Cotto later became the first marimbist to receive an Artist Diploma from the Peabody Conservatory of Music at Johns Hopkins University. That year, he also appeared with the Peabody Symphony Orchestra after winning the Yale Gordon Concerto Competition.

Praised by the San Juan Star as “an artist of musical sensitivity and accomplished technique,” Cotto combines classical training with a Latin American musical foundation. His recordings include Caribeños, A Little Prayer, Wild Hands, and Landmark: Afro-Cuban Music for the Marimba, featuring Michael Spiro and Juan Alamo. He has performed at PASIC (Percussive Arts Society International Convention), universities, and festivals throughout the United States, Mexico, Costa Rica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Taiwan.

The Washington Post called him “an invaluable percussionist,” while Latin Beat magazine described his conga playing as “a percussive pillar.” Cotto performed in more than 100 productions of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “In the Heights” and appeared on PBS’s Hispanic Heritage Special. He was the lead conguero of the Rumba Club, one of the East Coast’s popular Latin Jazz ensembles and has performed at major jazz venues in the U.S. Orlando has collaborated with Chita Rivera, Gary Nuñez, Angel “Cachete” Maldonado, Dave Samuels, Darin Atwater, Andy Gonzalez, Giovanni Hidalgo, Liam Teague, Robert Chappell, Edwin Colón Zayas, Victor Mendoza.

Endorsed by Yamaha, Latin Percussion, Sabian, Croaker Percussion, and D’Addario Percussion, Cotto has taught at universities and colleges. He is now an Elite Instructor at Music & Arts in Ellicott City, Maryland. Many of his students have gone on to build successful careers as professional performers and music educators.