Symphony Sessions

Rei Hotoda, former Assistant Conductor of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra

Introduction by Faye Hall: Rei Hotoda, the former Assistant Conductor for the WSO, has conducted 22 (count ‘em) symphonies with Steve Bell and his cohorts in Winnipeg, across Canada and even in Nashville Tennessee. The Symphony Sessions CD and DVD are the fruit of their co-labours, for which they are reaping high praises across the continent.

Steve Bell and Signpost Music are extremely proud of the friendship and career relationship with Rei that bloomed in the process, and another result was that Signpost produced Rei’s first solo piano album, Apparitions. Steve was intrigued by her Asian avant-garde music, to the point of recommending a listen to the album to those of you with an adventurous spirit.

To those who know of Rei, this is an update to her story, which continues in the 100 degree temperatures down south… 

“Greetings from Dallas, Texas!”

I am now embarking on my job as the Assistant Conductor of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. The trek from Winnipeg to Dallas in a U-Haul truck was quite the experience. This truck held our all stuff, our prized possessions and my first “baby”, my Steinway grand piano on which I recorded my solo piano CD – Apparitions. Thankfully, everything and everyone made it with no glitches.

My son, Constantine and I are adjusting quite nicely to the friendly folk down south. We’ve moved from one extreme climate to another – we can’t go outside because of the extreme 100F degree temperatures. He loves the fact that we can ride our bikes and swim all year round.

We are starting our fall schedules with lots of excitement. I’ve been asked to do a performance residency at the Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle from November 19-21, 2009. There I will promote my CD, teach a piano master class, lecture in the music department and perform a solo piano concert in the Fall Cornish Music Series. I’m also excited to work with Steve Bell and “gang” for his concert in Kitchener-Waterloo on December 6/09.

The Dallas Symphony is keeping me very busy. This fall, I’ll be conducting a Ben Folds concert September 30th and in addition, the DSO has given me a series of concerts in Greenville, Texas and all the education and family concerts. The DSO performs in the Morton Meyerson Hall in Dallas and it is quite a marvel to behold. It was designed by the famous architect, I.M. Pei and it is stunning inside and out.

Someday, I’d love to try to get Steve Bell to perform with us here! 

Rei's Solo Album - Apparitions