OMF Chamber Music Masterclass –Liedduo Recital–
| Date | Aug. 11, 2025 (Mon/Holiday) 15:00 |
|---|---|
| Venue | The Harmony Hall |
| Ticket Price | ¥1,000（All seats reserved） |
| Duration | About 2 hours (includes intermission) |
| Instructors | Mitsuko Shirai（Mezzo-Soprano） ［Professor at Staatliche Hochschule für Musik Karlsruhe, Guest professor at Kunitatchi College of Music］ |
| Cast |
Leonie Paulus
（Soprano） Aozora Deguchi （Piano） Hiyori Kujira （Soprano） Azusa Kato （Piano） Hinata Hasegawa （Baritone） Yuji Maruoka （Piano） Yutaro Mikami （Baritone） Yui Hirao （Piano） Hans Porten （Baritone） Nao Ueda （Piano） Yang Xu （Bass） Mariko Sakonju （Piano） |
The festival welcomes Ms. Mitsuko Shirai as an instructor and will hold a Liedduo Masterclass at Okushiga Kogen this year. Talented young musicians who pass the audition will undergo an intensive one-week training under Ms. Shirai’s guidance at Okushiga Kogen. The results of this training will be showcased in two recitals, held at Okushiga Kogen and in Matsumoto.
Instructor
© Masanori Hotta
Mitsuko Shirai
Mezzo-Soprano
Mitsuko Shirai studied at HMDK Stuttgart and is a lied recitalist and soloist in chamber music, religious music and symphonies with world-renowned orchestras. Honors: Hugo Wolf Academy International Lied Competition, Robert Schumann Competition, ABC International Music Award, Minister of Education Award for Fine Arts, Medal with Purple Ribbon, Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, Cross of Merit, Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette, University of Victoria honorary doctorate. She is professor at HfM Karlsruhe and guest professor at Kunitachi College of Music.
Cast
Leonie Paulus
Soprano
Austrian Soprano. Won special prize at the Ada Sari Competition. Sang Tatyana Eugene Onegin, Pamina Die Zauberflöte. Member of Thomas Hampson’s lied project Heidelberger Frühling. Seen in concerts at Wiener Musikverein, Pierre Boulez Saal.
Aozora Deguchi
Piano
Acquired M.A. from Kyoto University of Arts and HfM und Theater München graduate school for lied with top scores. Korrepetitor in the oratorio class. Studying chamber music at HfM und Tanz Köln. Invited to Carnegie Hall lied project SongStudio2025; semifinalist at 2023 International Schubert Competition Dortmund LiedDuo category.
Hiyori Kujira
Soprano
Completed Kunitachi College of Music (voice major) and lied soloist course with top scores. 1st year M.A. lied course at the same school. 78th Student Music Concours of Japan, Tokyo finals college vocal div. finalist. 33rd Japan-German Lied Competition Encouragement Prize. Performed in music school graduate recital (at Tokagakudo). Mentor: Takeko Nagashima.
Azusa Kato
Piano
Won Tokyo Governor Award at Kunitachi College of Music SH graduation. Entered its college on a scholarship, appearing in solo / chamber music, subscription, graduation, and new artist concerts. 2nd-year M.A. student in accompaniment course at the same school. Mentors: Aya Yoshikawa, Yasuhiko Hoshino, Juri Kikuchi, Kaoru Numata, Chiharu Hanaoka, Yosuke Niino.
Hinata Hasegawa
Baritone
Majored in vocal music at Tokyo College of Music undergraduate and graduate school, obtaining a master’s degree. Received a scholarship from the college while a student.
Yuji Maruoka
Piano
Attending Tokyo College of Music. Winner, International Piano Competition for Young Pianists; Judge Prize, Jr. Classical Music Competition in Japan. Recently active as a conductor. Tokyo Fresh Philharmonic music director; Minami Nagareyama Musicant permanent conductor; Lila Orchestra resident conductor. Conducted a full-act performance of Le nozze di Figaro.
Yutaro Mikami
Baritone
Iwate Prefecture native. Completed Tokyo Gakugei University graduate school and Tokyo University of the Arts graduate school vocal music course. DLV (German lied performer group) founding member. 2nd prize, 32nd Burckhardt International Music Competition; top prize, 26th Japan Player's Competition general B category. Mentors: Hiroyuki Harada, Michio Tatara, Eijiro Kai, Daisaku Kobayashi.
Yui Hirao
Piano
Completed Tokyo University of the Arts and its M.A. musicology course, chosen as “excellent performer.” Winner of awards e.g., 11th Sakura Music Competition accompaniment prize. Mentors: Yu Kakuno, Yoko Kono, Nobuko Ii, Shin Moriyama. Class assistant at the Kunitachi College of Music vocal music course. Actively performing while training students.
Hans Porten
Baritone
Studied under Teru Yoshihara at HMDK Stuttgart, acquiring B.A. and M.A. in vocal music. Since debuting as Orfeo in Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice in 2019, he has appeared in many operas. Highly acclaimed as a baroque soloist, appearing as a guest with major ensembles in Germany including the Kammerchor Stuttgart.
Nao Ueda
Piano
Native of Iwate Prefecture. Completed HfMT Hamburg lied accompaniment master's program and concert exam with highest marks. Studying opera korrepetition at HMDK Stuttgart. Won several awards at international competitions as an ensemble pianist; engaged in projects with Bayerische Staatsoper as a korrepetitor and more.
Yang Xu
Bass
Chinese bass, opera soloist at Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe (2013–23), performed 40+ operatic roles. Holds a Master’s in Opera and Solistenexamen in Lied from HfM Karlsruhe. Guest artist at Leipzig Opera and Nationaltheater Mannheim. Specializes in opera and art song performance. Currently teaches at China Conservatory of Music.
Mariko Sakonju
Piano
Toho Gakuen of Music alumna. Completed music universities in Dresden and Stuttgart, then with unanimously high marks from the HfM Karlsruhe concert exam for lied accompaniment. Hatanaka Prize (collaboration) and Competition Committee Special Prize (collaboration), 93rd Music Competition of Japan lied category; 1st prize, 28th Brahms Competition Pörtschach lied category (collaboration).