hika is a Tenor & Classical Guitar duo currently based in Stuttgart, Germany.
With dynamic charisma and technical excellence, this international ensemble utilizes the expressiveness of their instruments and intensity of their musicality to create a captivating concert atmosphere.
Canadian concert guitarist Katie Lonson and Japanese-born lyric tenor Hitoshi Tamada met during their studies at the Stuttgart University of Music and Performing Arts. These exceptional artists combine the sound and power of the guitar and voice; merging diverse cultural influences of the West and Japan lend a unique energy and individuality to their music.
Since its inception, hika has been performing fresh interpretations of a unique repertoire that includes selected works from composers such as Dowland, Schubert, Wolf, Britten and Debussy as well as more contemporary works by Henze, Argento and Yun. The duo is particularly inspired by works that have yet to be arranged for guitar and voice. Their repertoire also includes a novel selection of their own arrangements of Japanese folk and art music, which is continually being expanded upon.
tenor
Born in Osaka, lyrical Tenor Hitoshi Tamada studied voice at universities in Tokyo, Bern and Stuttgart. During his studies, he made his debut in the European music scene with the role of Don Ottavio in Mozart's "Don Giovanni" at the Sommeroper in Bamberg. Guest appearances as lead role in a children's opera at the Landestheater Coburg ensued. In 2013 Hitoshi Tamada completed a Master of Arts in Art Song in Stuttgart. The completion of an additional Master's degree in New Vocal Music followed, parallel to an internship during the 2013/14 season with the SWR Vokalensemble under the direction of Marcus Creed.
As of 2014, Hitoshi Tamada has been working with various professional ensembles and chamber choirs such as ChorWerk Ruhr, Zürcher Sing-Akademie, Nederlandse Bachvereniging, Gaechinger Cantorey and NDR Chor.
Hitoshi Tamada finds himself most at home with contemporary music. In 2016 he performed in a music theatre production for modern vocal music by SILBERSEE (ex. VocaalLab) in the Netherlands. His repertoire includes experimental avant-garde vocal works as a member of the Berlin soloist ensemble PHØNIX16 and as a regular freelancer with the SWR Vokalensemble Stuttgart, with which he has performed at several significant festivals for New Music, including ECLAT (Stuttgart), Ultraschall (Berlin), the Donaueschinger Musiktage and the Ruhrtriennale. Masterclasses such as the Darmstädter Ferienkurse and Stockhausen-Kurse Kürten have complemented his knowledge and musicality.
In 2017, Hitoshi Tamada began collaborating with Collegium Vocale Gent under the direction of Philippe Herreweghe, participating in numerous tours with performances in world-renowned concert halls.
Hitoshi Tamada
Katie Lonson
classical guitarist
Canadian-born Concert Guitarist Katie Lonson is a unique soloist and chamber musician who’s exceptional musicality and powerful stage presence define her.
Upon graduating from the Senior Academy Program for Gifted Youth at Mount Royal University’s Conservatory (Calgary), Katie moved to Germany to pursue her studies at the age of 17. She holds a German Diplom in Artistic Solo Performance and a Masters of Music (Honours) from the University of Music and Performing Arts in Stuttgart (Prof. Johannes Monno), and an additional Postgraduate degree from the Mozarteum University in Salzburg, Austria (Prof. Laura Young). Further studies have included masterclasses with world-renowned artists such as Roland Dyens, Sergio & Odair Assad, Pepe Romero, Aniello Desiderio, Margarita Escarpa and Pavel Steidl.
Katie has performed with ensembles extensively throughout Europe and in Canada. She is a founding member of the Salzburg Guitar Trio, one of the leading guitar ensembles of the new generation. Recent highlights with the trio include winning first prizes at the Corelli-Savarez Chamber Music Competition (Austria), the Ciutat d’Elx Guitar Festival (Spain), and the Valle dei Laghi International Guitar Festival (Italy), as well as an artist residency in Antoní Gaudí’s La Pedrera in Barcelona. Katie is dedicated to arranging works for the trio and her tenor and guitar duo, hika. She is also a former member (cello) of the experimental crossover ensemble Andromeda Mega Express Orchestra and can be heard on indie band The Notwist’s album “The Devil, You + Me”.
Katie was most recently broadcasted live on Catalan television (Spain), as well as from Kadriorg Palace in Tallinn on Estonian Public Broadcasting (ERR), and has made numerous solo appearances on Canadian television and radio. She has been awarded grants from the Canadian Arts Council and the Alberta Foundation for the Arts and is an Alumni of Yehudi Menuhin’s Live Music Now scholarship program.
Awards as a soloist include national winner of the Canadian Music Competition, 2nd Prize at the Tallinn International Guitar Competition, and 3rd Prize at the Sarajevo International Guitar Festival Competition.
Katie currently holds tenure as a Lecturer on the music faculty of the School for Music and Art in Böblingen, Germany.
Beethoven 250th Special
Live recording of Beethoven’s Adelaide op.46
