Long Okada, originally from Osaka, Japan, is a versatile violist and baroque violinist based in Boston, Massachusetts, whose work spans solo, chamber, and orchestral performance on both modern and period instruments.
A passionate advocate for British repertoire, Long is particularly devoted to the viola literature of the 20th-century British renaissance, with an artistic focus on the impact of the folksong revival on the nation’s compositional landscape. His recital programming frequently reflects this interest, and he has been heard in esteemed venues such as City Halls (Glasgow), Queen’s Hall (Edinburgh), St Botolph without Aldgate, St Martin within Ludgate (London), Salle de concert du Domaine Forget (Québec), Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, and New England Conservatory (Boston).
A sought-after chamber musician, Long performs regularly with flutist Nicholas Southwick as Duo Gwynne, a recipient of the prestigious Artist Fellowship from Music for Food. The Duo made its acclaimed debut at the historic St. Botolph without Aldgate, and has since appeared in concert series across the United Kingdom and United States, including a featured performance commemorating the coronation of His Majesty King Charles III at the Church of Holy Cross, St Pancras. He is also a former violist of Trevi Quartet and was invited to Medellín, Colombia to work with young musicians of Iberacademy and its community outreach initiatives, offering private instruction and side-by-side performances. He has appeared in conferences and music festivals around the world including Domaine Forget, International Computer Music Conference, Manchester Music Festival, Summer in Aldgate, Summer Institute for Contemporary Performance Practice, and Zephyr International Chamber Music Festival. He has also had the privilege of performing with many esteemed musicians including Thomas Bowes, Bonnie Hampton, Mark Menzies, Inesa Sinkevych, and Xiao Wang.
Long maintains an active orchestral presence, with frequent engagements as guest violist and violinist with the Cape Symphony and Bangor Symphony Orchestra. He has also performed with Nevis Ensemble, Sainsbury Royal Academy Soloists, and various symphonic and chamber orchestras throughout Europe and North America.
A dedicated pedagogue, Long embraces a rigorous yet holistic, individualized approach to music education, combining a solid command of technique with creativity, critical thinking, and a deep commitment to nurturing each student’s unique artistic voice. He holds the Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Music (LRAM) and teaches viola, violin, and chamber music at Attacca School of Music (Belmont, MA), Concord Conservatory of Music (Concord, MA), and Wellesley Public Schools (Wellesley, MA).
Long holds a Bachelor of Music from New York University and a Master of Music from the Royal Academy of Music in London. He further pursued advanced studies, earning a Postgraduate Diploma from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and a Graduate Performance Diploma from Longy School of Music of Bard College. He has studied under a distinguished roster of mentors, including Danielle Farina, Karen Ritscher, Sarah Darling, Jane Atkins, and Martin Outram. He has also had the privilege of performing in masterclasses for such internationally renowned artists as Désirée Elsevier, Nobuko Imai, Kim Kashkashian, and Hartmut Rohde.