Applauded by the Washington Post as “talented and poised with strong potential” conductor Rei Hotoda is rapidly becoming one of America’s dynamic conductors. She has guest conducted orchestras throughout North America and Europe including the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Colorado Symphony Orchestra, Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Syracuse Symphony Orchestra, the Staatskapelle Weimar Orchestra and the International Contemporary Ensemble.
As a protégé of Marin Alsop, Ms. Hotoda was winner of the 2006 Taki Concordia Conducting Fellowship, a fellowship created by Marin Alsop to mentor women conductors. Ms. Hotoda is a finalist for the Music Director positions with the Illinois Symphony Orchestra, the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, the Duluth Superior Symphony and ProMusica. She will be guest conducting these orchestras in their 2011-12 Season.
Currently, Ms. Hotoda is in her second season as the Assistant Conductor of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. She has conducted the orchestra in a myriad of series including the DSO Classic Concerts in Greenville, Casual Classics, Youth Concerts, Family Series, Pops Concerts, and the Outdoor Parks Concerts. From 2006-2009 she was the Assistant Conductor of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. She has also held positions as the Assistant Conductor for the 2005 Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music in California and the 2005 Hot Springs Music Festival. She has conducted and collaborated with many famous soloists and touring groups including Van Cliburn silver medalist, Joyce Yang, Pink Martini, Isabella Rosselini and Ben Folds.
Her discography includes Symphony Sessions featuring singer Juno Award singer, Steve Bell and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and two recent releases; Apparitions, a solo piano album and a CD featuring music by Nicole Lizee and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.
Ms. Hotoda studied conducting with Gustav Meier at the Peabody Institute in Baltimore, Maryland. She holds a doctorate in piano performance from the University of Southern California and a bachelor of music in piano performance from the Eastman School of Music.
As a solo pianist, she has performed numerous piano solo and chamber concerts throughout the United States. Her recent performances include solo performances with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Muscatine Symphony Orchestra, Lake Shore Symphony Orchestra and the Clinton Symphony. Her piano teachers include John Perry, Barry Snyder and Emilio Del Rosario.
She resides in Morton, Illinois with her husband, conductor, Brian Dollinger. They have two children, Arianna and Constantine who are aspiring musicians and nerf fanatics.
