A rich, velvety voice floats through the air, capturing a jovial melody and suffusing everyone in holiday cheer. Standing in front of the jazz band, Miki Mitarai’s (12) melodic singing draws in the guests of the open house, many visitors looking up from their brochures and shuffling closer. Miki lingers on the last note for a moment, then the crowd explodes with cheers and applause. Most people begin to make their way inside the Athletic Center, yet some linger, unwilling to let the performance go just yet. Miki smiles happily as she begins to answer questions, delighting in her craft.

Miki’s family surrounded her with music from birth, setting Miki on her journey as a singer at an early age. Beginning with foundational classical singing lessons, she progressed to more advanced genres, from choral, gothic and contemporary, to her current position as the vocalist for jazz band. A multitude of experiences have fueled Miki’s experience as a vocalist, from performing live in theaters to posting covers of songs on her YouTube channel. Despite struggling through untimely health issues and time management, her dedication to music remains strong. Close friend Desiree Luo (12), who witnessed Miki’s personal and musical growth since sixth grade, recounted moments where Miki conveyed her deep love for music.

“Whatever she performs, whether it’s on stage or for an on-screen audience, you can really see her passion for music shine,” Desiree said. “She once told me when we were writing our preparations for college essays, ‘I can’t possibly put what I feel for music into words.’”

Despite the constant routine of classes, rehearsals and concerts, one unique factor separates each and every performance: the audience. Day after day, connecting with others through music motivates Miki.

“One of the most rewarding parts about singing is the performance aspect where I get to sing for an audience of people,” Miki said. “My best or favorite performances are not necessarily the ones where I sound the most technically perfect, but they’re the ones where the audience members will come up to me afterward and say they got chills or they cried. Music is so special in terms of connection, whether it’s in a different language, different style, and the whole point is to express and communicate.”

Miki performs in upper school choir Cantilena, as well as Regional Gospel Honor Choir. Participating in choirs allows her to bond with others and sing in a group. 

“Creating music with other people is a really important connection for me,” Miki said. “In addition to all of my solo stuff, I’ve made sure to stay involved in ensembles and groups. And those are important to maintain because there’s something about creating music as part of a group that you can’t exactly replicate.”

As the only jazz vocalist, she steps into more of a leadership role when directing the band. Upper school instrumental music teacher Jaco Wang finds her leadership presence comforting and continues to encourage Miki to take on more authority.

“She’s willing to count off tunes and be a band leader, so she’s not just singing a part but she’s telling the rest of the band of 30 people how things should go,” Wong said. “That takes a lot of maturity, musically. But then how to step in and say, ‘Now I’m in charge’ and be a leader who can intervene at the right time, that’s a skill to learn.”

Miki’s quiet but steady guidance and ability to connect with others also extends to the rock-climbing community. During high school, she joined the climbing team at Planet Granite in Sunnyvale and became a staff member at the gym. Miki uses her position to create the same safe space that she experienced when she first joined.

“I wanted to turn around and offer that same thing to other newer climbers,” Miki said. “A big part of my position specifically is bringing in new climbers into the community. A lot of the time climbing can seem intimidating or exclusionary to people who haven’t tried it before. It’s rewarding to inspire others and show them that climbing is for everyone, and there’s more than one way to be strong on the wall.”

The rock-climbing gym allows Miki to experience comfort and positivity, and she forgets about her stress and instead focuses on the route she is planning while a crowd of strangers spurs her on with cheers and claps as she reaches for the next handhold.

“The climbing community is so warm and accepting,” Miki said. “When you’re in the gym, it could be a total stranger, but if you see them on the wall, and they’re trying really hard, people will just gather and encourage them, shout ‘gamba’ as they’re on the wall. You don’t even know the person, but that sense of support is there unconditionally. That sense of closeness has been special.”

The friendly atmosphere of the climbing gym also taught Miki to express the same acceptance and warmth to the people around her. In her personal life, she is known as a great listener and someone who will drop everything to help her loved ones. Close friend Selina Xu (12) fondly describes Miki’s soothing presence in her life.

“She does a really good job of making people feel really comfortable and not making you feel like you have to put your guard up around her,” Selina said. “I never feel like I’m going to be judged or I have to act positive around her all the time.”

Through both singing and rock climbing, Miki developed intimate connections with the communities around her, remaining dedicated to providing for her close friends. For Miki, the essential aspect of both activities is being able to connect with others and feel a sense of belonging while engaging in something she loves.

“With climbing, I started coaching, and then in singing also I’ve turned around and done instructing and volunteering,” Miki said. “In both senses, it’s not purely for myself. There’s an aspect of giving back to these communities that has been so meaningful for me.”