Miya Otake – British Columbia

harpist . teacher

Spring. Spring is my favourite season.  My name literally means “beautiful March,” and my favourite harp is Aoyama Princess Sakura. 🌸

Miya Otake is a professional concert harpist, recording artist, music educator, and adjudicator based in Vancouver, Canada.

She enjoys touring the world with her talented sister, Kaori Otake Ogawa (a graduate of Curtis Institute of Music, Juilliard School, and Indiana University).  They’ve performed across North and South America, Asia, Australia, Europe, and Russia, including a Double Concerto with the prestigious Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra in St. Petersburg and a guest harp duo performance at Carnegie Hall in New York by the Japanese Drum Group, Ondekoza.

The Otake Sisters’ CD album, “Hope & Strength,” was recorded to raise funds for the victims of the devastating 3/11 earthquake and tsunami. All proceeds benefit survivors through the Red Cross.  They toured the affected area, offering hope and strength through their music.

Miya and Kaori are both supporters of the World Harp Congress: Focus on Youth and international competitions like the Israel Harp Competition, USA International Harp Competition, and the Soka International Harp Competition in Japan. 

At four, she began piano lessons with her mother, and by six, she had taken up harp in Japan.  After immigrating to Canada, she continued her musical education at the Vancouver Academy of Music and the Victoria Conservatoire of Music.  Under the tutelage of Uvic Professor Taka Kling, she won numerous awards, trophies, scholarships, and performed in numerous recitals, concerts, and TV programs.  Following her post-graduate studies at the Royal Academy of Music in London, England, with Daphne Boden, Skaila Kanga, and Marisa Robles, she further honed her skills in Nice, France, with Elizabeth Fontan Binoche.

As a Certified RCM Instructor and recipient of the Teacher’s Certificate of Recognition, Miya’s students have achieved remarkable success, earning Gold Medals for their highest provincial and national scores.  Currently, she serves on the faculty at the Vancouver Academy of Music, Richmond Showcase Academy, Langley Community Music School, and Aoyama Harp Academy.  There, she guides and inspires the next generation of harpists, many of whom have become recognized prize winners in Provincial, National, and International Competitions and Festivals.  Miya is particularly excited about three of her students performing at the One Harp World in Toronto, focusing on Youth and the Vancouver Academy of Music Ensemble.

Beyond her teaching, Miya is actively involved in various musical organizations. She serves as a board member for the International Music Competition, the Canadian Music Competition, Muzewest Concerts, and the Westcoast Harp Society.  

As president of Aoyama Harp of Canada, I import reliable and high-quality harps crafted in Japan.  The Aoyama family has supported the Otake family throughout their harp journey, and we’re grateful for the opportunity they’ve given us.  Visit Aoyama Harps for more information.