Long Okada is a versatile violist and baroque violinist based in Boston, Massachusetts, whose artistic career encompasses solo performance, chamber music, orchestral playing, and pedagogy. Equally at home on modern and period instruments, he brings a deep musical empathy and intellectual curiosity to every facet of his work.
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 (London), St Martin within Ludgate (London), Salle de concert du Domaine Forget (Québec), Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (Boston), and Brown Hall at New England Conservatory.
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 founding 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 music festivals around the world including Composers Now, Domaine Forget, Manchester Music Festival, Summer in Aldgate, 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 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 holistic, individualized approach to music education, grounded in rigor and excellence. He holds the Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Music (LRAM) and teaches viola, violin, and chamber music at Attacca School of Music and Concord Conservatory of Music in Massachusetts.
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.