Aya is a piano student at the Punahou School under the instruction of Mr. Steven Casano. At ten years of age, Aya entered her first piano competition, the 2019 Steinway Jr. Piano Competition, where she received 1st Prize. Aya has received multiple 1st Prize wins from the GCC (Best Chopin, Best Bach, Rising Talents of the World, and Artist of the Year). In August 2021, 2022, and 2023 she took 1st Prize in the Osaka International Music Competition (Hawai’i Regional Round). In 2023, she placed 1st in both Piano and Violin in the OIMC and HMTA Music Competition. Aya studies classical violin with Mr. Ignace Jang and Jazz violin from Mr. Duane Padilla. She enjoys attending Hawaii Youth Symphony (YS1) and PMI. Her most recent win was in the AVMC, where she won 1st prize and she performed at Carnegie Hall November 2023. For her exemplary performance in the BTHVN competition, she has been invited to perform in the Gala Concert in Vienna, Austria, in the Gläserner Saal of the Musikverein. She continues to win 1st place in Piano and 2nd in Violin in 2024 OIMC and 2024 HIMC she placed 1st place on both piano and violin. 2025 she placed 1st prize with Special Mention on Bach International Music Competition.
IG: @aya_music27, @wishmakers27
Watch Aya Okimoto perform Toccata in G Major BWV 916 by Bach on the piano for the 2025 Summer Music Competition as part of the Charleston International Music Competition.