Kayoko Dan stands confident and poised in front of the orchestras she conducts, drawing on her extensive training as a conductor and educator, and her innate passion for music. So it’s a bit disarming that she describes herself as “shy” and “introverted.” She says she simply knows when and how to assert herself to get what she wants. That started as far back as when she was 3 years old, and convinced her non-musician parents to sign her up for music classes just like the 5 year old neighbor girl. Kayoko Dan is the 8th Music Director of the Chattanooga Symphony, and she spoke about her career with Suzanne.