The Global Filipino Magazine Feature Article
Thank you, The Global Filipino Magazine, for the very beautifully written interview article about my journey as an independent artist here in Japan.
She went to Japan for studies, stayed for love—and built a global music platform for Filipinos
For many artists, finding stability while pursuing their passion can be an uphill climb. For Carell Ethilca Henry, a 33-year-old Filipina musician based in Japan, that challenge became her life's defining journey. Through resilience, faith, and a lifelong love for music, she turned her childhood fascination with the piano into a flourishing international career.
"I have always known that music was meant to be my career, not just a hobby," she shared. "My passion for it began at the age of six. My parents never pushed me to study piano, and they could never have imagined that this childhood interest would one day become my profession."
Today, Carell is a full-time freelance artist in Tokyo. She works as a pianist, piano teacher, and founder of her own business, Kate Henry Music, while also serving as a part-time kindergarten music teacher at an IB World School. She is the author of a piano method book series for children and the founder of the Philippines–Tokyo Concert Series, a cultural initiative that showcases Filipino classical music to international audiences.
Her work has made her one of the most recognized Filipino musicians in Japan's music education and cultural diplomacy circles. "As an active cultural ambassador, I independently organize concerts in Tokyo to promote Filipino classical music to international audiences," she explained. "I'm also regularly invited by the Philippine Embassy in Japan to perform at diplomatic and cultural events, including special occasions attended by members of the Japanese Imperial Family."
Her success didn't happen overnight. It began with a decision to leave her home country in 2017 after earning a full-tuition government scholarship to pursue postgraduate studies in Japan. The scholarship recognized her academic and artistic excellence, opening the doors to what would become a transformative chapter in her life.
Carell completed her Master's in Music Education at the Elizabeth University of Music in Hiroshima, where she was awarded the Cecilia Award as the top graduate in music research. "My journey in Japan began as a postgraduate student and recipient of a full-tuition government scholarship," she recalled. "After graduation, I built a career in international schools for three years before deciding to pursue the path of self-employment."