Artist Spotlight: Shohei Kobayashi, Resonance Ensemble’s New Co-Artistic Advisor!
This season, we feature a number of incredible guest composers, poets, and performers on our blog. We hope you enjoy getting to know more about the incredible talent we have right here in Portland!
Photo Credit: Rachel Hadiashar
Resonance Ensemble is pleased to formally announce the appointment of conductor, vocalist, and educator Shohei Kobayashi as Co-Artistic Advisor for Resonance Ensemble. Acting alongside Damien Geter, Shohei has been an instrumental part of developing our season—curating a selection of powerful pieces for the Portland Protests concert in March alongside three newly commissioned works.
Last week, Shohei sat down with us to share a little more about themself and what they love about making music in Portland!
What are some of your first memories of performing music?
I’m not sure it counts as performing, but one day when I was 12 or so, I picked up my dad’s nylon string guitar, brought it to my room, and started trying to work out a bass line from a song I had heard on the radio. I think it was a Lenny Kravitz song. My family was kind enough to let me keep playing!
Later on in middle school, I was in a band with some friends and - during a recording session - we gathered around a mic to record some background vocals. I was listening to that recording a few years later and couldn’t help laughing: I thought I was singing the tune with everyone, but really I was just shouting!
From a performance of Hombre Errante (Gabriela Lena Frank), featured on our Abya Yala program.
One of my earliest experiences performing was at a a high school songwriters’ club meeting. Each week during the academic year, this student-led group would meet to play new songs or works in progress - chatting about their writing processes, and offer each other feedback. They were open to someone like me who had never written a song before but wanted to try. I don’t think I’d be doing what I do now if it weren’t for that supportive creative community of peers and the space the founding members created for us to share our musical experiments and expressions, especially since I wasn’t otherwise involved with the school’s music program.
Shohei with colleague Judy A. Rose during a rehearsal for An African American Requiem (Damien Geter).
Photo Credit: Rachel Hadiashar
You attended undergrad in Portland, and then went on to University of Michigan for your doctorate. When did you move back to Portland?
I moved back to town in August 2020. With the pandemic, it sometimes feels like I only just got back!
Who from the Portland area is an artist you really admire?
Derrick McDuffey, who also serves on the Resonance Ensemble board, conducting Kingdom Sound singers, from 2018 Hidden Voices program.
Photo Credit: Rachel Hadiashar
So many people come to mind, but I’ll take this opportunity to shout out Derrick McDuffey. I’ve been able to see him at work as the music director and pianist for Shalanda Sims’s Vanport the Musical, in rehearsals and performances with his Kingdom Sound Gospel Choir, and as an ensemble member and co-music director with me for a few of the Under the Overpass recordings Resonance did in the ‘20–‘21 season. I love the energy he (and his partner Dee!) bring to rehearsals, the dedication he has to his craft, and the heart that always comes through in his performances. He’s a model musician to me in so many ways!
Photo Credit: Rachel Hadiashar
Having worked and performed with so many groups in town, is there anyone from the Portland area that you haven’t gotten to work with yet—that you’d love to work with some day?
There’s so much music happening locally that I would love to be a part of. I’ve been meaning to get my audition materials together to send to Cappella Romana and the Oregon Bach Festival Chorus.
I remember when I was an undergrad, Dr. FitzGibbon invited Portland Baroque Orchestra to perform J.S. Bach’s Magnificat with Cappella Nova at Lewis & Clark College; I’d love to do a similar collaboration with the Reed College choirs one day (I was thinking Marianna Martines’s Dixit Dominus)!
Also, if the folks at Fear No Music, Third Angle, or 45th Parallel ever need a musically adventurous vocalist or conductor for anything, I hope they think of me!
What advice would you give a student interested in conducting?
Shohei on the set for Under the Overpass, episode 3. Photo Credit: Kenton Waltz
Note that while solid gestural technique can expedite a rehearsal process with musicians experienced with conductors, it cannot resolve all issues. So, sit in on rehearsals as much as you can, with as many different types of ensembles as possible; take note of what and how the ensemble and conductor (if there is one) rehearse. If you get the chance, talk with the players, singers, and/or conductor about their experience and what makes it fulfilling (or not). Ask conductors and ensembles whose work you enjoy if they need any help.
Keep playing/singing and honing your listening skills. Work on your piano skills even if you’re “not a pianist.” Learn to use some kind of digital audio workstation. See if you can get some friends together to make some chamber music with and/or conduct. Make as much music as you can, as many kinds as you can; any music goes!
Also, if you can, take time with every part in your score individually—not just the whole thing all the time.
If you weren't doing music, is there anything else you could see yourself doing?
Shohei was featured on this beautiful arrangement of “Bridge Over Troubled Water” at our Home concert in 2021.
Before I switched my major in college to music, I thought I would be a high school math or physics teacher and continue my singing and songwriting on the side – so maybe that!
Even as an active performer, you’ve still managed to incorporate education as important part of your work here in Portland.
Yes, I love my work at Reed College. I currently lead the choral program and teach courses in music theory and musicianship.
What concerts / performances are you gearing up for next?
Over the summer, I’ve been singing and rehearsing with Jecca Jazz Ensemble, a new vocal jazz ensemble that vocalist/educator/conductor Jessica Israels just started. We’re giving our first performance at the Chehalem Cultural Center in Newberg, Oregon on September 9!
This week, I’ve started rehearsing with composer/performance artist/singer Emily Lau’s Big Mouth Society as a guest vocalist for an upcoming production titled Sonic Poetry featuring musical settings of Dante Alighieri and Emily Dickinson. We’ll give a Portland performance on September 25 and one in Eugene on October 2.
I’ve also been invited to guest conduct John Rutter’s Requiem with the Chancel Choir of First Presbyterian Church of Portland, led by Greg Homza. That’ll be on November 6, as part of the church’s Celebration Works series.
Also, I’m starting my third year of teaching and leading the choral program at Reed College at the end of the month! We’ll present our winter choral concert on December 1 in Kaul Auditorium.
Shohei with Artistic Director Katherine FitzGibbon. Photo Credit: Rachel Hadiashar
To learn more about Shohei, CLICK HERE.
You can see them in action at our concerts throughout the season - including Dirty, Stupid Music (featured performer), and Portland Protests (guest conductor)!
