Stars aligned: the day my harp matched the ballroom

Last month, I had the pleasure of performing at a wedding held in a stunning ballroom called The Atelier, at The Capitol Kempinski Hotel. This event felt extra special to me because my harp looked like it was made to be there.

My harp is made by Aoyama, a Japanese harp manufacturer. The model is charmingly named Princess Sakura, after the cherry blossoms that are hand-lacquered onto the soundboard, base, and columns. Under stage lighting, the cherry blossoms shimmer subtly on the soundboard, giving the instrument a "princess" allure. The walnut wood and spruce soundboard create an earthy contrast, letting the pink-gold blossoms stand out.

For this wedding, the couple requested that the harp remain on stage for the entire event, even when I wasn’t performing, and the moment I walked into the room, I saw why. The harp belonged. Its walnut wood perfectly matched the tones of the wooden panels on the ceiling and walls. The cherry blossoms on the harp reflected the floral art on the walls and the pink roses on stage.

When I perform, I always play from memory, without a music stand. This way, the harp's beauty is fully on display for the audience to appreciate. It makes for a cleaner, more elegant stage presence, that I felt was amplified that evening.