Born in Tokyo, Japan, Tomoko Sugawara began playing the Irish Harp at age eleven, and the Concert Harp at seventeen. She has a degree in Harp Performance from Tokyo University of the Arts. She also studied cultural history at Seijo University in Tokyo. After graduating, Tomoko performed with various orchestras and ensembles, and also in many solo concerts.

Tomoko enjoys playing harps from East & West, including the Modern harp, Renaissance harp, and Baroque triple harp and Asian harp kugo. She has almost 40 years teaching the harp experience. Click here to read testimonials from Tomoko's students.

Notable Performances

Tomoko has performed solo recitals and workshops at major international venues, including: The World Music Institute in New York, and World Harp Congresses in Prague, Amsterdam, and Vancouver, The Early Music Guild of Seattle, The British Museum, Central China Conservatory of Music (Beijing), Symposium on historical Harps in Berlin, Shanghai Conservatory of Music, and many Universities: Columbia, Harvard, Pennsylvania, Princeton, Illinois and Indiana. She also leads a band called Eurasia Consort, annually at Midtown Concert in New York City.

Musical Journey

Tomoko's musical journey began with the piano at age seven. At age 11, she was introduced to the harp through a teacher that lived near her home. From then on she was hooked and even went on to join her first harp ensemble. When Tomoko was fifteen years old, her harp ensemble's concert tour in the USA where her dream of playing in America was born.

"I grew up with music and I have learned a lot through my experiences with my harp. The harp has always helped me when I felt life was difficult." said Tomoko of her musical journey.

Tomoko currently resides in Tribeca near Church Street School for Music & Art and is excited to be Harp teaching at CSSMA. Check out her website here: https://www.tomokosugawara.nyc .