Bio
Soprano, Dr. Stephanie Nakagawa, has a great passion for Canadian opera. Her outstanding contribution to the field and her publication, A Canadian Opera Aria Anthology for Soprano has been recognized by the Canadian Music Centre with the Barbara Pentland Award of Excellence.
Stephanie completed her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Voice and Opera from the University of British Columbia, where she was also awarded the UBC Public Scholars Award, UBC Wesbrook Scholar, Johann Strauss Foundation Scholarship, UBC Medal, Canada Millennium Scholarship, and the BMO National Scholarship. In addition, Stephanie holds a Master’s degree from Indiana University, a Bachelor of Music in Opera from UBC, and ARCT Performance Diplomas in both piano and voice. She was also awarded the Voice National Gold Medal from the Royal Conservatory of Music.
An active performer and recitalist, Stephanie has performed with various ensembles including the Aspen Music Festival, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Bard on the Beach, Westcoast Symphony, Okanagan Symphony Orchestra, Prince George Symphony, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis Gerdine Young Artist, Indiana University Opera Theatre, Oberlin in Italy, Pacific Opera Victoria Lunchbox Series, and the Canadian Music Centre. Her stage credits include Susanna (Le nozze di Figaro), Vixen (The Cunning Little Vixen), Gretel (Hansel & Gretel), Adele (Die Fledermaus), Amy (Little Women), Musetta (La Bohème), Zerlina (Don Giovanni), and Miss Wordsworth (Albert Herring).
Stephanie’s other accolades include the regional winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, first place at the BC Provincial Festival of the Performing Arts, BC Arts Council Award, and Jeunes Ambassadeurs Lyriques Laureate.
In addition to performing, Stephanie loves to work with young aspiring singers and is the music director and conductor of the Vancouver women’s chamber choir, Coro Cantare and the Japanese choir, Sazanami Singers.
