Interested in all facets of music, Reynaldo Ochoa is active as a composer, conductor, performer and educator. He holds a Doctorate in Composition from Rice University as well as a Bachelors and Masters degrees from the University of Houston.

 

Several of Ochoa’s works have received both American and European 

premiers. Notable commissions include a trumpet concerto for David 

Bilger, principal trumpet with the Philadelphia Orchestra, and a brass 

quintet for the Paragon Brass Ensemble. The Houston Symphony 

commissioned two compositions for their Sounds Like Fun concerts: 

The Rainmakers Helper received sixteen performances and was broadcast on KUHF Houston Public Radio. For a comprehensive list of compositions/commissions please visit the compositions page. 

 

He has received annual ASCAP awards for composition from 1995 though 2004, and is the recipient of the Bertha Mallard Music Composition Award. He has been a past president of the Houston Composers Alliance, an organization designed to present music by living American composers.

 

Dr. Ochoa is Conductor Emeritus of Symphony North of Houston, having served at Music Director/Conductor from 1995-2016. He founded and served as conductor for the Houston Community College Chamber Orchestra. In addition, he has served as conductor for the Houston Composers’ Alliance and the Houston Youth Symphony. Other professional activities include conductor, producer, performer, and orchestrator for the label Discos MM, a division of Capitol Records, Fono Vista Records and for radio and TV. He has also done sound design for Stages Repertory Theater in Houston.  

 

Dr. Ochoa has performed with the Houston Symphony, Houston Grand Opera and Mexico City Symphony Orchestras. In addition, he has worked as a session player for various commercials, jingles, recordings, and motion pictures. He performed with Air Mail Special, an ensemble dedicated to young audience concerts.  

 

Dr. Ochoa has served on the faculties of Houston Community College St. Thomas University. He has also held teaching positions at the University of Houston and Rice University. He was the chair for the classical Music Panel of the Cultural Arts Council of Houston and was invited to be an adjudicator for the 58th Hong Kong Music Festival.