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discipline = "Baritone"
primary_image = "https://res.cloudinary.com/schmopera/image/upload/v1644284684/media/2022/02/LukaKawabata_k4scu7.jpg"
primary_image_credit = ""
related_companies = ["scene/companies/the-banff-centre.md", "scene/companies/edmonton-opera.md", "scene/companies/saskatoon-opera.md", "scene/companies/pacific-opera-victoria.md", "scene/companies/manitoba-opera.md", "scene/companies/vancouver-opera.md"]
slug = "luka-kawabata"
title = "Luka Kawabata"
website = "https://www.lukakawabata.com/"
[[social_media]]
platform = "Facebook"
template = "social-media"
url = "https://www.facebook.com/LukaKawabata"
[[social_media]]
platform = "Instagram"
template = "social-media"
url = "https://www.instagram.com/lukakawabata/"

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Nikkei-Canadian baritone, Luka Kawabata is a current participant in the **Yulanda M Faris Young Artist Program** with Vancouver Opera. Last season, he appeared as Bill Bobstay in Gilbert and Sullivan’s _HMS Pinafore_ and in Vancouver Opera’s digital season as Dmitri in Wargo’s _The Music Shop_ and as Escamillo in Bizet’s _Carmen: Up Close and Personal_. He is a graduate of the Digital Emerging Artist Program with **Manitoba Opera** and a former fellow in **The Association of Opera in Canada**’s ‘RBC Fellowship’.

This season, Luka is set to appear as Peter Quince in **Vancouver Opera**’s _A Midsummer Night’s Dream_ by Benjamin Britten. He is excited to cover the roles of Zurga in Bizet’s _Les pêcheurs de perles_ and Mr XE in the co-production of Du Yun’s _Angel’s Bone (**Sound the Alarm/re:Naissance Opera/Loose Tea Theatre**)._

In the 2021-2022 season, Luka made two company debuts as Schaunard in _La Bohème_ (**Edmonton Opera**) and Escamillo in _Carmen_ (**Saskatoon Opera**). He was featured as a soloist with the **Vancouver Bach Choir** in Rossini’s _La Petite Messe Solennelle_ and understudied the roles of Alfio (_Cavalleria Rusticana_) and Captain Corcoran (_HMS Pinafore_) with Vancouver Opera.

As a portfolio artist and producer, Luka seeks to create new works that speak to a diverse audience. He is passionate about bringing contemporary opera and new projects to the forefront of performance. Luka’s self-directed series “The HAFU ハーフ Project” looks to broaden the social scope of classical music.

He has been the recipient of various awards, including the Jacqueline Desmarais Foundation, the Toni and Hildegard Cavelti Foundation Fund from the Vancouver Opera Foundation, and the Vancouver Opera Guild Award.

Luka is a mentor for the BC chapter of [**Opera InReach**](https://www.operainreach.com/home)’s community engagement programs and alumnus of the **Banff Centre**’s ‘Opera in the 21st Century’ program. He holds a Master of Music in Opera Performance from the University of British Columbia under the instruction of Peter Barcza. He currently studies with renowned Bass-Baritone, Daniel Okulitch.