Nikkei-Canadian artist, Luka Kawabata 川端ルカ has quickly established himself within Canadian opera. As a baritone and producer, he strives to push the boundaries of representation in opera through the creation of new works.

Luka is a recent graduate of the Yulanda M Faris Young Artist Program with Vancouver Opera, the Digital Emerging Artist Residency (Manitoba Opera) and the Association for Opera in Canada’s RBC Fellowship. Recent collaborations include Edmonton Opera (La Bohème), Saskatoon Opera (Carmen), Opera on the Avalon (February) and re:Naissance Opera (IndieFest).

Luka was recently selected as part of the Beth Morrison Projects: Producer Academy for 2023. His ongoing series The HAFU ハーフ Project explores the history of Japanese immigration and internment in North America through an intersectional lens of identity, culture and memory. The project’s third digital chapter, 希望, premiered last summer with Pacific Opera Victoria’s Civic Engagement Residency and is set to present its first live development with City Opera Vancouver next May. He looks forward to returning to Vancouver Opera this season as Le Dancaire in Bizet's Carmen.