Heiichiro Ohyama

Who is Heiichiro Ohyama?

Heiichiro Ohyama is a Japanese conductor and violist.

He has a long-established reputation as a remarkable conductor and one of the nation’s most renowned violists. In addition to his post as Music Director and Conductor of the Santa Barbara Chamber Orchestra, he is also the Principal Chief Conductor of Kyushu Symphony Orchestra in Fukuoka, Fukuoka, Japan.

Ohyama has always been in demand as a violist and has performed throughout the United States and abroad as recitalist and chamber musician at festivals including Casals Festival, Kuhumo International Festival, Johannesen International Music Festival, Okinawa Moon Beach Music Festival, Brescia and Bergamo Festivals, Chamber Music Northwest, Sarasota Music Festival and Caramor Chamber Music Festival. He has collaborated with many of the soloist around the world, including Lynn Harrell, Gidon Kremer, Radu Lupu, Lynnette Seah, Isaac Stern, and Alexander Souptel.

In 1974, he won the Young Concert Artists International Auditions which led to his New York City recital debut at Carnegie Hall. In 1979, he was named Principal Violist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic under Carlo Maria Giulini, a position he held for 13 years. In 1981, he began conducting the Youth String Orchestra of the Crossroads School for Sciences and Arts. In 1983, he was appointed Music Director and Conductor of the Santa Barbara Chamber Orchestra. In 1986, Ohyama was appointed Assistant Conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic under Maestro André Previn. He held this position for four years and conducted the Philharmonic in many concerts, including subscription concerts at the Los Angeles Music Center, the Hollywood Bowl and the Los Angeles Philharmonic Institute.