After finishing his bachelor’s studies in piano performance at the Toho College of Music, Kei Yonashiro switched his major to singing for his Master’s study at the same institution, and he has since established a reputation as an authentic baritone to lead today’s vocal music scene in Japan. A graduate of the New National Theatre Opera Studio’s Training Programme for Opera Singers, he has studied in Milan as a Trainee of the Japanese Government Overseas Study Program for Artists. He has won numerous prizes, including the third prize at the 16th Mario del Monaco International Vocal Competition, as well as the first prize and the Yoshinao Nakata Prize at the 18thSogaku-do Jpanese Song Competition.He has appeared as Guglielmo in the Amon Miyamoto production of Cosi fan tutte, Apollo in Orfeo at the Hokutopia International Music Festival 2007, Escamillo in Carmen at the special concert performance at Seiji Ozawa Music Camp, Onegin in the Peter Konwitschny production of Eugene Onegin,and Belcore in L’elisir d’Amore with the New National Theatre,Tokyo Opera.He has also invited as a solo singer by major orchestras in Japan.
Photo by Kei UESUGI