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Hello, everyone. My name is Ai Yakura. I am an opera singer. I am currently involved in varioius music activities to let classical music and opera become more familialized in Wakayama where I am based. 

 

 I establised a project called " The OPERA WAKAYAMA " in 2008 out of my strong wish to spread opera locally, and have performed in various places with several young performers from the Kansai area.

 

In May 2016, I had an opportunity to join an Opera Gala Concert at the Stava Zagora National Opera in Bulgaria.  After that, I also made an international opera dubut by being selected as a theater soloist for " Madam Butterfly" at the Varna International Opera academy, which was also held at the same theater.  Since then, I've been performing internationally as well. 

 

 

 Now, I am happy to announce that I will participate in " Lirico Varuna 2019 " which will be held in Bulgaria, and I will sing/perform the role of Donna Ervila in Mozart's opera " Don Giovanni " from September 1st to 18th, 2019.

 

However, there is a financial problem, I must admit.  Travel expenses, accomodation, and tuition fees are all at my cost, which I am struggling to take care of on my own. 

 

 Therefore, I decided to kindly ask for the help of crowdfunding. I would be so grateful if I could turn to the people who are always supporting me.   I can assure you a much better performance in Wakayama after experiencing authentic opera overseas.  Then I will always perform bearing in mind all the kind people who supprot me.

 

 

My past and my future   What is OPERA to me?      

I encountered opera when I was a high school student, when I started studying vocal music.  Not many videos were available to watch in those days, and I knew very little about opera.  However, one day I watched "Virgin " composed by Verdi on TV, and this made me fall in love with the world of opera. 

 

 I wish I could sing like that !   I thought.    I want to play this role some day !   That became my goal in my school days and I continued to study music.  Opera opened up the world to a mere girl who just liked to sing.     After graduation, I wanted to perform opera in Wakayama; however, there were only a few chances a year to do this, which was far less compared to Osaka or Kobe.  Moreover, most people felt opera was diffucult to understand and too expensive to watch.

 

However, my strong passion to spread opera in Wakayama resulted in the establishment of " The OPERA WAKAYAMA". 

 

 

・The OPERA WAKAYAMA    so far

 

This project was launched in 2008 with the intention of providing the opportunity for people in Wakayama to enjoy opera.  We have been performing with the motto " familiar opera".  Local small restaurants, cafes and community centers have been our venues. 

 

 Thankfully, this has managed to riase awareness of opera in Wakayama.  More and more peole are looking forward to our regular performance that we hold in December each year.  So many wonderful performers have joind our opera concerts.  In recent years, the choirs that I teach have also joined these concerts and these have become events in which not only professionals but amateurs can participate.  

 

Wonderful comments from the audiences have given me so much joy and encouragement to do further performances.

 

 

The only thing holding me back is " funding".  Even if the tickets for our regular concert in December are sold out, we make no profit in fact.  This is because prices for the tickets are calculated based on the cost of the performance.      

 

Some opera concerts at big halls require about 1 million yen.  I must confess I have paid at least 2 million yen in the past 10 years.  I find it very difficult to carry on funding activities by myself, but on the other hand, I cannot possibly let my fans down, either. 

 

 

The last thing I want right now is to give up my opportunity to sing in Bulgaria due to finacial difficulty.  I have passed the audtion to sing the role of Donna El Villa in the opera of " Don Giovanni " composed by Mozart.  So with the help of you all, I'd like to take part in the " Lirico Varna 2019 " to achieve this great misson.

 

Also during my stay in Bulgaria, I'll learn from worldwidely famous oepra singers, including Sumi Joe from South Korea, how to put more expression into my songs.  In addition, I am supposed to appear at a local concert there. 

 

 One more big news is that " Lirico Varna 2019" is also an agent's audition for a big opera performance to be held in Italy next year.   This means I may be able to appear on the stage of a theater in Italy !

 

I do hope you understand my situation and your kind support will help me to perform better in the future.    

 

I sincerely promise to do my best on behalf of The OPERA WAKAYAMA.   Many thanks in advance.

 

 Sincerely yours   Ai Yakura