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 music, he frequently programs viola works by composers from across Great Britain in his recitals. He has a particular interest in the early 20th-century folksong revival and how it shaped the classical music landscape in Great Britain, especially in works for string instruments. 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 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 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 fosters high technical standards, critical thinking, and creativity within a supportive and trusting learning environment. His teaching draws on classical repertoire, technical training, sight-reading, and ensemble playing, preparing students for success in auditions, competitions, and advanced study, while nurturing a lifelong love of music. He holds the Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Music (LRAM) and teaches viola, violin, and chamber music at Attacca School of Music, Concord Conservatory of Music, and Wellesley Public Schools.
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 Marcia Cassidy, 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.