Professional Conductor

Named Assistant Conductor of WSO, April 2006 Alexander Mickelthwate, Music Director Designate of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, announced the appointment of Rei Hotoda to the position of Assistant Conductor, the first such appointment for the orchestra in several decades. For over 57 years the WSO has delighted audiences with its innovative programming and musical excellence. The WSO has become the celebrated hub of Winnipeg’s rich cultural life and has gained international recognition for the International New Music Festival.

Guest Conductor, Staatskapelle Weimar Orchestra, Weimar, Germany, November 2005 Nominated best participant in International Masterclass for Orchestral Conductors and chosen to guest conduct the Staatskapelle Weimar Orchestra in a performance at the Deutches National Theater. The Staatskapelle Weimar is one of the most historical and prestigious German orchestras, which originated in 1482. In 1602, the city of Weimar already had its established Court Choir and from 1714 to 1717, under the guidence of the famous Maestro, Johan Sebastian Bach. Under the successive management of Franz Liszt (1848–1861) the Weimar Orchestra reached a prestigious level, ranking it as one of the most important orchestras in Germany. Remarkable contribution was offered by the musical direction of Richard Strauss for a period of seven years (1889–1895)

Assistant Conductor of the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary, August 2005 Music Assistant and cover conductor for Music Director, Marin Alsop in Santa Cruz, California (week one). Festival is America's longest running new music festival dedicated to the orchestra. This season featured two world premieres, one U.S. premiere, eight west coast premieres, seven participating composers, a renowned roster of guest artists, and the Festival Orchestra.

Assistant Conductor of the 2005 Hot Springs Music Festival, AK. with Artistic Director and conductor, Richard Rosenberg and the prestigious Hot Springs Music Festival Symphony Orchestra, May/June 2005 Festival Orchestra pairs world-class mentor musicians from major orchestras with apprentices in 23 concerts and over 250 open rehearsals. Over 20,000 people attended Festival events this year and 6.4 mil heard its concerts on nationwide radio broadcasts. In addition, cover conductor for world premiere of Brad Carroll’s opera Cio Cio San and performed as pianist with resident quartet Del Sol.

Assistant Conductor of the Greater Bridgeport Symphony in Bridgeport, Connecticut with Music Director, Gustav Meier, March 2005 Cover conductor and guest conductor in a subscription concert premiering an orchestral composition by composer David Janello. Professional orchestra in its 60th season presents 6 season concerts and an outdoor pops concert.

Executive Artistic Director of the Shin Higuchi Institute, Inc.—Arts/Educational Organization, January 2005–Present Founded in January 2005 under the directorship of conductor and pianist Rei Hotoda, the Shin Higuchi Institute actively promotes and exhibits the works of international artists, composers and performers working in and inspired by Asian artistic traditions. Season consists of curating and coordinating 10 programs per season, fundraising and administrative responsibilities.

Principal Conductor of the Ensemble N_JP, January 2003–Present A touring ensemble of professional Gagaku performers from Japan and professional western instrumentalists from Europe and the United States. Performances include concerts in the World Music Festival in Chicago (September 2005), the Transonic Festival in Berlin (January 2002), in Tokyo (2007 season).

Guest conductor for the Transonic 2003 new music festival
at the Haus der Kulturen der Welt in Berlin, Germany, January 2003 Conducted premieres by US composer Gene Coleman and in collaboration with musicians from France, Vienna and Japan.

Professional Pianist

Solo Pianist Muscatine Symphony Orchestra March 2006. Lake Shore Symphony May 2005. ChicagoSalon Concert for the Consulate Yoshizawa of Japan February 2005. Ravinia Music Festival, in the Postlude-Cheney Concert Series.with conductor William Eddins July 2001. Dame Myra Hess Memorial concert series at the Chicago Cultural Center Febuary 2001. Concerts in Seattle, Alabama, the US Virgin Islands 1996–2001. Guest appearance with the Businessmen’s Orchestra of Chicago in October 2001. Soloist with the University of Southern California Orchestra in April 1992.

Chamber Musician Performance at the 2005 Hot Springs Music Festival with the Del Sol String Quartet. Concerts and live radio broadcasts on WMFT with members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra from 1997–1999.

Awards and Grants

Taki Concordia Fellowship
for Conductors Honorable Mention Award

Women’s Philharmonic Scholarship Award

Illinois Arts Council International Arts Exchange Grant

Education

Graduate Performance Degree Program
Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, Graduate Orchestral Conducting

Doctor of Music
University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, Major in Piano Performance, Minor in orchestral and choral conducting

Bachelor of Music
Eastman School of Music, Rochester, New York, Major in Piano Performance