Akari Komoto is a Brisbane based composer, performer, working now in Perth as a teacher and musical director.
Her passion for music began at a young age studying piano at the age 4. Over the years she developed her musical craft under the direction of Leah Horowitz OAM. In 2014, she was selected by Musica Viva to perform at Angela Hewitt’s masterclass and again in 2015, where she performed at the Queensland Government House as part of Musica Viva’s annual event. She was selected in 2016 as part of the ‘Rising Stars’ program at the Sydney International Piano competition where she performed live in front of world class pianists as well as being broadcasted across the world. Her other performance highlights include winning the Brisbane Eistedfodd aggregate championships in 2011, 2012 and 2013 as well as being selected for the Little Lev Vlasenko international piano competition in both 2015 and 2017.
Komoto has since stepped into the composing scene studying a Bachelor of Composition and Music Technology at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. In 2021 she wrote and performed her first work ‘What I already had’ and ever since, has worked in the musical theatre scene. In 2022, she debuted her first musical directing role under the title of ‘Assistant Musical Director’ with Laughing Horse productions vocal directing the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and most recently Musical Directed Les Miserables. Currently, Komoto is working with Keshet Works on the debut production run of the Hollow cause as the Musical Director. Komoto regularly performs in musicals as the primary keyboard player with occasional performances with the hearNOW ensemble at WAAPA.
Her passion for music began at a young age studying piano at the age 4. Over the years she developed her musical craft under the direction of Leah Horowitz OAM. In 2014, she was selected by Musica Viva to perform at Angela Hewitt’s masterclass and again in 2015, where she performed at the Queensland Government House as part of Musica Viva’s annual event. She was selected in 2016 as part of the ‘Rising Stars’ program at the Sydney International Piano competition where she performed live in front of world class pianists as well as being broadcasted across the world. Her other performance highlights include winning the Brisbane Eistedfodd aggregate championships in 2011, 2012 and 2013 as well as being selected for the Little Lev Vlasenko international piano competition in both 2015 and 2017.
Komoto has since stepped into the composing scene studying a Bachelor of Composition and Music Technology at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. In 2021 she wrote and performed her first work ‘What I already had’ and ever since, has worked in the musical theatre scene. In 2022, she debuted her first musical directing role under the title of ‘Assistant Musical Director’ with Laughing Horse productions vocal directing the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and most recently Musical Directed Les Miserables. Currently, Komoto is working with Keshet Works on the debut production run of the Hollow cause as the Musical Director. Komoto regularly performs in musicals as the primary keyboard player with occasional performances with the hearNOW ensemble at WAAPA.