 He studied at Fryderyk Chopin University of Music for symphony and opera conducting with , and at Oxford University for musicology and performance practice with Edward Higginbottom and Andrew Parrott.In 1997-98, Kotla worked as the Performing Fellow at Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London and as artistic director of Oxford University Philharmonia.From 1998-2003 he worked as assistant conductor to Sir Simon Rattle; from 2001-05 as artistic director of Harpenden Choral Society and from 2005-06 as artistic director of Witold Lutosławski Symphony Orchestra of Płock (Poland).