Keiko Kagawa-Hamilton, Choral Preparation
Japanese born and educated, Keiko’s operatic roles include Cio-Cio San (Butterfly) in Madama Butterfly with North Bay Opera, Montana’s Rimrock Opera, Oregon’s Rogue Opera, San Francisco Lyric Opera, and Golden West Opera Company. Other roles include Violetta in Traviata, Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, Micaela in Carmen, Nedda in Pagliacci, Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte, Suor Angelica in Suor Angelica, Donna Anna in Don Giovanni, the First Lady in The Magic Flute, the Mother in Hänsel and Gretel, Suor Genovieffa in Suor Angelica, and the First Lady in Christopher Sly. In addition to the opera companies already listed, Keiko has also performed with Golden Gate Opera, City Summer Opera (San Francisco), Oakland Lyric Opera Company, Goat Hall Productions (San Francisco), Marin Opera Company, Cal State Hayward Summer Opera and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. She has also made a number of appearances as the Soprano Lead in Handel’s Messiah. Most notable among those are two appearances in the San Francisco Conservatory’s annual Sing-It-Yourself Messiah at San Francisco’s Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall at the Marin Veteran’s Auditorium. Keiko also gives occasional recitals, as well as participating in an annual vocal concert in Japan. She appeared Sisters and Friends 10th Season Concert on 6/18/2011 in Japan, Madama Butterfly at Hakone Garden, Saratoga on 9/9/2011 and Sopianos Fall Concert on 9/11/2011.
Musical theater and dance work includes performances with the Oakland Lyric Opera, San Francisco City Light Performing Arts Company and Infinite Reflections Dance Company.
In Japan Keiko’s recorded appearances include several works of Praise Songs and Contemporary Christian Music. In the U.S. Keiko can be heard on recordings by Noel McFarlane and the group “Hikari.” Keiko is also the former band leader, keyboardist and lead singer of “Lovely Wind,” a Tokyo based Gospel Jazz Trio.
Keiko’s on-air television work includes singing performances on “PTL Club” in Japan and on “Morning Sunrise” on KRON in San Francisco. Keiko is also the former on-the-air hostess for the “Miemasuka Ai” program on Fuji TV, KTSF Channel 26 in San Francisco. Behind the scenes television work includes professional make-up work for shows on KQED (Yan Can Cook), KTVU (Mornings on 2), KRON and corporate clients such as Pacific Bell, Apple Computer and Hewlett-Packard.
Keiko also teaches voice and piano and serves as the conductor for Choral Cosmo, a Japanese choral group based in Silicon Valley.
Keiko holds the degree of Master of Vocal Performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Her undergraduate degree, a Bachelors degree in Vocal Performance and a Teaching Credential in Music Education are from Tokyo’s Kunitachi College of Music.