ABOUT

Chihiro Asano is a Boston-based mezzo-soprano originally from Japan. She holds a Master of Music in Vocal Pedagogy (2022) and a Graduate Diploma in Vocal Performance (2023) from the New England Conservatory.

In 2023, she was awarded as a Puerto Rico District Winner in the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition. She further distinguished herself as the Iowa District Winner in 2025 and achieved Second Place in the Midwest Region the same year.

Artistic Highlights

Throughout the 2023-2024 season, Chihiro's artistic endeavors illuminated her exceptional talent as an interpreter of new music. Her performances were marked by the premieres of several cross-disciplinary new operas and original compositions, showcasing her versatility and artistry on stage. Notable roles include Shizue (Portland Opera) and Naomi in the living room (Boston Opera Collaborative). Her performance of Kindertotenlieder, composed by Tianfang Jia (2023), was awarded the Honorable Mention (Best Performance of a Contemporary Work) in the 2024 Calliope's Call Young Singer Art Song Competition. Additionally, Chihiro participated in the prestigious Marlboro Music Festival in 2024.

Performance Highlights

Chihiro made a captivating debut as Hansel in Hansel and Gretel (2023) as part of Boston Lyric Opera’s Opera101 Artist Classroom Visits, bringing opera to numerous Boston-area school students. She continued her collaboration with the company in 2024, portraying Cinderella in the same Opera101 series. Her versatile talent has graced esteemed musical venues across Massachusetts, including White Snake Opera, MassOpera, Boston Opera Collaborative, NEMPAC, Nightingale Vocal Ensemble, Cambridge Chamber Ensemble, and Cappella Clausura.

Teaching and Research

In addition to her performing career, Chihiro is deeply committed to teaching voice and advancing her knowledge of voice science. In August 2021, she presented her research on the Japanese female voice in Anime at the Pan American Vocology Association (PAVA) Conference.

Furthering her dedication to vocal pedagogy, she conducted seminars in 2024 and 2025 under the organization Aria, focusing on Formants and Scream Voice for voice trainers in Japan.

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