Biographie
Biographie
Yusuke Koike graduated from the Vocal Music Department of Tokyo University of the Arts, receiving the Doseikai Prize and the Acanthus Music Prize, and completed the university’s graduate programme in voice at the top of his class, receiving the Graduate Acanthus Music Prize. He studied voice with Futoshi Katsube, Yoji Kawakami and Jun Hagiwara, and German Lieder with Mitsuko Shirai.
Joining the Bach Cantata Club as a student drew him deeply into early music. Beginning with Gregorian chant and medieval repertoire, he has built a career rare in Japan that centres on two fields: Baroque sacred music and Romantic song.
As a vocal member of Bach Collegium Japan (BCJ) he performs and records in Japan and abroad, appearing at international festivals including the BBC Proms (UK) and Bachfest Leipzig (Germany). He is increasingly active as a concert soloist.
At the Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival (formerly the Saito Kinen Festival Matsumoto) he was coached in German Lieder by Mitsuko Shirai in the OMF Chamber Music Study Programme “Lied Duo”. The experience led him to devote himself to the Lied, and he now gives concerts with projected Japanese surtitles in his own translations.
He directs the concert series “Ongaku no Hanataba” (A Bouquet of Music), Liederabende for four voices that interweave solo songs, vocal ensembles and solo piano works in a continuous programme, presenting the changing drama of music and poetry across a single evening together with surtitles.
He conducts the Bach no Mori Choir and, widely respected as a teacher, is invited as vocal trainer by several choirs. At Arioka Music Studio, Shin-Okachimachi, which he runs with his wife, pianist Nao Arioka, he teaches voice and works to spread the culture of art song.
Activities
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1995
Born in Tokyo
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2005
Joins the Kyonan Elementary School Children’s Choir, Musashino
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2008
Joins the choir of Musashino Daiichi Junior High School
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2011
Enters Tokyo Metropolitan Chofu-Kita High School
Joins the music club, playing flute in the wind band and singing in the choir.
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2014
Enters the Vocal Music Department, Tokyo University of the Arts
Joins the Bach Cantata Club.
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2018
Graduates from the Vocal Music Department, Tokyo University of the Arts
Receives the Doseikai Prize and the Acanthus Music Prize.
Enters the Graduate School of Music (Voice), Tokyo University of the Arts
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2019
Takes part in the Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival
Coached in German Lieder by Mitsuko Shirai in the OMF Chamber Music Study Programme “Lied Duo”, after which he devotes himself to the Lied.
H. Wolf, Italienisches Liederbuch — concert
Sop. Asako Sasaki Pf. Nao Arioka
Begins singing with Bach Collegium Japan
Under Masaaki Suzuki, performs and records in Japan and abroad, including the BBC Proms (London) and Bachfest Leipzig.
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2022
Completes the Graduate School of Music (Voice), Tokyo University of the Arts, at the top of his class
Receives the Graduate Acanthus Music Prize.
Music Competition of Japan — 2nd Prize and Iwatani Prize (Audience Prize)
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2023
Opens Arioka Music Studio, Shin-Okachimachi
R. Schumann, Dichterliebe and Myrthen — concert
Pf. Kentaro Ifuku
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2024
F. Schubert, Die schöne Müllerin — concert
Pf. Kentaro Ifuku
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2025
F. Schubert, Winterreise — concert
Pf. Kentaro Ifuku
International Early Music Competition Yamanashi — 3rd Prize
Ongaku no Hanataba (Blumenstrauss) vol.1
Mendelssohn’s Lieder, piano and a cappella works, with Japanese surtitles Sop. Megumi Kobayashi Alt. Yukie Takahashi Ten. Shinya Numata Pf. Nao Arioka
Ongaku no Hanataba (Blumenstrauss) vol.2 — a Christmas concert of carols
Christmas carols, excerpts from G.F. Handel’s Messiah, English songs and more Sop. Megumi Kobayashi C.Ten. Masato Nitta Ten. Shinya Numata Pf. Nao Arioka
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2026
Appointed conductor of the Bach no Mori Choir
Begins singing with the Pro Musica Baroque Academy
Ongaku no Hanataba (Blumenstrauss) vol.3
An evening of Dichterliebe and Lied ensembles full of love, with Japanese surtitles Pf. Kentaro Ifuku Sop. Megumi Kobayashi Alt. Yukie Takahashi Ten. Shinya Numata