Margaret Ozaki Graves is a Japanese American soprano with stage and concert highlights including Lyric Opera of Chicago, LA Opera/Santa Monica Library, Opera Steamboat, Arizona Opera, Colorado Springs and Boulder Philharmonic Orchestras, Inside the Orchestra and “jump in” work in Germany. Equally comfortable across genres, favorite roles include: Mimi in LA BOHEME, Elvira in GIOVANNA’S (an immersive production of DON GIOVANNI), Jenny in COMPANY, Suzy in WINTER WONDERETTES and Vocal Soloist in Irish Dance Theatre’s THE CHRISTMAS GIFT tour. An active soloist with Art Song Colorado (ASC), Margaret’s passionate about presenting song in new and compelling ways, both with ASC and in solo projects, which have included VOYAGE A PARIS (a cabaret show of art song, opera and musical theatre pieces inspired by Paris), SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE (musical settings of texts from Shakespearean theatre) and new virtual multi-genre projects showcasing her performance of classical vocal and traditional Japanese instrumental music in combination with the works of other Japanese and Japanese American artists.

 

Margaret enjoys mentoring in the arts as a cultural consultant, arts administrator, teaching artist and professional performer. She is a proponent of I.D.E.A. (inclusivity, diversity, equity and access) in the arts, in life and—particularly—in opera. Margaret has held leadership positions in Opera on Tap Colorado, Arizona Opera and Western Region of AGMA, and is acting Singer Advocate/IDEA Representative for Denver Immersive Opera; she’s taught at UW-Milwaukee, Ithaca College, CCM Prep Department and the Denver School of the Arts. After serving as cultural consultant for their 2019 production of MADAMA BUTTERFLY, Margaret was appointed Education Coordinator at Central City Opera. Raised in Golden, Colorado, Margaret spent time as a professional taiko drummer and Japanese chamber musician (koto and shamisen) prior to her pursuing vocal studies.