For student, harp sounds all of the right notes

Quick, name your favorite harpist.

Waiting. Waiting. Waiting. (No Googling!)

Those well versed in the Bible can get away with King David, although a more ardent fan of the instrument might give a historical nod to Carlos Salzedo or a contemporary thumbs up to Jana Bouskova. From trivia buffs, any of ill-fated French queen Marie Antoinette, former Yes frontman Jon Anderson or, naturally, the silently expressive Arthur “Harpo” Marx will suffice.

For the rest of us, a plea of ignorance will have to do. And who can take offense? The harp may be lovely to listen to, but only a precious few these days undertake to master its daunting array of requisite skills.

Count St. Andrew’s Priory School sophomore Marcy Tokunaga among those who delight in the challenge.

Tokunaga’s early musical experiences were centered around the piano, which she has been playing since she was 5. At the suggestion of her piano instructor, Tokunaga was considering taking up a second instrument to enhance her musical skills and understanding when she attended a performance of Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” and heard — in all its live, shimmering force — the harp cadenza from “Waltz of the Flowers.”

Some five years later she still vividly recalls the towering figure of the instrument and “its beautiful sound.” She also remembers well the first time she laid fingertips to gut strings during an initial visit with harp instructor Sharene Taba.

“It was,” she said, voice trailing momentarily, “awesome.”

Her background in piano gave Tokunaga a strong foundation in reading music and understanding basic musical theory, but the transition to harp — with its 6-foot, 80-pound frame and four dozen taut strings — required patience, commitment and thousands of hours of disciplined practice.

“The harp is very different from piano,” said Tokunaga, whose younger sister Caitlyn also plays the instrument. “The piano is a percussion instrument laid out horizontally, while the harp is a vertical instrument with strings that are plucked and strummed. I had to get used to the strings — and getting blisters on my fingers!”

The blisters have long since evolved into professional-grade calluses, and Tokunaga has established herself as a promising young practitioner of a uniquely versatile instrument.

As a member of the Hono­lulu Youth Symphony’s Youth Symphony I, Tokunaga has had the opportunity to perform alongside one of her heroes, Honolulu Symphony Orchestra principal harpist Constance Uejio. She’s also played concerts with Priory’s Chamber String Orchestra and with fellow students of Taba.

“I get really nervous but excited at the same time,” Tokunaga said of performing .”I think about everything — my music, who’s in the audience, keeping up with the performance.”

Tokunaga’s musical pursuits are balanced against her academic and athletic commitments, which include a spot on the Priory varsity girls basketball team. A wing who works hard to contribute on both ends of the court, Tokunaga jokes that she’s careful to protect her fingers from getting jammed.

Tokunaga, whose mother was born in Japan, said she hopes to one day work as a translator while also continuing to perform on harp and piano. She’s narrowed her prospective college choices to the University of Southern California, Boston University and New York University.

To see Tokunaga perform on harp, visit 808ne.ws/2r989sX.

Reach Michael Tsai at mtsai@staradvertiser.com.