On Deck with Koharu Sakiyama

Amy Faust gets to know Koharu Sakiyama, a composer whose piece “Untold Tales,” a collaboration with local young poet Laila Vickers, just premiered at the Metropolitan Youth Symphony‘s spring concert. Koharu, who also plays violin with the Portland Youth Philharmonic, alto sax with her high school band, as well as the Japanese koto, has won or been recognized by numerous composers’ competitions. Her work has been performed by PYP, her high school band, and other ensembles around the city. This latest piece comes to us through her work with fEARnoMUSIC’s Young Composer’s Project. Aside from her koto playing, Koharu’s Japanese roots are reflected in a recent composition she created for her grandfather called “Maturi” that was inspired by the many festivals she attended with him in Japan. Koharu heads to University of California at Berkley this fall where she plans to study cellular and molecular biology.