Yuki Okuyama sings Schaunard
The UK-based Japanese baritone Yuki Okuyama won the 2nd prize in the professional category of Virtuoso International Music Awards 2024 and London Classical Music Competition 2023.
Yuki is currently studying with Gary Coward. Yuki won Morag Noble and Kathleen Creed scholarship to study with Professor Lynton Atkinson at Trinity Laban where he graduated with a Masters degree after his private studies with Professor Neil Mackie CBE.
He worked with Hurn Court Opera in their production of Don Giovanni and La bohème and with Ensemble Fantômas in their production of The Red Room composed by Amir Mahyar Tafreshipour in the role of Hedayat for Tête a Tête Opera Festival and Aalborg Opera Festival in Denmark.
Yuki also performed the title role in Don Giovanni at London's Italian Cultural Institute. His recent solo work in oratorio includes Carl Orff Carmina Burana at the Lighthouse Poole, Faure Requiem, Mozart Coronation Mass and Bach Ich habe genug.
Beach or woodland walk? Undoubtedly beach!! My birthday was called ‘The day of the sea’ when I was born in Japan, and I grew up beside the beach, soI naturally became the thalassophile.
Indian or Thai Curry? Thai Green Curry!Mozart, Monteverdi or Massenet? I love all of them, but especially I'm big fan of Massenet's romantic music! Hérodiade is my favorite opera!
What is your favourite Book and why? I have two best-loved books published in Japan, Do you like music? written by one of the greatest Japanese conductors Sachio Fujioka and How I became a conductor written by the legendary Japanese international conductor Yutaka Sado. Both books are simply super-compelling essays and show strong spirits to survive as Japanese artists in this very demanding music industry - this always energizes me! I hope those books will be published in the UK asap, and I'm sure people will all want to go to Yutaka’s and Sachio's concerts once they've read their essays.
How did you get involved in Devon Opera?My former vocal coach Kelvin Lim introduced me to the director of Devon Opera, Anna Gregory. I took the audition!
Who do you play in our production of La bohème? I will perform the role of Schaunard in the schools matinee plus the vagrant in Act 3 and the chorus in the evening performamces!
Have you done anything else for Devon Opera? No, this is my debut for Devon Opera!
Do you have any unexpected or surprising talents outside of music?Ballroom dance (Latin), juggling and massage!
What are you currently working on besides Devon Opera? I'm currently preparing the bass solo part of the Mozart Requiem for an upcoming concert, and the roles of Peneios and Erster Schäfer in Richard Strauss Daphne with Regents Opera!
Dogs or Cats? Pugs.
What is your favourite Film? Life Is Beautiful.
What is your musical guilty pleasure? Singing with full voice on a tube train when there are no other people in the same coach. Best acoustics!
And most importantly, what is your favourite Opera and why? My most favorite opera is Verdi's La traviata. I'm always impressed with its touching story of tragedy and phenomenal beauty of Verdi's music. I was overwhelmed by the perfection of Teatro alla Scala's production in 2017, and I have been big fan of this opera since then. Giorgio Germont is my dream role!