As one of the leading conductors of our generation, Naoto Otomo regularly conducts various orchestras in Japan. Otomo has held the post of Resident Conductor with the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra since 1991 and Principal Conductor with the Kyoto Symphony Orchestra since 1994. In 2000/2001 season, Otomo will appear with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra. Otomo will also appear with Phiharmonia Orchestra's Japan tour.
Born in Tokyo in 1958, Naoto Otomo attended the university affiliated with the Toho Gakuen School of Music to study under leading Japanese conductors including Seiji Ozawa, Kazuyoshi Akiyama, Morihiro Okabe, and Tadaaki Otaka. His studies also took him to Tanglewood where he worked with such eminent conductors as Andre Previn, Leonard Bernstein, and Igor Markevitch, in addition to Seiji Ozawa.
At the age of 21, Naoto Otomo was named Assistant Conductor of the NHK Symphony Orchestra and made his debut with the orchestra at the age of 22. After five years with the NHK Symphony Orchestra, he held posts at the Japan Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra and the Osaka Philharmonic Orchestra. Meanwhile, he led several successful tours, traveling through Europe (Osaka Philharmonic, 1986; Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, 1994 and 1996), and Southeast Asia (Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, 1988).