Orange County Friendship Choir



ABOUT





Orange County Friendship Choir



OCFC is a Japanese mixed voice chorus group based in the city of Irvine. Our group was established in October, 2009 by a few members who performed Beethoven’s Symphony No.9, “Ode to Joy,” at Walt Disney Concert Hall in a concert titled, “Bridging US-Japan.”


Our group’s goal is “To assist members in realizing a meaningful life in the United States by actively participating in social activities through choral efforts.” With this in mind, we have been performing a wide variety of music such as Mozart’s Requiem, world’s opera choruses, and various popular songs at our annual concerts and at various cultural and charity events in the greater Los Angeles area.


Currently, we practice at Yamaha Music Center in Irvine every Thursday evening. We love to sing more than anything. We appreciate your warm support and participation and look forward to it in years to come.


Orange CountyFriendship Choir（OCFC）は、南カリフォルニア州オレンジカウンティのアーバイン市を拠点として活動している日系混声合唱団で、2009年ディズニーコンサートホールでベートーベンの第九を歌った仲間が中心となり、2009年10月に誕生しました。


2011年の第1回定期演奏会では、モーツアルトのレクイエム、第2回定期演奏会(2012年)では、フォーレのレクイエムといった大曲を中心に、日本語、英語、フランス語等の、混声ならではの、バラエティー豊かな曲を演奏しています。


冬・夏の演奏会の他、当会の目的である「合唱の研鑽を通して社会活動に参加し、会員の有意義な米国生活の実現を支援する」活動の一環として、オレンジカウンティでのチャリティーイベントにも多数参加しています。 




OUR MISSION





The purpose of OCFC is for those who love music to gather, devote themselves to chorus to cultivate mutual friendship among members. In addition, those people shall contribute to the local community through performances.



Music Director





Yasumichi Ichikawa



Yasumichi Ichikawa is an emerging musician in Southern California. Mr. Ichikawa is a music director and conductor of SoCalMix chorus, Orange County Friendship Choir, Los Angeles Glee Club, and a music minister at Westwood Hills Congregational Church. He has served the world-renowned Barbershop group, Westminster chorus as Interim Director, St. Andrew's By-The-Sea United Methodist Church as Director of Music Ministries, Developing Next Artist and The Sounds of Harmony as Music Director, and Arsenal of Voices as Artistic Director and founder.


Mr. Ichikawa is an enthusiastic Barbershop music lover. He is a 4-time gold medalist of the International Barbershop Chorus Contest and is the founder of the Japan Barbershop Association (JBA) and Japan Barbershop Convention (JBC).


Mr. Ichikawa graduated from Azusa Pacific University (APU)with M.M. degrees in Conducting and Vocal Performance. While he was a graduate student, he served as a graduate assistant conductor to Dr. John Sutton for APU Oratorio Choir and APU University Choir and Orchestra, and he also served as chorus master for Dr. Melanie Galloway for APU opera workshop. He is also a graduate of Fullerton College and Kwansei Gakuin University. Academic experiences aside, he privately studied with Donald Neuen, a retired professor of UCLA and Eastman School of Music. .



Pianist





Masako Griffin



Mrs. Griffin received her degree from Kunitachi University of Music in Japan. She also studied piano with Nakyoung Chai, former Department Chair of Music at Saddleback College. She has been teaching piano for over 25 years and is an active member of the Music Teachers Association of California. In addition to instructing, Mrs. Griffin voluntarily serves as a piano accompanist for the Mormon church choir in Mission Viejo. She is also the accompanist for two chorus groups: The Orange County Friendship Choir and The Yukari Chorus. For the past several years she has performed vocally with the Orange County woman's chorus group, The Gracenotes and on piano with the Saddleback College Chamber Music Group.


Music Director EMERITUS - 2009 TO 2023





Keiko Takeshita



Ms. Keiko Takeshita received her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from Aichi Prefecture University of Arts, Japan. She graduated with honors and was the recipient of the Aichi Governor's Award. She was selected as a soprano soloist for Beethoven's Ninth Symphony performance at Kanagawa Art Festival in Japan. Keiko participated in the Los Angeles Music Center Opera Workshop, the Verdi Conservatorio in Milan, Italy, the Long Beach Opera Workshop, and the Nikikai Opera Studio in Tokyo. In 2003, she released a CD called "Romantic Evening". She is a member of Nikikai, a prestigious opera company in Japan, and also a member of MTAC. Keiko currently teaches music privately, conducts several chorus groups, and performs extensively throughout Los Angeles and Orange County. In 2010, she had solo recital in Long Beach and Yokohama, Japan.



代表





OCFC代表　住山弘



[音楽は言葉の壁を超えて]

毎週木曜日の夕方7時半アーバイン・ヤマハ・ミュージック・センターに年齢20代から70代の日本人・日系人の男女が集まってきます。その数約40名、コーラスを愛する人たちが指揮者の竹下圭子先生指導のもと、日本の曲からベートーベンの第九交響曲、モーツアルトあるいはフォーレのレクイエムさらにオペラといった古典の名曲まで幅広く練習しています。


その成果を年に一度の定期演奏会で地域の皆様に披露するほかに、コミュニティーで開催されるいろいろな文化活動に参加して、オレンジカウンティーを中心に生活されているいろいろな国の人たちと音楽を通じて交流を行っています。


音楽は言葉の壁を超えてお互いに理解しあえる素晴らしい手段です。


私も現役時代音楽とは無縁の生活を送ってきましたが70歳を過ぎて合唱の楽しさを学びました。 それで、一人でも多くの方々に合唱の楽しさを知って、さらに交流の輪を広げていただきたいと願っています。


プロフィール


1958年東京教育大学（現筑波大学）卒業、生化学専攻、医学博士。1989年カリフォルニア大学アーバイン校内にバイオメディカル研究所（Hitachi Chemical Research Center）設立のため渡米、1997年まで研究所長、その後顧問を務め、他にあさひ学園理事、日米協会理事、オーロラ日本語奨学金基金副理事長、関西クラブ副会長、Japanese Friendship Network in Orange County 代表他を歴任。



ocfchoir@gmail.com