Ai Ichihara

Japanese soprano singer Ai Ichihara received her Bachelor of Music degree at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. She then went on to pursue her studies at University of Music and Performing Arts Munich where she earned her Master of Music degree.

Ai’s talent is highly appreciated and sang the national anthem at the dissolution ceremony of the Japanese team for Sydney Olympics, and she also appeared in the performance of the ceremony to celebrate the Japanese Emperor’s 10th year on the throne in 1999 with Yo Yo Ma.

Her remarkable career as a concert soloist includes concerts under the baton of Seiji Ozawa, Christoph Eschenbach, Paavo Järvi, and Joe Hisaishi with many orchestras- Swiss Romande Orchestra, Munich Radio Orchestra, NHK Symphony Orchestra Tokyo, and Japan Philharmonic to name a few.

Ai has appeared some of the most prestigious concert halls including Carnegie Hall, Royal Albert Hall, Dolby Theater, Musikverein Vienna, and Philharmonie de Paris.

In the field of opera, Ai was selected to perform the role of Oscar in “Un Ballo in Maschera” during the Japan tour of Teatro Reggio Turin under the baton of Gianandrea Noseda.

She received accolades in Germany and Japan performing the role of Adele in “Die Fledermaus”, the role of Blonde in “Die Entführung aus dem Serail”, and the role of Valencienne in “The Merry Widow”.

Ai Ichihara is a recipient of the Kanagawa Culture Awards’ “Future Award,” and the Kamakura Municipal Award for distinguished service in education and culture.