On any given concert night in Nevada, two of the most powerful leaders in the state might be standing quietly in front of an orchestra with baton raised, and a hall holding its breath.
It’s a striking reality: the two leading professional orchestras in the state are both steered by women. In Reno, Laura Jackson leads the Reno Philharmonic, while in Southern Nevada, Rei Hotoda serves as music director of the Las Vegas Philharmonic. In a field historically dominated by men, the symmetry feels both remarkable and refreshingly natural.
For both conductors, the focus has never been on being female leaders, even though just 10 percent of the world’s music directors are women (Chicago Orchestra). It’s about the music, the musicians, and the community gathered in the hall.
Jackson remembers instantly feeling a connection during the national search that eventually brought her to Reno. “I instantly fell in love with the orchestra,” she recalls. “They immediately came across as serious, passionate, and capable musicians.”
Today, that connection is visible on stage. Watching Jackson conduct, joy seems to radiate outward. Even when she’s focused on cueing musicians and shaping the overall sound, the energy is unmistakable.
Her musical journey began as a violinist—she played professionally until about age 30—but over time she found herself drawn beyond her own instrument. She became fascinated with the score as a whole, studying what every instrument was doing and how the sounds interlocked.
Just as importantly, Jackson says Reno has offered something rare in her career. “What I have appreciated about my tenure in Reno is that it’s the one place in my career where I’m not a woman leading a music institution—I’m just a conductor.”
Hotoda shares a similarly grounded perspective. She originally built her career as a concert pianist but eventually realized the piano’s 88 keys weren’t enough. “I wanted the sound of an entire orchestra,” she says. After completing her doctorate in piano performance, conducting quickly became a calling, one encouraged by mentors like pioneering conductor Marin Alsop.
Hotoda’s leadership style today reflects that collaborative spirit. “The most exciting music-making happens when everyone is fully engaged and inspired... Great leadership isn’t about dictating—it’s about listening and bringing people together around a shared artistic vision.”
Both conductors are also intentional about broadening the voices audiences hear. From championing overlooked composers to mentoring emerging artists, they see orchestras as living cultural institutions.
Jackson will soon help launch the Charlotte and Dick McConnell Conducting Fellowship, designed to create new opportunities for women to gain experience, while Hotoda regularly programs works by women composers alongside the classical set.
The result is orchestral seasons that feel expansive and forward-looking, while still rooted in the great symphonic traditions audiences love.
And perhaps that’s the real story here. Yes, Nevada’s two major orchestras happen to be led by women. But on stage, baton raised, they are simply doing what great conductors do: shaping sound, inspiring musicians, and guiding audiences through something larger than themselves.
"What I try to do is create a collaborative and supportive atmosphere where I am helpful to the musicians... I am decisive about my vision, but I let them do what they do best to hone their craft," - Laura Jackson, Reno Philharmonic