BRIAN DOLLINGER

conductor

In 2021, Maestro Dollinger was re-appointed as Artistic Director & Conductor for the Hawaii-based Kamuela Philharmonic Orchestra, the Music Director for the Muscatine Symphony Orchestra, as well as the Music Director of the Clinton Symphony Orchestra.  He continues as the Music Director & Conductor for the Hawaii-based ballet company, West Hawaii Dance Theatre. 

His charisma, energy, technical clarity, and deep musical passion continues to inspire musicians and audiences alike across the country. 

The 2022-23 season is his 18th season as the Conductor and Music Director of the Muscatine Symphony Orchestra as well as celebrating his 15th season with the Clinton Symphony Orchestra as its Music Director & Conductor.

Whether on the concert stage performing masterworks or pops, or in the orchestra pit conducting opera and ballet, his personable approach combined with his clear conducting technique have come together to create a fun, inviting, energetic, and enriching atmosphere at each rehearsal and performance.  He has conducted a variety of orchestras including the Georgia Symphony Orchestra, Quad Cities Symphony Orchestra, Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra, Marion Philharmonic Orchestra, Idaho Falls Symphony Orchestra, and Muncie Symphony Orchestra.  

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"There are many fine conductors in this country who really know what they're doing and those who work extremely
well with artists and audiences.  

There are only a few who excel at not only both of those skills but who also get their orchestras to play to their best abilities...  Brian Dollinger hits the trifecta and his ebullient personality and warmth on stage are simply bonuses that come with the package." 

Steve March-Tormé, guest artist & entertainer

During the summer of 2014, Mr. Dollinger made his debut as conductor for the summer opera program of the Genesius Guild.  He conducted numerous successful performances of the operetta Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss.  Mr. Dollinger returned to conduct the 2015 summer performances of Puccini’s Gianni Schicci at Lincoln Park in Rock Island (IL) with great success.  He has subsequently returned to conduct performances of Copland's The Tenderland and a trio of operatic gems:  The Telephone, Old Maid and the Thief, and A Hand of Bridge.  Maestro Dollinger has also conducted performances of numerous other staged productions including: Music Man, Showboat, My Fair Lady, Dido and Aeneas, and a world premier work orchestrated by award winning composer, Robert Sadin, Muscatine!  The Musical.

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Mr. Dollinger has a passion for teaching, conducting, and mentoring young musicians.  This has led to a number of conducting positions with educational institutions and organizations.  These include Bradley University, Central Illinois Youth Symphony, Illinois Wesleyan Civic Orchestra, Ball State University Symphony Orchestra, and the East Central Indiana Youth Symphony Orchestra.  

"His performance proved to be unforgettable and
one of the most significant artistic events."

Jan Milosz Zarzycki, Music Director, Lutoslawski's Philharmony, Poland

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Maestro Dollinger  is a frequent conductor and clinician for various youth string festivals, competitions and workshops.  After a highly successful engagement at the 2018 Illinois Music Educators (ILMEA) District 4 Festival, he was invited to return as the guest conductor for this very same festival to be held on the campus of Western Illinois University in November of 2019.  He also conducted the ILMEA District 3 Festival two weeks later.  In March of 2019, he was the featured wind ensemble conductor at the NUIC Music Conference Festival.  During the '16-17 season, Maestro Dollinger was  the guest conductor at the Iowa Junior Honors Festival held in Ames, Iowa.  He has been invited on numerous occasions to conduct at Illinois Music Educators Association events, including all-day festivals rehearsing, teaching, mentoring and performing with some of the state’s best high school symphonic musicians.  He was conductor of the 2014 Metro Orchestra Festival in Cedar Rapids and was a guest clinician at the Jefferson Orchestra Invitational in 2016, which was also held in Cedar Rapids.  Mr. Dollinger has been a recurrent guest conductor with the Northwest Indiana Youth Symphony Orchestra.  A sought after clinician and adjudicator, Maestro Dollinger welcomes each and every opportunity to work with young musicians.

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"Maestro Dolinger reminded me of the days when Yoel Levi conducted the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.
For, Dollinger needed no score in front of him as he took to the podium. Every note and bit of instructional coding reposed in his head.... He’s a very impressive conductor who interacts very well with an audience."

Robert Heller, Atlanta Arts Scene

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During his studies, he has studied with many prestigious pedagogues.  Larry Rachleff, Adrian Gnam, John Farrer, Dirk Brossé, Toshiyuki Shimada, Leonid Korchmar, Manual Alvarez, and Glenn Block are but a few of his mentors.  Mr. Dollinger has also been awarded a number of academic honors including induction into the Phi Kappa Lamda Honor Society.

Mr. Dollinger served in the United States Marine Corps where he was a part of combat and support operations for Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.  During his time in the Marine Corps he also took part in numerous humanitarian joint task force missions to impoverished Central American countries.

He is the proud husband of fellow conductor, Rei Hotoda, and father to Arianna, Constantine, and Sophie Ann.