Dr. Otto’s research interests are wide and varied, and have resulted in numerous conference presentations and peer-reviewed publications including articles in Journal of Band Research and CBDNA Journal. Recent projects include producing corrected full-score editions of classic works for wind band, and his edition of Jaromir Weinberger’s Polka and Fugue from “Schwanda, the Bagpiper” will be published by the Hal Leonard corporation in the near future.
As a low brass player, Dr. Otto’s performance experience includes the Oshkosh Symphony Orchestra, Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra, Spokane Symphony Orchestra, Idaho/Washington Symphony, Minot Symphony Orchestra, Mid-Columbia Symphony Orchestra, International Brass Quintet, and Bob Curnow Big Band. He can be heard on the albums The Music of Pat Metheney and Lyle Mays, vol. 2 with the Bob Curnow Big Band and Of Love and Live with the University of Colorado Wind Symphony. In the marching genre, Dr. Otto was a member of two DCI Drum & Bugle Corps, including the 1999 World Champion Blue Devils.
Dr. Otto holds the Doctor of Musical Arts in Wind Conducting and Literature degree from the University of Colorado, Boulder, where he was a student of noted conductor and pedagogue Allan McMurray. He also holds Bachelors and Masters degrees in music education from the University of Idaho and Eastern Washington University, and he as attended conducting symposiums under many outstanding wind conductors including H. Robert Reynolds, Craig Kirchhoff, Thomas Lee, Richard Floyd, Gary Hill, Mallory Thompson, and Rodney Winther.