Enrico Lopez-Yañez

Enrico Lopez-Yañez is redefining what it means to be a conductor in the 21st Century. Celebrated for his charismatic stage presence, genre-defining collaborations, and passion for making orchestral music accessible to all, Lopez-Yañez is one of the most innovative and in-demand conductors in North America. He currently serves as Principal Pops Conductor for Pacific Symphony and Detroit Symphony, as well as Principal Conductor of the Dallas Symphony Presents and Principal Guest Conductor of Pops at the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. He previously spent eight seasons conducting the Nashville Symphony, where he also served as their Principal Pops Conductor.

As a trailblazer in the symphonic world, Lopez-Yañez has premiered dozens of groundbreaking symphonic collaborations with artists including Dolly Parton, Kelsea Ballerini, Portugal. The Man, The Mavericks, Tituss Burgess, Trisha Yearwood The Lone Bellow and The War and Treaty. His wide-ranging collaborations span genres and generations, featuring artists such as Nas, Common, Itzhak Perlman, José Carreras, Kenny Loggins, Stewart Copeland, Toby Keith, Leslie Odom Jr., Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight, Samara Joy, Ben Rector, Ben Folds, The Beach Boys, Tower of Power, and Kenny G. 

As a composer and arranger, Lopez-Yañez’s versatility is equally expansive. He has written for artists like Big Sean and Mariachi Los Camperos, and he has been commissioned by major orchestras including the Baltimore Symphony, Cincinnati Pops, Detroit Symphony, Houston Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony, San Diego Symphony and many more.

Highlights of the 2026–27 season include performances with Aida Cuevas, Bernadette Peters, Better Than Ezra, Cody Fry, Idina Menzel, Mandy Gonzalez, Megan Hilty, and Pepe Aguilar. He will make appearances with the New York Philharmonic and Grant Park Orchestra while returning to lead the Baltimore Symphony, Cincinnati Pops, Houston Symphony, National Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, Seattle Symphony, Toronto Symphony and Utah Symphony among others.

Past guest engagements include the Atlanta Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Minnesota Orchestra, National Arts Centre Orchestra (Ottowa), Philadelphia Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony, St. Louis Symphony, and more.

In 2023, Lopez-Yañez was honored with the “Mexicanos Distinguidos” award by the Mexican government, recognizing outstanding career achievements by Mexican citizens abroad. A passionate advocate for Latin music, he has arranged and produced concerts including La Vida Loca, Latin Fire, Mariachi Los Camperos, and The Three Mexican Tenors, and has collaborated with Angela, Leonardo, and Pepe Aguilar, Aida Cuevas, Arturo Sandoval, Lila Downs, and Lupita Infante. In 2021, Enrico conducted the critically acclaimed live streamed production of Daniel Catan’s opera La Hija de Rappaccini which received an Emmy® nomination.

Lopez-Yañez is also Artistic Director and Co-Founder of Symphonica Productions, LLC, a creative production company developing innovative pops, family, and educational concerts for orchestras. Symphonica’s shows have been praised as “incredibly special – and something that needs to become the new norm” (Lima Symphony) and have been performed by the Baltimore, Milwaukee, North Carolina, Phoenix, Seattle, Toronto, and Utah Symphony, among others.

His work as a producer, composer, and arranger can be heard on numerous recordings, including the UNESCO benefit album Action Moves People United and award-winning children’s albums such as The Spaceship that Fell in My Backyard and Kokowanda Bay. His work has received honors from the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, Hollywood Music in Media Awards, Parents’ Choice Foundation, and Global Media Awards, where he was recognized for his “catchy arrangements.”

For more, visit: www.enricolopezyanez.com or follow @enricolopezyanez