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Conversations with the Inspiring Margaret Ozaki Graves

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Margaret Ozaki Graves.

Margaret , let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I am a professional singer performing in opera, concert and musical theatre and I’ve had the good fortune to enjoy great variety of experiences, both as a performer and as an educator. Through my travels, I’ve met and connected with many people across the country. Some personal highlights include a majority Asian and Asian American cast production of THE KING AND I at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, presenting selections from an opera on the Japanese American experience at Poston Internment Camp with LA Opera EduCom, “jump in” work in Germany, solo concert work with Colorado Springs and Boulder Philharmonic Orchestras, and a variety of musical theatre performances (some with tap dancing!!). I’ve recently had the pleasure to work with voice students at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Ithaca College, as well as at the Denver School of Arts.

It is true that I have been singing since before I can remember. I do remember, however, that my constant noisemaking at home was terribly annoying to my two younger sisters for most of their childhood.

I was first introduced to the performing arts world in elementary school, when I began training and, later, performing with One World Taiko, a Japanese drumming ensemble founded by Nancy Ozaki and Gary Tsujimoto. One World Taiko was a family affair, as my sisters, cousin and close childhood friend all joined the fun under the leadership and training of my aunt and uncle. I gained so much experience performing and touring with One World Taiko and had the opportunity to play with them at Boston Dragon Boat, Disney’s EPCOT Center and San Francisco Taiko Dojo’s Anniversary Performance, to name a few. Taiko has also played a prominent role in important milestones in my life—One World Taiko has performed at everything from my high school graduation to my wedding reception.

In high school, I began studying koto, shamisen and voice. I enjoyed playing with Rocky Mountain Sankyoku (Japanese chamber music) in Boulder, which ended up being a hot spot for world music at the time. I was lucky to play beside some of the best Japanese traditional koto and shakuhachi players in America at the time.

I joined the choral and drama departments in concerts and musicals during high school, too. Although I was painfully shy at the time, I was amazed by the performance experience. The capacity for communication through song surprised and thrilled me. I auditioned for and was accepted into music conservatory for classical voice and dedicated myself to training for a decade—first, at Lawrence University in Wisconsin and, finally, at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM). I enjoyed teaching the very talented musical theatre students voice lessons and had some exceptional performing opportunities in the opera department at CCM. A highlight of my educational experience came during my doctoral studies—I was finally able to fuse my interests as a classical singer with my history in Japanese musical arts—in both performance and research. I published work on Japanese Lyric Diction in the Journal of Singing, the National Association of Teachers of Singing peer-reviewed journal. I performed, lectured on and researched the work of Japanese composers and topics surrounding Japanese aesthetics and music.

Now, back in Colorado, I enjoy singing as a Touring Artist for Central City Opera and as a resident singer for Art Song Colorado. I also am happy to reconnect with my roots, working as a Cultural Consultant for organizations including Japanese Arts Network (JA-NE).

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The road has not been smooth, but every bump and turn along the way has given me important feedback. The most difficult and unexpected shifts have helped me to define my path forward.

Figuring out how to balance the external forces of feedback, rejection and praise with my own internal motivations is a constant struggle. How do I nurture and protect the desire to communicate through my own unique artistic voice? How do I connect to the world around me? It takes courage, resilience and a strong sense of identity. But, it also takes open-mindedness and flexibility.

I invite young women to be bold and open to the world around them, yet focused upon their own long-term goals on the horizon. It is easy to become overwhelmed with the difficulties of the day and to obsess over the accomplishments of others, which are documented and published on a minute by minute basis. Make a quiet space for yourself to connect with what it is that you want to accomplish. Then, maintain the time and discipline needed to complete the simple duties every day. That regular cumulative work will lead to success.

What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
I have been singing as long as I can remember. I remember that my constant noisemaking at home was terribly annoying to my two younger sisters. I was first introduced to the performing arts world in elementary school, when I began training and, later, performing in One World Taiko, a Japanese drumming ensemble founded by Nancy Ozaki and Gary Tsujimoto, who also happens to be my aunt and uncle. One World Taiko was a family affair, as my sisters, cousin and close childhood friend all joined the fun throughout my school days. I gained so much experience performing and touring with One World Taiko and had the opportunity to play with them at Boston Dragon Boat, Disney’s EPCOT Center and San Francisco Taiko Dojo’s Anniversary Performance, to name a few. Taiko has also played a prominent role in important milestones in my life—One World Taiko has performed at everything from my high school graduation to my wedding reception.

In high school, I also began studying koto, shamisen and voice. I enjoyed playing with Rocky Mountain Sankyoku (Japanese chamber music) in Boulder, which ended up being a hot spot for world music at the time. I was lucky to play beside some of the best Japanese traditional koto and shakuhachi players in America at the time.

I also experienced my first solo performances as a singer in high school when I joined the choral and drama departments in concerts and musicals. Although I was painfully shy at the time, I was amazed by the performance experience. The capacity for communication with an audience surprised and thrilled me.

I auditioned for and was accepted into music conservatory for classical voice and dedicated myself to training for a decade—first, at Lawrence University in Wisconsin and, finally, at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM). I enjoyed teaching the very talented musical theatre students voice lessons and had some exceptional performing opportunities in the opera department at CCM. A highlight of my educational experience came during my doctoral studies—I was finally able to fuse my interests as a classical singer with my history in Japanese musical arts—in both performance and research. I published work on Japanese Lyric Diction in the Journal of Singing, the National Association of Teachers of Singing peer-reviewed journal. I performed, lectured on and researched the work of Japanese composers and topics surrounding Japanese aesthetics and music.

I am now a professional singer performing in opera, concert and musical theatre and I’ve had the good fortune to enjoy a great variety of experiences, both as a performer and as an educator. Through my travels, I’ve met and connected with many people across the country. Some of my highlights include a majority Asian and Asian American cast production of THE KING AND I at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, presenting selections from an opera on the Japanese American experience at Poston Internment Camp with LA Opera EduCom, “jump in” work in Germany, solo concert work with Colorado Springs and Boulder Philharmonic Orchestras, and a variety of musical theatre performances (some with tap dancing!!). I’ve recently had the pleasure to work with voice students at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Ithaca College, as well as at the Denver School of Arts. Now, back in Colorado, I enjoy singing as a Touring Artist for Central City Opera and as a resident singer for Art Song Colorado.

Over the past year, I’ve been compelled to reconnect with my cultural and artistic heritage in the Japanese arts. In March, I traveled with most of my family to Crystal City, Texas. My father spent the early years of his life incarcerated there at a Department of Justice camp. My grandfather had been kidnapped from their home in Peru and eventually, my grandparents and father were reunited at the Crystal City camp and detained there throughout World War II. It was an incredibly moving experience. At the ruins of the pool, the Crystal City Pilgrimage presented a program to honor the camp survivors. One World Taiko invited me to sing and play taiko with them in a piece that commemorated the three generations of our family touched by this experience.

I worked as Cultural Consultant to Central City Opera’s 2019 Festival Production of MADAMA BUTTERFLY and had the opportunity to communicate with stage director Alison Moritz throughout the process and to work closely with the artistic team during staging and production. I was able to provide cultural input and inspire authenticity in their production of the classic operatic tragedy set in Meiji Era Japan. I partnered with Japanese Arts Network (JA-NE) to bring educational programming to the opera audience, as well as to the local Japanese American community in conjunction with this production.

I saw the power and necessity of JA-NE’s work—connecting artists, communities and stakeholders and bringing visibility to Japanese arts and culture. Currently, JA-NE is launching its Inaugural Pop Up Event: The Warrior’s Way. On October 5th, this celebration of Samurai culture will activate Denver’s Sakura Square. We hope to introduce a new audience to the city’s historic Japanese American block and community businesses, in advance of a major redevelopment project slated there over the next few years.

Do you have any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general? What has worked well for you?
As a traveling performer, I am constantly meeting new people. With practice and repetition, it becomes easier to engage in meaningful conversations with people and to develop a network of supportive friends. Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for their positive energy. The worst thing that can happen is hearing the word no.

I have a few mentors in my life. A mentor is more concerned with maintaining the quality of my work than simply showering me praise. These few come from a tribe of trusted truth-tellers. They know my work and the demands of my industry and understand that the transparency of their feedback is essential to my progress and process.

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Image Credit:
Personal Photo and Margaret Ozaki Graves & Courtney Ozaki Credit Joshua South Photography

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