In 1977, a collective of fearless New York City musicians came together to form American Composers Orchestra (ACO), an ensemble dedicated to the creation, celebration, performance, and promotion of orchestral music by American composers. With more than 40 years committed to artistry, creativity, community, and equity, ACO has blossomed into a national institution that not only cultivates and develops the careers of living composers, but also provides composers a direct pipeline to partnerships with many of America’s major symphony orchestras. In addition to its annual concert series at Carnegie Hall, ACO produces national educational programs for all ages, and composer advancement programs to foster a community of creators, audience, performers, collaborators, and funders—all dedicated to American composition. Visit americancomposers.org for more information.

Rei Hotoda is music director of the Fresno Philharmonic and is widely considered one of America’s most sought-after and dynamic artists. She has appeared as a guest conductor with many of today’s leading ensembles, including the symphony orchestras of Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas, Edmonton, Fort Worth, Jacksonville, Utah, Toronto, Toledo, Louisville, Colorado, St. Louis, Oklahoma City, Nova Scotia, and Winnipeg, as well as the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, among others. She is equally at home leading the orchestra from the piano as well as from the podium.

Hotoda’s recordings include This Will Not Be Televised, featuring the music of Nicole Lizée with members of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. Her first recording as a solo pianist, Apparitions, included works by Noriko Hisada, Vincent Ho, and Toru Takemitsu. On Symphony Sessions, she led the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra in works by Juno Award winner Steve Bell.

Hotoda served as associate conductor of the Utah Symphony (2015–2017), and assistant conductor of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra (2009–2012) and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra (2006–2009). She studied conducting with Gustav Meier at the Peabody Institute in Baltimore. She earned her doctorate from the University of Southern California and her bachelor’s from the Eastman School of Music—both in piano performance.

Hotoda is the proud recipient of several prestigious awards, including the 2006 Taki Concordia Conducting Fellowship, created by Marin Alsop to mentor women conductors. Additionally, she has received a Peabody Career Development Grant, a scholarship from the Women’s Philharmonic Advocacy, and an Illinois Arts Council International Arts Exchange Grant.

Co-created by American vocalist-composer Chrystal E. Williams and Brazilian accordionist-composer Felipe Hostins, Forrópera is a joyful, genre-bending musical experience that fosters unity, peace, and understanding. Combining elements of Brazilian folk music and classical opera, the husband-wife duo began their musical collaboration in 2016. They started out in inner-city schools, helping students use music as a way of expression and growth. Working with students of different backgrounds and various levels of musical training, Forrópera residencies continue to empower participants through co-created music, drama, and dance.

In May 2021, the Forrópera Experiência was premiered, in collaboration with Astral Artists and the Esperanza Arts Center. During the current season, they are featured performers of the Black Heritage Day celebration in co-production with Greensboro Opera and the Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum Music Festival, and also as part of the American Composers Orchestra’s gala fundraiser. Other recent engagements include those with Opera Delaware and Opera Baltimore, and at the Kaufman Music Center.

Forrópera also continues its relationships with such esteemed organizations and artists as Allegro Music Consultants, Forro in the Dark, Davi Vieira, Gil Oliveira, Jake Owen, Löic Da Silva, Gabe Hall-Rodrigues, John Glover, and Kelley Rourke, among others.

Alexandra Cuesta is a filmmaker and visual artist who combines experimental film traditions with documentary practices. Her 16mm films and videos are created through an associative and improvisational process. Some of the notions she explores include instances of displacement, the Latin American diaspora, and the poetics of the everyday experience. Her work has been screened as part of Art of the Real at Lincoln Center, New York Film Festival, Marseille International Film Festival, Viennale, and Open City Documentary Festival, as well as at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, Palacio Nacional de Bellas Artes, and MOCA, among others. She earned her master’s from the California Institute of the Arts and has also received a Guggenheim Fellowship.