Monika Haar is a pianist, music teacher, and environmental advocate based in Honolulu.  Having spent a decade in New York City, she regularly collaborated with living composers to premiere many works. Monika directed and performed with InnoVox, a chamber music ensemble that focused on performing new pieces. InnoVox hosted a Green Concert, and selected the program from an international call for environmentally inspired works.  They were featured nationally at the Chamber Music America Showcase Concert in Times Square, and was a finalist at the Arriaga Chamber Music Competition. Monika plays toy piano and melodica for a multi-cultural band called Le Petit Pépinot, and has performed with them since 2012.  She collaborated with visual artist Thad Higa, and performed amplified typewriter for his art show opening at Box Jelly this year.  She discovered her love for playing amplified objects, and accompanies Lori Ohtani’s butoh dance classes every week at the Japan Cultural Center of Hawai’i.

This year, Monika produced a music video together with her visual artist parents, Tom & Yoko Haar.  It features her own movement and music composition, and aims to raise awareness on plastic marine debris.  This video, “TRANSPARENCY” was premiered at the environmental gallery in NYC called One Planet One Future, and was shown locally at the Honolulu Biennial 2019, together with a panel discussion that Monika moderated with various local organizations that promote ocean advocacy.