
What did a typical day of music practice look like for you, and how did your family support your passion? How do you manage your time between training and schoolwork?
As a high school student, balancing music practice with academic responsibilities can be quite challenging. As I get older, my schoolwork becomes more demanding, which means I need to manage my time effectively to excel in both areas. Developing a daily routine and maintaining discipline is essential, though it can be difficult at times. Setting clear goals and creating a structured schedule helps me stay on track. I am incredibly grateful for my parents' unwavering support; they believe in my passion for music and are always there to encourage me. I truly appreciate my parents.
Your award-winning music video for "Make You Feel My Love" features your piano playing, vocals, and violin performance. How did you approach integrating these different musical elements both in the arrangement and in the visual storytelling? The video is noted for its creativity and artistic style.
Due to my love for piano, violin, and singing, I strive to incorporate all these elements into my video projects. I enjoy playing classical pieces on both the piano and violin, but I also appreciate various genres of music. For each project, I select the music I love and blend all three instruments to create a cohesive story within the song. I enjoy my lessons with my teacher, Mr. Padilla, on these videos. He supports my vision and encourages my passion for music, making the creative process even more fulfilling.
Can you share your process in conceptualising and producing this video, and how you aimed to connect the music with the visual imagery?
The process of creating a music video is incredibly enjoyable for me. It begins with deciding what type of images I want and the color theme for the video. I also consider my hairstyle, outfit, and the overall mood that corresponds to the piece I’m performing. Making a music video feels like creating a short movie, where I express my emotions through both music and visuals. I particularly enjoy collaborating on these projects with my teacher, Mr. Padilla, who has been an invaluable part of this creative journey.
Would you like to share your experience participating in our competition and anyone you'd like to thank (such as family members, mentors, or supporters)?
I am truly grateful for the opportunity to participate in the UK International Music Competition. The inclusion of various categories, not just classical music, allows me to explore my passion for different genres. As a classical musician, I have received awards for both piano and violin, and the chance to showcase my diverse interests on an international stage has been incredibly rewarding. Being named an Absolute Winner with 1st Prize has inspired me to continue creating videos like this, significantly boosting my confidence. I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to my parents for their unwavering support and belief in my musical aspirations. I am also grateful to my current and past classical music teachers: Dr. Neela Kinariwala, Mr. Steven Casano, Mr. Ignace Jang, Mr. Khullip Jeung, Mr. Duane Padilla. Punahou Symphony teachers Mr. Craig Young and Dr. Sven Jonas Carlson. Chamber Coach Mr. Steven Flanter, Hawaii Youth Symphony (YS1) Director Mr. Joseph Stepec, Voice teacher Ms. Yvonne.
Additionally, I sincerely appreciate Mr. Duane Padilla’s collaboration with me on this video project. I genuinely feel immense gratitude from the bottom of my heart.
Biography
Aya Okimoto is a talented piano student at Punahou School, studying under the expert guidance of Mr. Steven Casano. At the age of ten, she entered her first competition, the 2019 Steinway Junior Piano Competition, where she proudly secured 1st Prize. Since then, Aya has achieved an impressive array of 1st Prize wins at prestigious international competitions. In August 2021, 2022, and 2023, she garnered 1st Prize in the Osaka International Music Competition (Hawai’i Regional Round). In 2023, Aya excelled further by winning 1st place in both the Piano and Violin categories at the OIMC and HMTA Music Competition. She is also an active participant in the Hawaii Youth Symphony (YS1) and is particularly proud of her recent performance at Carnegie Hall in November 2023, following her success at the AVMC. Aya’s outstanding performance in the BTHVN competition earned her an invitation to perform in the Gala Concert at the Gläserner Saal of the Musikverein in Vienna, Austria. She continues to shine, achieving 1st place in Piano and 2nd place in Violin at the 2024 OIMC, as well as 1st place in both Piano and Violin at the 2024 HIMC International Music Competition. In 2025, she was awarded 1st Prize with Special Mention at the Bach International Music Competition. Also Winning Absolute 1st Prize for her music video showcasing piano, violin, and vocal performances and Classical Piano at the UK International Music Competition. This summer, Aya is thrilled to perform in Barcelona and Girona at the Winners Gala event. Looking forward, she will showcase her accomplishments on an international stage by performing at the Dubai Steinway Concert Hall in September 2025, following her recent victory at the Dubai International Music Competition.
To follow Aya’s musical journey and stay updated on her performances, connect with her on Instagram at [@aya_music27] and check out her YouTube channel: [Aya Okimoto].
