Enrico Lopez-Yañez is redefining what it means to be a conductor in the 21st Century.
Celebrated for his charismatic stage presence, definitive 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 of the Detroit and Pacific Symphonies, Principal Conductor of 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 orchestral collaborations with artists including Dolly Parton, Kelsey Ballerini, Portugal the Man, The Mavericks, Tituss Burgess, and The War & Treaty. His wide-ranging collaborations span genres and generations, featuring artists such as Nas, Patti LaBelle, Itzhak Perlman, Kenny Loggins, Stewart Copeland, Toby Keith, Richard Marx, Bernadette Peters, Leslie Odom Jr., Gladys Knight, 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 2025-26 season include performances with Ben Rector, Cody Fry, Common, Trisha Yearwood, Angela, Leonardo, and Pepe Aguilar. He will make appearances with The Cleveland Orchestra, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, and Canada's National Arts Centre Orchestra, while returning to lead the Baltimore Symphony, Cincinnati Pops, Minnesota Orchestra, National Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, and Seattle Symphony, among others. Past guest engagements include the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Houston Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, St. Louis Symphony, and Toronto Symphony.
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 featuring Latin Fire, Mariachi Los Camperos, and The Three Mexican Tenors, and collaborated with artists including Aida Cuevas, Arturo Sandoval, Lila Downs, and Lupita Infante.
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 Symphonies, 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, winner of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, Hollywood Music and Media Awards, Family Choice Awards 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."
