ARTIST

ARTIST

Motoki Ishii(Tenor)

Born in Kanagawa, Japan, he graduated from the Faculty of Music at Tokyo University of the Arts, majoring in Vocal Music. He went on to complete his Master’s degree in Vocal Performance at the same university and further refined his skills in the Advanced Course (5th class) at the Suntory Hall Opera Academy. Upon graduation, he was honored with the Acanthus Music Award and the Doseikai Award.

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He has received numerous accolades, including Second Prize (Grand Prize Runner-Up) and the Jury’s Special Prize at the 4th Nikko International Music Festival Vocal Competition, Second Prize at the 30th Takarazuka Vega Music Competition, and was a finalist at the 43rd Iizuka Newcomer Music Competition.
In March 2020, he transitioned from baritone to tenor. Since then, he has performed with various orchestras in Japan and overseas, including the Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra, Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Kansai Philharmonic Orchestra, Qingdao Symphony Orchestra, and the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra.
His concert repertoire includes soloist appearances in W.A. Mozart’s VESPERAE SOLENNES DE CONFESSORE, F. Schubert’s MASS NO. 2 IN G MAJOR, D167 and MASS NO. 5 IN A-FLAT MAJOR, D678, as well as L.V. Beethoven’s SYMPHONY NO. 9.
He made his operatic debut in 2021 as Alfredo in G. Verdi’s LA TRAVIATA in a Fresh Opera production by Suntory Hall. Since then, he has performed in G. Puccini’s LA BOHÈME (Fujisawa Civic Opera 2022, Shimane Prefectural Opera 2023), G. Verdi’s UN BALLO IN MASCHERA (Spring Festival in Tokyo 2023 – Italian Opera Academy in Tokyo Vol. 3), L. Cherubini’s MEDEA (Japanese premiere, NISSAY OPERA 2023 – celebrating the 60th anniversary of Nissay Theatre), and G. Rossini’s OTELLO (50th Anniversary of the Fujisawa Civic Opera), as well as the 2024 national co-production of LA BOHÈME. Through these roles, he has steadily expanded his operatic presence in major productions throughout Japan.
In 2022, he performed in the "Rising Star Vocalists Series 2022–III," presented by the Japan Performing Arts Foundation (NBS) and Nikkei Inc., collaborating with world-renowned soprano Lisette Oropesa and the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Francesco Lanzillotta.
In June 2023, he made his international operatic debut at the Shangyin Opera House in Shanghai, performing the role of the Prince in Tan Dun’s opera TEA: A MIRROR OF SOUL under the direction of the composer himself — marking the first time a Japanese singer had been cast in the role.
In 2024, he appeared as the Messenger in G. Verdi’s AIDA under the baton of Riccardo Muti at the Spring Festival in Tokyo 2024, receiving critical acclaim. The performance was broadcast nationwide on NHK’s PREMIUM THEATER. In March 2025, he again appeared in TEA: A MIRROR OF SOUL in Fuzhou, Fujian Province, and in May 2025, in Hong Kong — both under the direction of Tan Dun — earning high praise for his outstanding acting skills.
He is currently regarded as one of the most promising tenors in Japan, with a rapidly expanding career both domestically and internationally.

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