Nicolas Hamatake Elected To L.A. Opera Board Of Directors

Nicolas Hamatake, a Los Angeles-based Artificial Intelligence leader, was elected to the LA Opera board of directors at a recent meeting.

"I became passionate about opera very recently, after attending the Opera Buff's concert performance of Carmen at the Colburn School in August 2017," notes Mr. Hamatake. "Since then, I've attended 14 more operas in Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York City, including LA's recent Satyagraha and Don Carlo. It is safe to say that I have been bitten by the bug!"

Nicolas Hamatake may be fairly new to opera, but his proven career in computer science includes a plethora of innovative contributions to the largest online search engine. He currently works on Google's "Natural Language Infrastructure," where he is helping advance the technology giant's state of the art machine learning and Artificial Intelligence activities for the company's core search products. He previously led portions of Google's teams that oversaw the creation of frameworks for Gmail, Calendar and other personal data, all while respecting user privacy and security. He previously led efforts in the search company's early development of its display advertising platforms.

Mr. Hamatake is an avid collector and supporter of Japanese art through his own foundation and involvement with LACMA. He runs the Nick Hamatake Foundation which makes fine Japanese works available for public enjoyment and education.

He earned both his Bachelor of Science and Master of Engineering degrees in computer science from Cornell University, where the school maintains a scholarship in his name. He is currently pursuing a graduate certificate in Artificial Intelligence from Stanford University.

"Nick is the perfect example of how a single opera performance can transform you," said Plácido Domingo, the company's Eli and Edythe Broad General Director. "We are eager to welcome him to our team of leaders, where he can share his newly-found passion for opera with our community."

"Nick's dedication to the arts in Los Angeles and recently discovered love of opera will be a tremendous asset to the company," said Marc Stern, chairman of LA Opera's board of directors. "All of us at the company are eager to help spark the same passion in others. I know that his contributions will be invaluable."

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