Yukitada Onitsuka

Yukitada Onitsuka, DMA is the principal tubist of the South Bend Symphony Orchestra and the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra. He also frequently performs with the Dayton Philharmonic, Columbus(OH) Symphony and Springfield Symphony(OH) Orchestras. In addition, he has played with the Chattanooga Symphony, the Louisville Orchestra, Lexington Philharmonic, and Sendai Philharmonic Orchestra in Japan. He has received the Orchestra Fellowship from the Aspen Music Festival in 2012 and 2013 and performed with the Aspen Festival Orchestra as the principal tubist.

In addition to his orchestral career, Dr. Onitsuka been a faculty member of Youngstown State University Dana School of Music since 2019. His duties at YSU include teaching private lessons and directing the Tuba/Euphonium Ensemble. He also served as the acting director of YSU Wind Ensemble during 2020-2021 academic year.

In 2022, he received the Part-Time Teaching Excellence Award from the Youngstown State University. Prior to the YSU, Dr. Onitsuka has taught at the
Northern Kentucky University and the University of Dayton. Yukitada has appeared as a guest soloist both in the United States and Japan. He has also played solo and chamber recitals in both countries. He was the winner of the Harvey Phillips Big Brass Bash XVIII solo competition in 2004 and finalist of ITEC Arnold Jacobs Orchestra Excerpts Competition in 2010.

Yukitada holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Oregon, Master of Music, Artist Diploma and Doctor of Musical Arts from The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. He has studied with Timothy Northcut, Warren Deck, Yasuhito Sugiyama, Anthony Kniffen, Peter Link, Michael Grose, and Floyd Cooley.