Naoko Nakagawa (soprano)

Jean-Ronald LaFond (tenor)

Adam Juran (tenor)

accompanied by:

Joan Krueger (piano)

Satoshi Kanazawa (composition, piano)

Selections of opera arias, German lieder, Russian, lieder, Haitian song, and Japanese art songs will be performed. Besides a composer Satoshi kanazawa will be playing his latest work entitled “out of the sky”, which is dedicated to the victims of earthquake and tsunamis in Northeastern Japan.

<Program>

TBA

This concert is supported by Artists in Action for Japan.

<Artist Biography>

-Naoko Nakagawa-

     A native of Japan, Naoko Nakagawa is a graduate of the prestigious Tokyo University of the Arts. Nakagawa's remarkable voice is well known in Japan and she appeared in concerts throughout Japan as a soloist and a guest singer. American audiences have also received her warmly since she moved to New York City in 2006.

     Ms. Nakagawa started her vocal training at the age of fifteen. Her teachers include Noriko Fujiwara and Michio Tatara, Dora Ohrenstein, Jean-Ronald LaFond, Joan Krueger, Martina Arroyo and Maestro Steven M. Crawford of Metropolitan Opera. Ms. Nakagawa made her role debut as Masha in A Feast in the Time of the Plague written by César Cui at the little OPERA THEATRE of NY in 2009, and appeared at The Hudson Guild Theatre in New York. Notably, she appeared at Benefit Concert for Japan in May hosted by Artists in Action for Japan, and Concert for Japan hosted by Consulate General of Germany and Consulate General of Japan in New York in June 2011 in order to raise funds for the victims of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami. She is currently an artistic advisor of Artists in Action for Japan, a not-for-profit artist based Japan relief project 

-Jean-Ronald LaFond-

     Jean-Ronald LaFond is a singer and international voice teacher with studios in New York, Berlin and Göteborg. He holds the Doctor of Musical Arts and Masters degrees from the University of Michigan and the Bachelor of Music degree from Westminster Choir College. He has presented over 300 recital programs, nearly 40 operatic roles and many oratorio and orchestra concerts throughout the North and Central America, Europe and Asia. Dr. LaFond taught at the University level for 11 years and has written extensively about vocal pedagogy and interpretation. He was also trained as an orchestral conductor and composer and has had experience in most areas of music theater production. He has recently staged Don Giovanni, Macbeth and Samuel Barber's A Hand of Bridge for the Berlin Interational Opera to critical acclaim. He has worked as a vocal coach for actors and singers and public speakers for close to 20 years. Jean-Ronald LaFond's students sing in A houses around the world.

     LaFond's concept of Kashu-do (歌手道), Japanese for The Way of the Singer, is a complete physical, mental and spiritual process, including targeted muscular training to develop a strong, resilient and flexible voice, and the philosophical training that helps the student navigate not only the path to a successful career but also the skills to navigate through life. The blog, Kashu-do (歌手道),The Way of the Singer, is followed by thousands of readers in over 57 countries.

-Adam Juran-

      American tenor Adam Juran was born and raised in Washington, DC. His musical training began at Cornell University where he initially studied physics and engineering.

      Adam's most recent engagements include the roles of Don Jose in Carmen and Alfred in Die Fledermaus with Amore Opera, and Don Ottavio in a concert performance of Don Giovanni produced by Elite Artists Management.  Earlier in 2010 he performed the roles of Raoul St. Brioche with Opera Camerata of

Washington at the Austrian Embassy, and Lenski in Eugene Onegin with Opera Manhattan. In 2009, he debuted as a tenor, singing First Armored Man with Anne Arundel Community Opera. As the Tamino cover, he stepped in for his ailing colleague for the fourth performance and saved the day.

      Previously as a baritone he made his professional stage debut with Opera Theater of Northern Virginia as El Tio Sarvaor in Manuel de Falla's La Vida Breve, and since then participated in Young Artist Programs with Dicapo Opera Theater, Sarasota Opera, and the Natchez Opera Festival. He successfully sang much of the lyric baritone repertoire: Papageno in Die Zauberflöte with Operafestival di Roma, the title role in Eugene Onegin with Bel Cantanti, Figaro in Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Count Almaviva in Le Nozze di Figaro, and Marcello in La Bohème with Opera Fresca in Mendocino, California, as well as Pirate King in Pirates of Penzance with the Washington Savoyards.

      Upcoming plans include an audition tour in Germany this coming spring.