Furukawa featured in free concert at First Presbyterian

In response to Hot Springs’ outpouring of support following last year’s tragic earthquake and tsunami in Japan, classically-trained baritone soloist Seichi Furukawa will present a concert free of charge at 2 p.m. on Friday, June 8 at First Presbyterian Church, 213 Whittington Avenue in Hot Springs.  The public is welcome to attend the concert, which is co-sponsored by the Hot Springs National Park Sister City Foundation, Visit Hot Springs and The Muses Creative Artistry Project.

Furukawa’s father, a resident of Hanamaki, Japan, Hot Springs’ sister city, told Furukawa of Hot Springs’ generosity following the disaster.  Furukawa decided to visit the Spa City throughout next week to thank the local residents in song.  At the Friday concert, he will be accompanied as a professional courtesy by Hee-Kyung Juhn, Director of Keyboard Instruction at Henderson University.  The concert will be videotaped for future broadcast on local cable television.

On Saturday, June 9, he will perform with soprano Deleen Davidson of The Muses Creative Artistry Project during the Hot Springs Music Festival’s Progressive Concert along Bathhouse Row.

Mr. Furukawa received his Ph.D. in vocal music from the Musashino Academy of Music in Tokyo, with a concentration in opera.  He holds a second Ph.D. in media design from Keio University in Tokyo.  He is a soloist with the Tokyo Nikikai Opera Theater, performing throughout Japan and across Europe.  Past roles include the Count in The Marriage of Figaro, Guglielmo in Cosi fan tutte, Papageno in The Magic Flute, and Onegin in Eugene Onegin.  In October 2010, Furukawa was named Hanamaki IHATOV Goodwill Ambassador by the Iwate Prefecture.