Clotilde Otranto

Clotilde Otranto has been a full time conductor of the New York City Ballet Orchestra at Lincoln Center since 2008. She was a guest conductor with the company for the previous two years. During her tenure she participated in many international tours, including Paris, London and Tokyo. Her performance reviews in the New York Times present her as an excellent, dynamic and commanding conductor. Previously, the Principal Conductor of the Miami City Ballet from 2000 to 2006 conducted all the company productions, mostly Balanchine and Robbins choreographies. A former Principal Dancer at the Teatro Municipal in São Paulo, Brazil, she danced principal roles in such ballets as Don Quixote and Black Swan Pas de Deux.

The Brazilian born Otranto has guest conducted major orchestras in the United States and South America, including Minnesota Orchestra, San Antonio Symphony, Florida Orchestra, Tucson Symphony, State of São Paulo Symphony and has directed renowned soloists such as Alicia de Larrocha, Mark Peskanov, Claude Frank, Evelyn Glennie, Susan Starr, Nexus Percussion Ensemble and Doc Severinsen.

From 1999 to 2006 she was the Resident Conductor of the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra and the founding Music Director of the Philharmonic Center Youth Orchestra. Previously, she was the Associated Conductor of the Phoenix Symphony for four years, touring to Prague, Vienna and Budapest as Music Director of the Phoenix Guild Symphony Orchestra.

Ms. Otranto impressive academic credentials include a Law Degree from the Catholic University of São Paulo, a Master’s in Orchestra Conducting from the University of Michigan, a Doctorate in Orchestra Conducting from Arizona State University, and a Conducting Artist Diploma from Yale University. She worked under the most prestigious Maestros such as Seiji Osawa, Gustav Meier, Henry Charles Smith, Leonard Slatkin, Gunther Herbig and Leonard Bernstein.

First prizes include the National Eldorado Piano Competition, Brazil, Concerto Competition at the University of Michigan and the International Affiliated Artists Conducting Competition.

Ms. Otranto conducting career started in Brazil, as Founder and Music Director of one of the few private orchestras in the country. An accomplished concert pianist, she played with all major orchestras in Brazil, under the baton of legendary Maestro Eleazar de Carvalho.