Meet Korrie Yamaoka | Music Director, Vocal Coach & Audition Specialist, Composer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Korrie Yamaoka and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Korrie, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
Risk is everything! I wouldn’t be where I am today without taking risks. And, sometimes I wonder where I could be if I had taken MORE risks.

As a musician, every time you put yourself out there as an artist it’s a risk. And that’s terrifying. People could hate the songs you’re writing or the sound of your voice. They might criticize your piano playing, compare you to other artists, or take to social media to talk about how “NOT” into you they are.

BUT, without risk, there’s no reward.

If you don’t put yourself (and your music) out there, then you’ll never find those people that your art connects with. You’ll never hear how your performance moved them to tears or helped them let go of their anxiety. You’ll find the like minded musicians that become your community of encouragers and collaborators. You’ll never improve your own musicianship, songwriting, singing, etc.

One of the best rewards of risk is that it helps you become better at your art (or whatever you’re thing is).

One time I was asked to substitute for a music director at a well known San Diego theatre. That basically means I was asked to come play keyboard and conduct the band for a few performances. Now, this show was already in performances, and it became clear that I wouldn’t be getting any rehearsal. I thought, “this is crazy!” How can I do this without any rehearsal?!

So I asked what materials I would be given to prepare. They gave me the score (aka the keyboard and vocal sheet music) and a video file of a performance of show so that I could watch it and see/hear how the music and acting all went together. They also told me I’d get an hour before the show to run through the sound programming on the keyboard and work one number with the cast. I was definitely taking a huge risking here!

Now, these situations are not all that uncommon. Musical theatre pit orchestras often have substitute musicians. However, the conductor is usually the source of continuity and will get the sub through the show with cues and whatnot. In MY case, I WAS the conductor. So, I was relying on the band to get ME through the show.

To add insult to injury, the band was spread out around the stage, separated from each other on different levels, so I couldn’t have any chat with the musicians during the show to make sure I was in the right spot or ask what the tempo of the next song was. At least when the orchestra is in the pit under the stage you can chat in between songs. Not so in this case.

So, during the first performance, I hobbled along, sort of getting tempos right but mostly relying on the drummer to shift the tempo if I was off. But then came this huge climactic scene with the entire cast on stage. And I’m using these very big bombastic drum sounds on the keyboard that alternate with this beautiful harp sound. And basically, the worst possible thing happened. I got off with the keyboard cues, and when I was supposed to be playing the big drum sound, the harp sound came out; and when I was supposed to play the delicate harp sound, a big drum sound came out. I NEVER GOT IT FIGURED OUT for the rest of the song. It was awful.

Soooo, this was a high risk situation that ended, in part, with disaster. BUT, I also learned so much during this experience. I learned how to overcome nerves, how to KEEP GOING, how to rely on band mates, how to find my inner strength to just make it work, and so much more. I still count this as simultaenously my most harrowing and most educational theatre experience.

Everytime I take a gig that feels risky, I know it’s going to be an opportunity for growth. If you’re not partly scared by the job, then don’t do it.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
For many years, I’ve focused on building my career as a music director and vocal coach for musical theatre.

But, what many people don’t know about me is that before I ever got into musical theatre, I was on track to be a performing and recording artist. I wrote and wrote and wrote in my little Banker’s Hill apartment, and played coffeeshops, and recorded an album, and put on a cd release party, and met with people in LA in meetings that went nowhere.

But, that path just didn’t really open up to me at the time.

Instead, I started getting all these opportunities in musical theatre, and I decided to start following them.

Over the past twenty years, I’ve worked at just about every theatre in town and have met so many people in this community that it now feels like home to me. I’m incredibly honored to have become a trusted vocal coach and music director for many folks in town, working regularly at many of San Diego’s most beloved theatres – the Old Globe, La Jolla Playhouse, San Diego Rep (when it was still around), Lamb’s Theatre, San Diego Musical Theatre, New Village Arts, and more.

I also run my own vocal coaching studio where I work with actors from all over the world on preparing for auditions and storytelling through song. I love having my own business and helping singers and actors intrepret music everyday.

However, a new season has started in my life that I’m really excited to share. I’ve been returning to my first love of songwriting and composing!

Last year (2023) I was asked to compose music for the play, Stellaluna, at New Village Arts, that would feature a cast of young adult actors with neurodiversity. I worked with Director Samantha Ginn to compose music that would help bring the world of the beloved children’s book to life while also being sonically friendly for neurodiverse people. It was a lot of fun and I learned so much about working with this population of folks. Loved the experience.

My artist heart was coming alive again, and I decided to start gathering some of the songs I’ve written over the years and see if they might become something.

In collaboration with Sarah LeClair from Riot Productions Inc and cabaret artist Sasha Weiss, we played through a bunch of songs to see if there was a connecting theme amongst them. Could they be turned into a song cycle?

A connective thread emerged really quickly: What do you do when you no longer recognize who you are? And how does an artist/mother/anybody break free of the overwhelm and return to themself?

You see, these songs were written during some major life events of the past 10 years — I had gotten engaged, married, had my beautiful son and became a mother, endured a pandemic, and then bought a house in a new city. All very adult things. All very “life-y.” Which is awesome. But, throughout that time, the artist in me started to feel neglected.

My life had undergone a complete facelift, and I felt unrecognizable.

These songs became my little moments of sanity amongst crippling pandemic anxiety and the never ending responsibilities of parenting.

And now they’ve come together into a piece called “White Space: A Song Prism,” which can be described as indie rock fantasy influenced by the music of indie rock female composers Anais Mitchell and Sara Bareilles and sharing a private look at artist-motherhood.

“White Space” will be playing for 2 nights only this July 16 and 17 at New Village Arts in Carlsbad.

I’ll be joined by some amazing San Diego vocalists, Sasha Weiss (co-creator/director) and Faith Carrion, and accompanied by San Diego songwriters and theatrical musicians Evan Bethany (violin, backing vocals), PJ Bovee (guitar), David Ryan Norgren (Bass) and Jason Yamaoka (drums, acoustic guitar). Tickets are available at newvillagearts.com.

I would love to share this piece with other artists who have struggled to remember who they are amidst life’s responsibilities and obligations. This show is for you!

After this concert, I’ll be heading to the Old Globe as a composer and teaching artist for their Summer Shakespeare Studio. I also have a few licensing opportunities for television currently sent out to the universe.

I really feel like a whole new chapter has opened up for me, and I can’t wait to see what comes next!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would love to show my friend around my new hometown, Carlsbad. Since moving here two and a half years ago, my family and I have discovered some amazing restaurants and activities. We are beach people and many of thes rec’s will reflect that!

We would have to do brunch at High/Lo, which is a restaurant at the bottom of the Oceana Hotel in Oceanside with an outdoor patio that overlooks the ocean and the Oceanside pier. Then we’d walk the Oceanside Pier, and then head down to the sand to watch a surf competition like the Super Girl Surf Pro that happens each Fall. We’d obvs grab a shave ice at one of the local kiosks.

Lunch would be at my FAVE vegan restaurant, The Plot, which is on Coast Highway in South Oceanside. They also have a new express location in Downtown Carlsbad. Their food is so delicious that even my meat-eating husband likes going there. Try the potato salad and the cubano sandwhich!

Shopping in Downtown Carlsbad. We’d hit up the a one-of-a-kind Sun Diego store that is housed in a Victorian mansion right in downtown. We’d also visit Spin Records to dig through vinyl for our record collections. More shave ice at Aloha Shave Ice on Carlsbad Village Boulevard. Then catch a show at New Village Arts – a local theatre with a beautifully renovated space! OMG, forgot about coffee and sandwiches at Lofty Coffee across from the theatre.

For drinks, we’d head a little south to Encinitas to a wine bar called Solterra Winery and Kitchen. They have delicious appetizers and wine. Or, if we wanted to stay in Carlsbad Village, we’d head to 267 Fresco, and Italian restaurant with great wine and a cool upstairs deck that overlooks the ocean.

Other activities for the week would be visiting the Carlsbad Flower Fields, checking out Legoland for the family (the water park they have is amazing during the summer!), and taking walks on the beach every day.

Sounds like a dream vacation to me!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to dedicate my shoutout to my friend and mentor, Steve Gunderson. I met Steve in 2011 when we were working on the “The Who’s Tommy” at San Diego Repertory theatre. He was the music director and I was his assosociate music director.

From the first time we worked together, I thought he was so musically smart and had the funniest stories and an easy way of working with people that I knew I could learn from.

Over the last 13 years, Steve has called me up to work on many of his other projects – all of which challenged and scared me in some way. But, I always felt his faith in me and high expectations, and I wanted to rise to meet them. He’s made me a better musician and music director. And he’s also recognized that I’m a singer and created opportunites for me to sing on stage at the piano when music directing his productions. Thank you Steve!

Website: https://www.korrieyamaoka.com

Instagram: @korrieyamaoka

Linkedin: Korrie Yamaoka

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/korrie.yamaoka

Youtube: @korrieyamaoka3050

Image Credits
Jason Yamaoka
David Rumley Photography