Tokyo Opera Studio

14/03/2026

An updated list of the roles we’re still casting for. Scholarships available. Apply now!

14/03/2026

Open roles as of March (all roles are double cast, these roles have one opening left):

*Soprano & Mezzo*

Antonia
Olympia
Queen of the Night
Papagena
2 & 3 Damen
1, 2, & 3 Knaben

*Tenor*

Hoffmann
Spalanzani
Frantz
Remendado
Monastatos

*Bass/Baritone*

Zuniga/Morales
Papageno
Sarastro
Wilhelm

*Orchestra*

Violin
Viola
Trumpet

Scholarships available! Apply now!

TENOR $2000 scholarshipTamino HoffmannJoseSpalanzani FrantzRemendadoMonastatosBASS/BARITONE $2000 scholarshipZuniga/MoralesPapagenoSarastroWilhelm

01/03/2026

We're delighted to have Jonathan Girard leading our orchestra this season.

Mr. Girard made his European operatic conducting debut with the European Music Academy leading the North Czech Philharmonic Orchestra in performances of Le nozze di Figaro in opera houses across the Czech Republic. He also worked with Bramwell Tovey as assistant conductor for the inagural season of the VSO Whistler Institue. He was the assistant conductor of the Ohio Light Opera from 2012-2014. His 2014 engagement included 8 performances of Strauss’ Die Fledermaus. Mr. Girard recently served as cover conductor for the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (NY) and made his debut with them in May of 2012.

A champion of new music, Mr. Girard works closely with composers in British Columbia. In May 2015, he premièred Stephen Chatman’s new opera, Choir Practice. He conducted the recording of Chatman’s large work, Magnificat for Orchestra and Choir, which was released on the Centrediscs label in September 2013 and is currently available on Naxos and iTunes. This recording was nominated for a 2014 Juno Award for Best Classical Composition. He is in the midst of a two-year recording project for the Centrediscs label of concerti by British Columbia composers. Mr. Girard has conducted world premières of new works by Ricardo Zohn Muldoon, Elizabeth Kelly, Jung Sun Kang, and John Liberatore, among others. His recording of Kelly’s ISO Amor was selected as a finalist for the ASCAP foundation’s Rudolf Nissim Prize. He has also conducted the North American premières of NONcerto for Trumpet and Orchestra by Richard Ayres and two tone poems by Emmerich Kálmán:Saturnalia and Endre és Johanna.

Mr. Girard was the Visiting Artist Conductor at the University of Northern Iowa School of Music in 2010-2011 and has held positions as the music director of the New Eastman Outreach Orchestra and Waltham Philharmonic (MA), associate conductor of the Brockton Symphony Orchestra (MA), principal guest conductor of the Boston Orpheus Ensemble and assistant conductor of the Portland (ME) Opera Repertory Theatre.

Mr. Girard was the Visiting Artist Conductor at the University of Northern Iowa School of Music in 2010-2011 and has held positions as the music director of the New Eastman Outreach Orchestra and Waltham Philharmonic (MA), associate conductor of the Brockton Symphony Orchestra (MA), principal guest conductor of the Boston Orpheus Ensemble and assistant conductor of the Portland (ME) Opera Repertory Theatre. At the Eastman School of Music, he studied conducting with Neil Varon and was the assistant conductor of the Eastman Symphony Orchestra, the Eastman Philharmonia, and the Eastman Opera Theatre.

Mr. Girard has worked with many prestigious ensembles, including the American Youth Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Scottish Academy Symphony Orchestra, Alea III, the Brown University Symphony Orchestra, the Boston University Symphony Orchestras, and the Harvard-Radcliffe Gilbert and Sullivan Players.

24/02/2026

Micah Sandt joins us as Sarastro in our production of Die Zauberflöte. Micah is an international actor, musician, and composer, having performed in Hong Kong, Singapore, China, France, UK, and the USA. He completed his training in acting at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London, and later did his masters in composition at New York University, Tisch School of the Arts.

Recent performing credits including; his one-man show Gweilo with Pants Productions (Paris & Hong Kong), the musical Tabby McTat with ABA Productions (Singapore), and the immersive musical Last Night at Studio 54 as Elton John (Hong Kong). His recent compositions include; dance music for the TV series George & Mary (UK), and the new one-woman musical My Bubble and Me with Marsha Yuan (USA and Hong Kong).

Micah also works as a pianist and musical director, having conducted for companies such as the Hong Kong Women’s Choir and Shakespeare 4 All. He also teaches performing and composition to different schools including the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts and University of Idaho.

Micah was born in Taiwan to his French father and Finnish mother. He grew up in Hong Kong and speaks English and Cantonese having gone to Chinese school there.

21/02/2026

We're honored to welcome Ned Hanlon as a guest artist for our 2026 season. Long Island native Ned Hanlon has been a full-time chorister at the Metropolitan Opera since 2014. A graduate of McGill University and the University of Michigan (MM), he has performed principal roles with Lyric Opera of Chicago, Lincoln Center Theater, Edmonton Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Glimmerglass Festival, and Opera Theatre of St. Louis, and has worked as a guest entertainer and assistant cruise director at sea. Since 2023 he has served as President of the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA), advocating for performers at the White House, National Endowment for the Arts, and U.S. Department of Labor. In 2024 he was named to New York City & State’s Arts & Culture Power 100 list.

19/02/2026

In addition to our directors, music directors and artistic staff, we are delighted to bring in talented guest artists to sing each year, so that our participants are working alongside and learning directly from established professionals at the height of their career.

Andre Chiang is one of these artists, singing our four Villains in Les contes d'Hoffmann. Praised as “vocally commanding” (Oregonian) and “handsome of voice” (Opera News), baritone André Chiang is Assistant Professor of Voice at Florida State University and an active international performer. Recent roles include Ping (Turandot), Gianni Schicchi, Escamillo (Carmen), and world premieres Stuck Elevator and Behold the Man with Portland Opera, Glimmerglass, Opera Philadelphia, and Carnegie Hall (Palmeri’s Gran Misa). His 2024 debut album Choice Pages features newly commissioned works; he is Secretary/Board Member of the Asian Opera Alliance and a leading advocate for contemporary American opera.

05/02/2026

We are seeking sopranos!

You read that right, we are looking for Spirits, Ladies, and one more Papagena for Zauberflöte.

We also have a few tenor, baritone, and violin openings.

Send in an application today!

www.Tokyooperastudio.org

03/01/2026

Even though our priority deadline is past, we still have openings for all voice types and many instruments. Roles will be open until filled. Our goal is to be fully cast by February 1st though, so don't delay applying!