[Osaka University of Arts] A one-night-only performance featuring a collaboration between students and a professional orchestra! “Osaka University of Arts Special Concert 2025 ~A Special Concert for You~” will be held. Osaka University of Arts Press Release: October 27, 2025 A one-night-only stage performance featuring a collaboration between students and a professional orchestra! “Osaka University of Arts Special Concert 2025 ~A Special Concert for You~” will be held. ■Date and Venue: Thursday, December 4, 2025, 6:30 PM, Festival Hall (Advance registration required) Osaka University of Arts (Location:
Minamikawachi District, Osaka Prefecture; President: Kunihiko Tsukamoto) will hold the “Osaka University of Arts Special Concert 2025 – A Special Concert for You” at the Festival Hall in Nakanoshima, Osaka on Thursday, December 4, 2025. The Osaka University of Arts Orchestra and Mixed Chorus will perform together under the direction of world-renowned conductor Naoto Otomo, with talented soloists Mai Ueno (soprano), Keiko Nagamatsu (alto), Masashi Fukui (tenor), and Tsuyoshi Mihara (baritone). The program includes works by L. V. Beethoven, such as “Egmont Overture, Op. 84” and “Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 (with Chorus),” ensuring a special evening with a stellar cast and famous songs.
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/44215/205/44215-205-6fe8402e8bb441d1424b1af0c674e397-329×464.jpg ■About the “Osaka University of Arts Special Concert 2025 – A Special Concert for You” This concert is a special performance representing the university, featuring a dazzling lineup and a spectacular program. The performance will be conducted by world-renowned conductor Naoto Otomo. Under Otomo’s baton, the Osaka University of Arts Orchestra and Mixed Chorus, both made up of students from our university, will perform together in a truly special evening. The soloists are a stellar lineup of Japan’s leading musicians, including Mai Ueno (soprano), Keiko Nagamatsu (alto), Masashi Fukui (tenor), and Tsuyoshi Mihara (baritone). They will perform alongside the student choir, performing L. V. Beethoven’s “Egmont Overture, Op. 84” and “Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 (with Chorus).” Don’t miss this moving performance, featuring the young talent and passion of these students and top artists. ■Program L. V. Beethoven: “Egmont” Overture, Op. 84 L.v. Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 “Choral” ■Orchestra Osaka University of Arts Orchestra ■Choir Osaka University of Arts Mixed Chorus ■Performer Profile Naoto Otomo (Conductor) Professor at Osaka University of Arts and Specially Appointed Professor at Toho Gakuen College. He is a visiting professor at Kyoto City University of Arts and Senzoku Gakuen University. Since his debut conducting the NHK Symphony Orchestra while a student at Toho Gakuen School of Music, he has continued to lead the Japanese classical music world. He has previously served as Principal Conductor of the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, Resident Conductor of the Osaka Philharmonic Orchestra, Permanent Conductor of the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, Permanent Conductor of the Kyoto Symphony Orchestra, and Music Director of the Gunma Symphony Orchestra. He currently serves as Honorary Guest Conductor of the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, Conductor Laureate of the Kyoto Symphony Orchestra, Music Director of the Ryukyu Symphony Orchestra, Artistic Director of Takasaki Arts Theater, and Music Advisor of the Seto Philharmonic Orchestra.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/44215/205/44215-205-e3bcfbe699a392abac86688c2610ae42-458×574.jpg (C)Rowland Kirishima As the first music director of the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, he laid the foundation for the Tokyo Music Competition. He has also been frequently invited as a guest conductor by orchestras overseas, and has been a regular conductor with the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra for over 20 years. He studied under Seiji Ozawa, Tadashi Mori, Kazuyoshi Akiyama, Tadaaki Otaka, Morihiro Okabe, and others. During his time as a conducting researcher at the NHK Symphony Orchestra, he studied with Sawallisch, Vant, Leitner, Blomstedt, and Stein, and at the Tanglewood Music Center he also received instruction from Bernstein, Previn, and Markevitch. Mai Ueno (Soprano) Graduated from the Theater Department of Sakuyakonohana High School. Graduated from the Performance Department of Osaka University of Arts. Completed the Master’s program at the same university’s graduate school, receiving the Alumni Association President’s Award. Won first place in the General Vocal A category at the 23rd Japan Performers Competition, as well as the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award, the Mainichi Shimbun Award, and the Kobe Mayor’s Award. Won first place in the Professional category at the 11th Aoniyoshi Music Competition. Also received the Osaka Governor’s Award and the Hanna Award. Recipient of the Yamaoka Traumerei Music Foundation scholarship in 2023 and 2024. In addition to opera roles such as Pamina in W.A. Mozart’s “The Magic Flute,” Lieschen in the Osaka Shin-on Operatic Concert’s “Coffee Cantata and Pastoral Love,” and Kiki and Aurora in “The Voyage of the Iceberg Luli,” she has also performed as a soprano soloist in L.v. Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 9,” W.A. Mozart’s “Requiem,” and G.F. Handel’s “Messiah.”
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/44215/205/44215-205-35a025c049d4cb0324d3050aaceec4f9-458×574.jpg She has performed with the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Osaka Philharmonic Orchestra, and New Japan Philharmonic. In February 2025, she was the soprano soloist for “5000 People’s Ninth” at the Ryogoku Kokugikan. In April, she was selected to perform with members of the Japan Century Symphony Orchestra in a chamber music concert. As a selected artist for the Japan Federation of Musicians Recital Series, sponsored by the Agency for Cultural Affairs’ Cultural and Arts Promotion Subsidy Project for the Development of Emerging Performers, he is scheduled to perform a solo recital at Sumitomo Life Izumi Hall in 2026. Keiko Nagamatsu (Alto) Specially appointed professor at Osaka University of Arts and part-time lecturer at Doshisha Women’s College of Liberal Arts. Graduated from the Faculty of Music, Kyoto City University of Arts, specializing in vocal music. Completed the Graduate School of Music at the same university. Received the Kyoto Music Association Award in 1990. Won second place at the 10th Shin-Nami no Kai Japanese Song Competition in 1994. She has given concerts and recitals of German lieder, Japanese songs, children’s songs and school songs, and has frequently performed as a soloist with choirs and orchestras in sacred music, including Bach’s cantatas, oratorios, and passions, as well as Handel’s “Israel in Egypt” and “Messiah,” Mozart’s “Requiem,” Haydn’s “Nelson Mass” and “Mass in Time of War,” Beethoven’s “Mass in C Major” and “Ninth Symphony,” Dvorak’s “Stabat Mater,” and Britten’s “Festival of Carols.”
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/44215/205/44215-205-290e8f678c1dc4c43d62b8bfeec05f30-458×574.jpg He has gained overseas performance experience in Germany, including Berlin (Kongresshalle), Leipzig (St. Thomas Church), Prague
(Rudolfinum), and Milan (Casa Verdi). He has also performed with Japanese instruments and given numerous premieres of new Japanese songs. He is also active as a choral conductor, conducting orchestral works. He is a member of the Japan Song Kansai Nami Association, the Japan Song Association, the Japan German Lieder Society, the Japan Schubert Society, and the Kobe Fauré Society. Masashi Fukui (Tenor) Part-time lecturer at Osaka University of Arts, Department of Performance, and Waseda Setsuryo High School Wind Band Course. Graduated from Osaka University of Arts, Department of Performance. Completed the first half of the doctoral program at the same university’s graduate school. Placed second in the university division of the 7th Japan Performers Competition. Placed second in the Osaka competition of the 60th All-Japan Student Music Competition, and was selected for the national competition. Received the Newcomer Award at the 48th Naniwa Arts Festival Emerging Musician Competition. Winner of the Espoir Award at the 15th Osaka International Music Competition. He has appeared in numerous operas, including “The Marriage of Figaro,” “The Magic Flute,” “Carmen,” and the role of Kibi no Mabi Tayama Fummaro in the East Asia Cultural Project Opera production “The Tale of the Envoys to Tang China” (conducted by Naoto Otomo). He has also performed as a soloist in Schütz’s “The Seven Last Words of Christ on the Cross,” Bach’s “Coffee Cantata,” Faure’s “Requiem,” Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 9” and “Choral Fantasy.”
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/44215/205/44215-205-082de6518fe589b741924d7a6a8a1737-458×574.jpg Member of Manyo Opera Lab Studio. Chorus conductor of the Osaka Shinon Freude Choir. Voice trainer for the Tondabayashi Mixed Choir. Studied under Tsuyoshi Mihara. Go Mihara (Baritone) Professor and Head of the Department of Performance at Osaka University of Arts. Graduated from Osaka University of Arts and received the Head of Performance Award upon graduation. Winner of the Gold Medal at the 22nd Japan-Italy Concorso. First place at the 61st Japan Music Competition, along with the Masuzawa Award, Fukuzawa Award, Kinoshita Award, and Matsushita Award. Received the 4th Gotoh Memorial Foundation Opera Newcomer Award and studied abroad in Cologne, Germany on a scholarship. In 1995, he achieved great success as Count Luna in Verdi’s “Il Trovatore” at the Hagen Opera House, and subsequently appeared at the Witten and Gummersbach Opera Houses to rave reviews. In Japan, he has appeared in numerous operas, including “The Magic Flute” (Nissay Theatre) and the opera “The Tang Envoy: Abe no Nakamaro.”
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/44215/205/44215-205-4d234056e0488751fdb04c5fcc3aa3a5-458×574.jpg (C)AKIYA S. In 2001, at Biwako Hall, he played the role of Ezio in the opera “Attila” (Japan premiere), attracting attention not only for his sonorous voice but also for his acting ability. In 2006, he was invited to the Salzburg Festival to perform Henze’s opera “The Afternoon Tow” (Grosshaus Salzburg) with the Italian National RAI Orchestra. He also performed at the Philharmonic (Berlin) and the Auditorium RAI (Turin), receiving rave reviews. Having been described as a cavaliere baritono (chair-like baritone), his rich and elegant voice and diverse expressiveness have earned him numerous accolades both in Japan and abroad. He has received numerous awards, including the Global Atsuko Azuma Award and the Osaka Cultural Festival Award. ■Event Overview Title: “Osaka University of Arts Special Concert 2025″ ~A Special Concert for You~” Date and Time: Thursday, December 4, 2025, 6:30 PM (Doors open at 5:30 PM) Venue: Festival Hall Get off at Watanabebashi Station on the Keihan Nakanoshima Line Directly connected to Exit 12 Get off at Higobashi Station on the Osaka Metro Yotsubashi Line. Directly connected to Exit 4 Get off at Yodoyabashi Station on the Osaka Metro Midosuji Line or Keihan Line. 5-minute walk from Exit 7 11-minute walk from the Sakurabashi Exit of JR Osaka Station 8-minute walk from Exit 11-5 of Kitashinchi Station on the JR Tozai Line Price: Invitation (advance registration required) Apply online: https://oua.osaka-geidai.ac.jp/geidai/tokuen/2025/ Sponsored by : Tsukamoto Gakuin Educational Corporation 【Application Notes】 – Please note that if there are a large number of applications, we may hold a lottery or close the application period. – We will consider sending out your invitation ticket as our reply. – Applications are limited to two tickets per person. Multiple applications may be invalid. – Invitation tickets are scheduled to be sent out in mid-November. – All seats must be reserved on the day of the event. – Preschool children are not permitted to enter. – Please note that customers cannot reserve their seats. *Due to unavoidable
circumstances, performers, programs, etc. may be subject to change. We ask for your understanding.