Anna Okada ’17: Forging a Musical Life Post-Whitman

Name: Anna Okada
Class Year: 2017
Current Job: Musician, Teacher, Performer

I caught up with Anna on a sunny afternoon in Cleveland Commons earlier this month while she was in town after several performances in Montana.

Tell us about your role in the Walla Walla Valley.

I teach violin to community members ranging from young kids to mature adults. I try to cater how I teach depending on what the person needs to be able to grow as a musician. So, working with a seven-year-old student will be lighthearted and the lesson will center around fun activities. If it’s a high school student we’ll work on technical skills. I really enjoy teaching adults because they’re interesting and insightful and ask intriguing questions AND they really want to be there, which I love. With adults it’s often about reclaiming a connection to music they’ve lost in their life and bringing joy. I find that most adults used to play and then stopped and then want to get back to it. It’s unusual to have an adult student who is learning music for the first time. Every student needs something different and so I’m always changing my teaching styles to be responsive. 

What is something you’ve learned about this area that surprised you or that you weren’t expecting?

I think the quality and quantity of arts and culture is surprising for a town of our size. I hear this a lot from people who visit here from other places. Having grown up in Walla Walla I didn’t really appreciate this fact but since I’ve travelled a lot I now realize it. For instance, there has been fantastic programming from the Walla Walla Symphony. Similarly, the Chamber Music Festival has really grown and developed a following. People can enjoy high-quality art and music here which they’re often surprised about since we’re a rural area. I think this can give young people who grow up here an advantage in terms of seeing what’s possible or even normal and not feel intimidated about going after things they want to try.

How do skills that you learned at Whitman help you today?

I studied music, and so that translated directly! (laughs) Specifically, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to to do a lot of chamber music when I was a student and the skills that I gained through my coaching and lessons gave me a lot of confidence and ability to thrive in grad school (at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University) and since then.

I can clearly see the connection from my life as a Whittie—I took a class my junior year in Performance Practice and that opened my eyes to the field of historical performance practice and that’s what I specialized in during grad school and now that kind of music is 95% of what I do. I have a friend, Gabriel Merrill-Steskal ’18, who also was in that class who has also followed through in a different instrument. Never underestimate what a single class can do!

What is a way that Walla Walla is diverse?

The family concerts that the symphony puts on allow all kids in the community to come to campus to enjoy very high level music and so that is a chance for kids of all backgrounds to access great culture. If those students had to purchase tickets I’m not sure that many of those young people would be able to take advantage of this kind of experience. It is a goal of mine to make my lessons more accessible. Seeing the diversity in Walla Walla, I would love to teach people from all walks of life and all economic situations. I don’t know if this is a perfect comparison, but when I worked with a doula with my last child, she provided scholarships and discounts for her patients and I’d love to get to a point where I could do something similar with my business. A nice example is that our symphony has outreach programs and free resources that help support youth and make music more accessible to a diverse audience.

Speaking of that, what’s it like being an arts entrepreneur?

A lot of the skills that I picked up at Whitman I’ve expanded, which has let me figure out how to handle the logistics and business part of being an artist. From my Whitman days, learning how to communicate in a professional manner and being organized and planning events—basically, being your own secretary! Super important! And this is true on both the performing side and also the teaching side. In general, when you’re starting out, and unless you become very successful, you probably won’t have an assistant and have to handle all of this yourself. At Whitman I was gently eased into that realm of being a musician and then took that on at a higher level in grad school. Jumping straight into being a professional musician would have been tough! But, let’s be real, it’s different, too. At Whitman, I could have a semester or two to prepare for a recital and now I just get a few days! For all the music students reading this interview I want you to know that just like you I started here and trust me when I say you’ll gain skills and confidence to be more and more efficient and focused. It’s not magic—it’s experience.

What should Whitman students know about our community?

There’s so much natural beauty around here! I know if someone doesn’t have a car it can be hard to access sometimes, but it’s worth trying. Growing up in Walla Walla, I didn’t really appreciate our surrounding environment but it is gorgeous here. If you have an opportunity to get out of town, I definitely encourage it! Even just getting to Bennington Lake is a big treat!

What is your favorite aspect of springtime in Walla Walla?

I love the flowers! I love the huge cherry tree by The Kids’ Place. The viburnums are awesome. The air is sweet with blossoms. The city aviary in Pioneer Park is great—there are so many cool birds there, and now, especially with lots of baby birds arriving. And, of course on campus we have the ducklings.

Beyond the interview:

Anna Okada ’17 will be available for questions and further conversation this Wednesday, April 16, at noon in Reid Campus Center, Room 207. The Career and Community Engagement Center will provide lunch for the first 10 students in attendance. Questions or ideas or accommodation requests? Email Noah Leavitt at leavitns@whitman.edu.