In “Reflections: Finding Light Beyond the Shadows”, Balcony Series presents a thoughtful musical program exploring the balance between darkness and light in the human experience. Tenor Taka Komagata, soprano Luisamaria Hernandez, and pianist Jeremy Chan bring earnest interpretation to a program of pieces from a variety of time periods and languages. Solo pieces performed by pianist Jeremy Chan give the program the levity needed to reflect on the many facets of life amid the vocal repertoire.
Experience an evening of expressive music, presented with sensitivity and nuance, that invites reflection on the ways music can illuminate our shared human emotions. -
Taka Komagata, tenor Tenor Taka Komagata brightens international classical music with his sincere presence and vibrant vocal style. He performs “with earnest gusto” (The Boston Globe) and has been praised for his “believable and stunning” character portrayals (Los Angeles Times). Mr. Komagata’s 2025/2026 season features a role debut as Monkey/Rat in Big Swim, a co‐production of Houston Grand Opera and Asia Society Texas, the tenor solo in Britten’s Spring Symphony with Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, a company debut as Goro in Madama Butterfly with Opera Grand Rapids, and a recital series in Tokyo and New York.
Recent highlights include role debuts as Guang in Stuck Elevator and Nemorino in The Elixir of Love with Hawai’i Opera Theatre, company debuts with Pacific Opera Project and Opera in Williamsburg, performing Goro in Madama Butterfly, and the tenor solo in Mozart’s Requiem with MidAmerica Productions. In 2020, he made his Japan debut performing the leading male role in the Christmas musical, I’ll Be Home for Christmas at Asakusa Kyugeki Theater. As a former Young Artist at Opera Maine and Hawai’i Opera Theatre, he performed in Cenerentola, Rocking Horse Winner, Bastien und Bastienne, and Aida. He is a prize winner of the Basel International Vocal Competition and the Yokohama International Music Competition. Mr. Komagata co-founded and produces Balcony Series, an artistic troupe delivering timeless compositions to the unsuspecting listener.
Luisamaria Hernandez, soprano Luisamaria Hernandez is a Dominican American vocalist and storyteller based in Brooklyn, New York. As an active recitalist and concert curator, Luisamaria has made Latin American, Caribbean, and Spanish art music the center of her storytelling and performance practice. With a desire to diversify her storytelling practice, Luisamaria made her librettist debut with “Prisoner of Mercy,” in which she sings the role of Broken in the fall of 2022 when she presented a short form preview of her libretto. Programs like “Songs from the Homeland” and “On Shuffle” with the ensemble she co-founded, Balcony Series, have captivated audiences as music, history, and connection have been at the core of how the group performs. Luisamaria believes representation on and off the stage is key to developing community and well-rounded artistry. Her experiences as a Sphinx Connect Fellow and Sistema Side-by-Side Instructor have been integral to her work as she strives to tell stories that will reach those who need it most. Other writing and production projects are on the horizon as Luisamaria hopes to continue learning and growing her skills as a multifaceted storyteller.
Jeremy Chan, piano JEREMY CHAN is a freelance Australian pianist, improviser, and vocal coach who loves collaborating with artists who sing, play, and dance. His “superb” playing has been praised for its “shimmer, mystery, and ease” (Classical Singer Magazine), and for “summoning about as much color as can possibly be coaxed out” (New York Classical Review). Current roles: Juilliard (Staff), Manhattan School of Music (Graduate Opera Theatre Artistic Staff), Advent Lutheran Church (Director of Music), Asian Opera Alliance (Vice President), Wear Yellow Proudly (Advocacy Engagement Officer) 2025-26 season: Dior, Carnegie Hall, The Australian Ballet, Brooklyn Art Song Society, Central City Chorus (Assistant Conductor) Career highlights: West Side Story (Opera Australia), A Midsummer Night's Dream (Juilliard, MSM), Dream of the Red Chamber (China tour), Isadora Duncan Dance Foundation. Performances at David Geffen Hall, National Sawdust, BAM, Tanglewood, Wigmore Hall, Aspen Music Festival, Caramoor Outside of music, he revels in yoga, NYTimes Games, and food adventures. Follow Jeremy @jeremychanpiano and jeremychanpiano.com
Taka Komagata, tenor - Luisamaria Hernandez, soprano - Jeremy Chan, piano
Reflets dans l'eau - Claude Debussy
Anamorfosi - Salvatore Sciarrino
Bleuet - Francis Poulenc
Zueignung - Richard Strauss
No puede ser - Pablo Sorozabal
ah la paterna mano - Giuseppe Verdi
Small Sky - Toru Takemitsu
Sakura Alley - Yoshinao Nakada
Yume mita monowa - Makiko Kinoshita
Equations of the Light - Lori Laitman
Gracias a la vida - Violetta Parra
O cieli azzurri - Giuseppe Verdi
I keep my beloved in a box - Dominic Argento
Am I absolved? - John-William Gambrell (world premier)
Cancion del Arbol del Olvido a Alberto Ginastera
Triste - Alberto Ginastera
*program is subject to change.
Luisamariahernandez.com, IG: @lmhdz, takakomagata.com, IG: @takakomagata, jeremychanpiano.com, IG: @jeremychanpiano