Mami Kajita & Kensei Maekawa Opera Concert

On March 1, a gem of an opera concert by up-and-coming opera singers from Aichi Prefecture will be held at the Aichi Prefectural Arts Center Small Hall near Sakae Station in Nagoya City.

Soprano Mami Kajita, a graduate of Meiwa High School, is currently based in Tokyo and is a member of the Tokyo Nikikai opera group. She is an up-and-coming soprano who is scheduled to perform the title role in the opera "Iolanta" by Tchaikovsky to be presented by Nikikai this year. (Iolanta is scheduled to be performed at the Aichi Prefectural Arts Center in Nagoya in July.)

Tenor Kensei Maekawa, who is also scheduled to appear, is a graduate of Tokinashikan High School and currently a member of the Tokyo Nikikikai, and has starred in "Gianni Schicchi" and "Lulu. He has organized many musical events for young people in Aichi Prefecture.

With pianist Mari Ashizawa, who is highly trusted by vocalists, the program will include aria from Tchaikovsky's "Iolanta," highlights from Puccini's "Tosca," German lieder by R. Strauss, works by Makiko Kinoshita, and more.

Mami Kajita & Kensei Maekawa Opera Concert
Performers: Mami Kajita, Kensei Maekawa, Mari Ashizawa
Date & Time Saturday, March 1, 2025
Doors open 13:00 Concert begins 13:30
Venue: Aichi Prefectural Art Theater, Small Hall
Organized by Youku Ongaku Kikaku
Supported by Nagoya City, Nagoya City Board of Education

Mami Kajita
Born in Higashiura-cho, Aichi Prefecture. Graduated from Meiwa High School of Music, Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music (Doseikai Prize), Toho Gakuen School of Music (M.A., Ph. D., 3rd year). She won the first prize in the vocal division of the 19th Tokyo Music Competition. She has appeared at the Nissay Theatre as the Forest Spirit in "Rusalka" and at the Nikikai as Elisabeth in "Tannhäuser," and will appear as the title role in "Iolanta" in July 2025. She is a member of the Nikikai.

Kensei Maekawa
Born in Ichinomiya City, Aichi Prefecture and raised in Shinshiro City. Graduated from Tokinashikan High School and Kunitachi College of Music. Completed the graduate course in music at Tokyo Gakugei University. Second prize at the Tokyo Music Competition and first prize at the Giuditta Pasta International Competition. Performed as tenor singer in the Nikikai Opera "Knight of Roses," Rinuccio in "Gianni Schicchi," Alva in "Lulu," Walter in "Tannhäuser," etc. Studied under Takashi Saito and Tetsuya Ohno. Member of Nikikai and representative of Youku Ongaku Kikaku.

Ashizawa Mari
Graduated from Jiyu Gakuen High School. Graduated from Nihon University College of Art, Department of Music. Graduated from the Graduate School of Art, Nihon University, majoring in music art. (Regularly performs in concerts sponsored by Tokyo Opera, Inc. and has earned the trust of invited foreign singers as a collaborative pianist. She served as lesson accompanist for the famous soprano singer Edith Mathis when she visited Japan in the past, and was highly praised for her musicality.