Childhood → High School Years

​

1989

​

Jun was Born in Hikarigaoka, Nerima-ku, Tokyo, Japan, as the youngest of three children. From an early age, he loved standing out and took great pleasure in being in front of others. 

 

1997 

​

Jun moved to Kashiwa City, Chiba, Japan. 

​

1998 

 

When Jun was in the third grade, his second-grade homeroom teacher, who admired his naturally loud voice, introduced him to the Kashiwa UNESCO Children’s Choir, marking his entry into the world of music. 

 

2000

 

At the Kashiwa UNESCO Children’s Choir, he performed “Der Vogelfänger bin ich ja” from Mozart's The Magic Flute during a concert, earning enthusiastic applause from the audience.

 

2001 

​

Motivated by a desire to sing more, Jun learned about the "Kashiwa Civic Chorus," a group formed by the joint efforts of the Kashiwa Children’s Choir (KCC) and the Toyoshiki Junior Choir, both of which offered free participation. He decided to join immediately. The conductor of this joint choir was Mr. Yasuhiko Daimon. Twenty-two years later, in 2023, Jun was asked by Mrs. Motoko Akutsu, the pianist of the KCC (who would later become Mr. Daimon's wife), to conduct the Treble Choir, NAYUTA, where Mr. Daimon served as the principal conductor. 

 

Later, he officially joined the KCC and remained a member for seven years until he left to study in the United States. During his time with the choir, he gained extensive stage experience, including playing Friedrich, the eldest son of the Trapp family, in The Sound of Music in 2003; the Mouse King, Clown, and Shepherd in the musical The Nutcracker in 2005; and Gaston in Beauty and the Beast in 2008. 

 

2002

 

Jun entered Kashiwa Second Public Junior High School. Since the school had no school choir electives, he joined the woodwind band and played percussion. He also expanded his musical involvement by conducting nearly all the class choirs, grade-level choirs, and the all-school choirs. 

 

2004 

 

In his third year of junior high school, he served as the leader of the red team cheerleading squad. While his loud voice proved an asset to the team, Jun unfortunately ended up losing his voice during the process.

 

2005

 

With the enthusiastic recommendation of Mr. Nobuo Oe, a music teacher who had supported him in both music classes and the woodwind band, Jun entered Yachiyo Shoin High School, renowned for its choral program. During his time at Yachiyo Shoin High, he performed on numerous stages as a student conductor. Most notably, in 2007, Jun conducted Letter to God by Midori Takashima at the 74th Nippon Hoso Kyokai (NHK) Regional (Chiba Division) Choral Competition, where the choir earned the silver prize.

 

Community College → Transfer to 4-Year Universities

 

2008

 

Deciding to pursue music studies in the United States, Jun coincidentally took advantage of the Kashiwa Children's Choir's international tour to Salt Lake City that year and chose to stay in the country. He subsequently enrolled in the Associate of Arts in Music with an emphasis in voice at Northwest College in Powell, Wyoming.

 

2009

 

Spring

Jun performed the challenging and rapid “I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General” from Gilbert and Sullivan’s Opera, The Pirates of Penzance in the Opera Theatre class, earning high praise from his peers and professors. 

 

Fall 

Admiring the piano artistry of Professor Tim Schoesslor, Jun changed his major to piano while continuing studying voice. That same semester, he performed the tenor solo in Handel’s Messiah. 

 

2010

 

Spring

He played the role of The Steward in Into the Woods as part of the Opera Theatre class, showcasing his versatility as a performer. 

 

2011

 

Spring

Jun presented his own piano recital, demonstrating his growth as a pianist. Additionally, he played the roles of Matt and Larry in Henry Mollicone’s opera, The Face on the Barroom Floor. 

 

Summer

Jun graduated from Northwest College with an Associate of Arts in Music with an emphasis in piano. 

 

Fall 

Transferred to Northern Arizona University. However, he encountered various challenges that left him disheartened, ultimately leading to his decision to return to Wyoming.

 

2012

 

Spring

Jun enrolled at the University of Wyoming (UW), pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Music with an emphasis in Voice. During this time, he encountered his mentor, Dr. Lamartine, who would have a profound influence on his musical development.

​

Fall

He participated in the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) Choral Conducting Competition, Undergraduate Division. The audition process involved conducting the top choral group of UW, Collegiate Chorale, filming the performance, and submitting it via YouTube. Although Jun did not win, Dr. Lamartine commended him, saying, “One day, you will be a world-famous conductor and invite me.” This pivotal experience solidified his determination to pursue choral conducting.

 

2013

 

Fall

Jun attended a master class led by Dr. Simon Carrington at Colorado State University (CSU), where he received enthusiastic feedback from Dr. Carrington. CSU would later become the institution where Jun earned his master’s degree in choral conducting. At the time, Dr. James Kim, the university’s Director of Choral Activities at CSU and Jun’s eventual mentor during his master’s studies, was on sabbatical. Jun first met Dr. Kim in 2015 during a clinic on Bach’s choral music in UW, which left a lasting impression on him.

 

2014

 

Spring

Jun presented his own voice recital.

 

Music Involvements in Japan, Round 1 → Master’s Degree Program

 

2014

 

Fall

After a provisional graduation from the University of Wyoming (UW), Jun returned to Japan to take the next step in his career. Upon returning, he immediately formed an ad-hoc choir, Cloud 9, and participated as its conductor in the 69th Tokyo Choral Festival, The 67th Japan Choral Association (JCA) Regional (Chiba Division) Competition, and the Matsudo Italian Festival. 

 

2015 

Through his musical involvements in Japan, Jun realized his own limitations and decided to pursue a master’s degree in the United States. However, it was discovered that he had a few credits remaining to officially graduate from UW, prompting him to return to the university to complete his degree and get ready for his master’s auditions and interviews. Around this time, he also began composing music in earnest. 

 

2016

 

Spring

After attending auditions at Colorado State University (CSU), University of Arizona, and University of Nebraska–Lincoln (where he would later pursue his doctoral degree in 2024), Jun decided to enroll in the Master of Music in Choral Conducting at CSU. That same year, he officially graduated from the University of Wyoming with a Bachelor of Arts in Music with an emphasis in Voice.

 

Fall 

Upon enrolling at CSU, Jun gained opportunities to conduct various choirs in numerous concerts.

​

2017

​

Summer 

Jun participated in the CSU Chamber Choir’s tour of Germany and the Czech Republic, conducting in several historic churches:

• Parish Church of Prieros (Berlin, Germany)

• St. Nicholas Church (Leipzig, Germany)

• St. Thomas Church (Leipzig, Germany)

• The Church of the Three Kings (Dresden, Germany)

• St. Nicholas Church (Prague, Czech Republic).

 

Fall

He presented his own composition recital.

 

2018

 

Spring

Jun presented his own choral conducting recital. Additionally, he conducted Schubert’s Mass in G-Major at the final concert of his master’s program, receiving critical acclaim. That same year, he was awarded second place in the CSU Art Song Composition Contest. He graduated from the Master of Music in Choral Conducting at CSU.

​

Montana → Cambodia

 

2018

 

Spring–Summer

After earning his master’s degree, Jun initially planned to proceed directly to a doctoral program. However, Dr. Kim, his mentor at Colorado State University, advised him that it would be difficult to secure a job after earning a doctorate without first gaining 2–3 years of teaching experience, such as at a high school. Following this advice, Jun began searching for a teaching position. 

 

It was extremely challenging for a Japanese national without a teaching license to secure a teaching position in the U.S. Despite submitting what was likely hundreds of applications over the summer, he struggled to receive any offers. Even when he advanced to interviews, the majority of opportunities were blocked due to visa issues. 

 

In his desperation, Jun reached out to his former mentor from the University of Wyoming, Dr. Lamartine, who informed him that Montana was experiencing a severe shortage of music teachers. Upon checking the state’s job site, he found 20–30 postings for music teacher positions. After contacting several schools, he received immediate responses. Montana allowed the issuance of an Emergency Teaching Certificate, which enabled him to teach without a standard teaching license. The only remaining obstacle was the visa, but Jun discovered he could utilize the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program—a one-year grace period granted to graduates of U.S. universities—to work in a position related to his field of study. With this understanding, he accepted a position at Valier Public Schools in Montana.

 

Fall

At Valier Public Schools (VPS), Jun taught music classes to students ranging from kindergarten to high school. The breakdown of classes was as follows:

• Kindergarten: General music

• 1st Grade: General music

• 2nd Grade: General music

• 3rd Grade: Ukulele, recorder

• 4th Grade: Guitar, ukulele

• 5th Grade: Instrumental music (woodwinds, brass, percussion)

• 6th Grade: Instrumental music (woodwinds, brass, percussion)

• 7th–8th Grade: Elective (choir, band, guitar)

• 9th–12th Grade: Elective (choir, band) 

At the end of the year, Jun successfully organized and conducted a Christmas concert, which was well-received.

​

2019

​

Spring

Jun successfully conducted a 6th-grade mass band performance at the band festival in Sunburst, Montana. Additionally, VPS participated in the district music festival held in Great Falls, Montana, for the first time in seven years. The school achieved commendable results, earning a Grade III in choir and a Grade II in band. Furthermore, he organized and conducted a well-received spring concert, showcasing the growth and achievements of his students.

 

In March, Jun faced the harsh reality that his role as a schoolteacher alone would not qualify him for a visa. Acting quickly, he contacted North Dakota State University to arrange an audition before leaving the U.S. Simultaneously, he submitted applications to international schools around the world. He received job offers from schools in Cambodia and China and decided to work in Cambodia for a year, with plans to return to the U.S. afterward. 

 

Fall

In Cambodia, Jun worked at the American Global Prep School, an international school in Phnom Penh, the nation’s capital, under the self-created motto, “Bringing Smiles and Music to Developing Countries.” Drawing on the curriculum he had developed in Montana, he taught music classes to students from kindergarten through high school. In December, he successfully organized a large-scale Christmas concert, renting a hall and managing the event without incurring any financial losses. His efforts were highly praised, earning him a certificate of recognition from the school for his outstanding contributions.

 

Music Involvements in Japan, Round 2

 

2020

 

Spring

Anticipating the early worsening of the COVID-19 situation, Jun swiftly returned to Japan, a developed country, for safety. Just two weeks later, he began working as a voice, guitar, ukulele, and composition instructor at Sheer Music Schools (SMS).

 

Fall

SMS introduced a “two-partition booth lesson system,” which gained popularity and allowed the number of lessons to increase despite the pandemic. In December, Jun taught 235 lessons (45 minutes each) in a single month, earning the top position among approximately 1,000 instructors at SMS. He maintained this level of performance for about three years, teaching a record-breaking 300 lessons in July 2022, which still stands as a company record. Over 4.5 years with SMS, Jun taught a total of 11,143 lessons. 

 

During this time, he also began instructing a student introduced by his mentor from the Kashiwa Children's Choir (KCC), Mrs. Natsuko Tezuka, who aimed to succeed in an idol audition. This student went on to win first place out of 48,000 participants in iCON, Dreams For Children, an extraordinary achievement. 

 

Meanwhile, communication with North Dakota State University was disrupted due to the pandemic. Consequently, Jun applied again to North Dakota State University and the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), where Dr. Lamartine, his former mentor from the University of Wyoming, was based. However, his online audition with UCSB was unsuccessful due to the state’s underdeveloped systems for accepting out-of-state and international students during the pandemic.

 

2021

Mrs. Tezuka reached out with a request: “Please conduct the high school and above members of the KCC to participate in the 32nd Chiba Prefecture Ensemble Contest.” Jun readily accepted. Meanwhile, he submitted applications to five universities in North America. Although he progressed to an online audition at the University of Notre Dame, he was ultimately not accepted.

 

2022

 

Spring

Jun participated in the 32nd Chiba Prefecture Ensemble Contest, where the KCC earned a bronze award. He also resumed conducting the KCC (middle school and above) on a full scale. 

 

Fall

The KCC representative, Mrs. Mari Ayukawa (Mrs.Tezuka retired in 2019), announced her pregnancy. To fill in for her, he became more deeply involved with the choir. Simultaneously, he applied to eight universities in North America but was not accepted by any of them.

 

2023

 

Spring

Jun received a request from Mrs. Motoko Akutsu, pianist of the Kashiwa Children’s Choir, to conduct the Treble Choir, NAYUTA, directed by her husband, Mr. Yasuhiko Daimon. Mr. Daimon, who had conducted the Kashiwa Civic Chorus—a formative group in Jun's early musical journey—remained an influential figure in the local choral scene. Accepting the request, Jun conducted NAYUTA at the 76th Japan Choral Association (JCA) Regional (Tokyo Division) Competition. Additionally, Tetsuya Nojima, producer of the Pony Canyon idol groups Taiyo To Odore and Tsukiyo Ni Utae, personally requested him to become the groups’ exclusive vocal coach.

 

Fall

Jun co-conducted the 18th KCC, Biennial Concert with Ms. Ayukawa, successfully leading the event. He also conducted NAYUTA at the 76th Japan Choral Association (JCA) Regional (Tokyo Division) Competition and officially became the exclusive vocal coach for Taiyo To Odore and Tsukiyo Ni Utae. Concurrently, he applied to eleven universities in the United States. By this point, the total number of applications he had submitted for doctoral programs had reached 27. He was fully prepared to submit more applications the following year if necessary.

​

2024

​

Spring

​

This year was slightly less competitive compared to the previous years. Jun observed that between 2020 and 2023, many aspiring choral conductors, concerned about job security during the pandemic, returned to school to pursue higher degrees, making those years particularly challenging. In 2023–24, the competition had eased somewhat, and Jun received audition invitations from North Dakota State University, the University of South Carolina, Louisiana State University, and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL). While some institutions offered online audition options, he chose to visit the campuses in person, undertaking a 3,000 miles road trip in a rental car. His efforts paid off, as he successfully secured admission to UNL.

​

However, it became clear that he might not receive an assistantship in the first year. With the exchange rate at the time (1 USD = 150 JPY), Jun faced the daunting prospect of covering approximately ¥6,000,000 per year (equivalent to $40,000 annually) for three years, totaling ¥18,000,000 (roughly $120,000). This was a stark contrast to 2008, when 1 USD was approximately 80 JPY, making the financial burden even more pronounced. This strain also stood in sharp contrast to his prior earnings in Japan, where his main source of income at SMS for 4.5 years had been equivalent to ¥1,200 ($8) per hour before tax.

 

In this difficult situation, one of Jun’s students, whom he had taught for four years, offered him a personal loan. After a week of serious consideration, he accepted the offer and decided to return to the U.S. once again.

​

Doctoral Program
 

2024

 

Fall

After enrolling at UNL, Jun gained numerous opportunities to conduct various choirs in several concerts.

 

2025

​

Spring

Jun is planning to present his own choral conducting recital.