In The Lion King, the opening moments of ‘Circle of Life’ remind audiences that every journey begins with possibility and that each role we grow into is shaped by those who nurture us along the way.
For Akari Komoto (’21), that journey began at St Margaret’s where her early love of music was nurtured through the school’s music program and by immersing herself in its many and varied opportunities including ensembles, musicals and composition.
“The school musicals were life changing experiences. I didn’t really like musical theatre at first, but I had the chance to play in three school productions, and with each one, I felt my love for the art form grow more and more. In the end, I went from disliking musical theatre to wanting to live and breathe it, and that’s when I knew I wanted to pursue it as a career,” she said.
Akari credits the school’s music staff for encouraging her talents, guiding her career direction and opening doors for her.
“In my final year at school, Mr Ng suggested I look into musical directing. It wasn’t something I’d heard of, and after doing my own research, I realised it was a pathway combining everything I loved about music and could become a career,” she said.
From school ensembles and performances to transformative mentoring experiences, the foundations laid during Akari’s school years set in motion a career that has now come full circle, landing her dream role as Music Associate for Disney’s Australian production of The Lion King.
“It’s such a surreal and overwhelming feeling being part of this show. From the very first note of ‘Circle of Life’, you can feel the audience shift as they’re taken back to the film and their childhood.
“A moment that made it feel real was playing my first show as Keyboard 1 in front of an audience. I don’t think I’ve been that nervous in a long time – my arms and legs were shaking during the first song but by halfway through Act 1 I started to relax and really felt present with the rest of the band and cast. That was the moment when it really hit me. I remember thinking to myself “I’ll never get to say I’ve played my first professional show again” and that made it feel incredibly special,” Akari said.
For Akari, it was not just the support of St Margaret’s but also the support of her parents and others around her that gave her the confidence to pursue a career in music, and now, much like the story she helps to tell each evening, she recognises the many ways in which these influences have shaped who she is today.
“In the short time I’ve been working on the show, it has made me more aware and prouder of my Japanese heritage. That idea of understanding who we are because of the people who came before us is such a powerful message that should be constantly retold, and it’s something that resonates with me. To be able to play even a small part in sharing that legacy story with so many people is incredibly special and something I’m so grateful to be a part of,” she said.
To top off Akari’s full circle year, she recently graduated from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) with a Bachelor of Music Honours in Composition and Sonic Arts.
Akari’s school experiences played a pivotal role in shaping her aspirations and gave her the confidence to pursue a career in musical theatre.
Akari’s music composition work is featured as the soundtrack for the 2026 Giving Day video.