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Where Are They Now: Keitaro Harada
It started as a dream at Interlochen. Now Keitaro Harada conducts orchestras around the world.
Photo credit: Hiroyuki Nagatake
When Keitaro Harada (IAA 02-04, IAC 03) arrived at Interlochen Arts Academy in 2002, he hoped to play saxophone in a Broadway pit orchestra one day, but two experiences at Interlochen changed the trajectory of his life. He met Maestro Frederick Fennell, a frequent guest conductor at Interlochen, and the power of that encounter was so great that his dream shifted from the pit to the conductor’s podium. Then while listening to Interlochen Public Radio one day, he heard Puccini’s La Bohème and discovered his love for opera.
In the two decades since, he has conducted orchestras and operas in the United States, Japan, and around the world. He currently holds positions with the Savannah Philharmonic, Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, and the Aichi Chamber Orchestra, and was appointed music and artistic director designate of the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra for the 2024-25 season. In addition, he was the recipient of the 2023 Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award and has released eight recordings with the Tokyo Symphony, NHK Symphony, and Japan Philharmonic.
Interlochen showed me how a life surrounded by the arts can be wonderful and provided me with the foundation of my musical journey. From technique, history, theory, aural skills, harmony, interpretation and motivation, it was a safe environment to explore the kind of artist I want to become.