PROGRAM NOTES
PROGRAM NOTES
LATIN FIRE
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Enrico Lopez-Yañez
Enrico Lopez-Yañez is the Principal Pops Conductor of the Nashville Symphony where he leads the Symphony ’ s Pops Series and Family Series . Lopez-Yañez is quickly establishing himself as one of the Nation ’ s leading conductors of popular music and becoming known for his unique style of audience engagement . Also an active composer / arranger , Lopez-Yañez has been commissioned to write for the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra and the Houston Symphony and has had his works performed by orchestras including the Detroit Symphony , Seattle Symphony , Ft . Worth Symphony , Utah Symphony , Rochester Philharmonic , Columbus Symphony , and Florida Orchestra .
Since working with the Nashville Symphony , Lopez-Yañez has conducted concerts with a broad spectrum of artists including Patti LaBelle , Kenny Loggins , The Beach Boys , Richard Marx , Toby Keith , Trisha Yearwood , Kellie Pickler , Renée Elise Goldsberry , Megan Hilty , Hanson and more . Lopez-Yañez also conducts the annual Let Freedom Sing ! Music City July 4th fireworks show , reaching millions of viewers across the nation .
Lopez-Yañez has collaborated with artists including Itzhak Perlman , Nas , Leslie Odom Jr ., Stewart Copeland of The Police , Ben Folds , Jennifer Nettles , Boz Scaggs , Kenny G and more . Lopez-Yañez will appear with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra , Dallas Symphony , Pacific Symphony , North Carolina Symphony , and San Diego Symphony .
As Artistic Director and Co-Founder of Symphonica Productions , LLC , Lopez-Yañez curates and leads programs designed to cultivate new audiences . Symphonica ’ s productions have been described as “ incredibly special — and something that needs to become the new norm in educational programing ” ( Lima Symphony ).
José Sibaja
José Sibaja is one of the most highly acclaimed trumpet players of his generation , with worldwide audiences and broadcast media in the classical , Latin , jazz and pop musical genres . His career ranges from international appearances as an orchestral soloist with the Nashville
Symphony , The Florida Orchestra , Springfield Symphony Orchestra , Orquesta Sinfónica Venezuela , Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional ( República Dominicana ) and Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Costa Rica , among others ; to worldwide tours with Ricky Martin for the Vuelve and Living la Vida Loca tours .
Currently , José plays lead trumpet with the world renowned Boston Brass .
He received his musical training at the New World School of the Arts and the University of Miami and has held positions as principal trumpet with the Miami Symphony , the Sinfonieta de Caracas and Orquesta Sinfónica Venezuela . He has appeared on the American Music Awards , the MTV Awards , the Grammy Awards , and the Latin Grammy Awards , as well as on Conan O ’ Brian , Saturday Night Live , The Tonight Show with Jay Leno , The Today Show , Late Night with David Letterman and numerous television appearances in more than 40 countries .
José has recorded with such artists as Ricky Martin , Alejandor Sanz , Luis Enrique , Rey Ruiz , Marc Anthony , Celia Cruz and Gloria Estefan among others .
Most currently he can be heard with the Boston Brass on their Simple Gifts , Latin Nights , Reminiscing and Rewired CDs , as well as his solo records Inner Voice and Spanish Air . Mr . Sibaja currently is a performing artist for the Yamaha Music Corporation , imparting master classes as a clinician worldwide . José is Associate Professor of Trumpet at the Blair School of Music in Nashville .
Mónica Abrego
Ms . Abrego is considered one of Mexico ’ s most outstanding and versatile sopranos . She has performed in stages around the world with a diverse repertoire that includes Opera , soloist concerts , recitals , and popular folk music . Her orchestral performance collaborations include The Nashville Symphony , Florida Orchestra , the Colorado Symphony , Idaho Falls Symphony , Idaho State-Civic Symphony , San Diego Symphony , Key West Symphony , La Jolla Symphony & Chorus , Aguascalientes Symphony , Orchestra of Baja California , The Opera Philharmonic Society ; as well as The Chihuahua Philharmonic Orchestra .
Enrico Lopez-Yañez
José Sibaja
Mónica Abrego
Some of the operatic roles she has performed include Serpina in Serva Padrona , Norina in Don Pasquale , Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi , Gilda in Rigoletto , Magda in La Rondine , Violetta in Traviata , Manon in Manon , Musetta in La Boheme , Olympia in The Tales of Hoffmann , Nanetta in Falstaff , Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro , Gretel in Hansel and Gretel , María in María de Buenos Aires , and Micaela in Carmen .
She has performed at Carnegie Hall , Lincoln Center ’ s Merking Hall , as well as the World Music Panama Festival , The Festival Culturel International de Musique Symphonique in Algeria , and The Gran Teatro Nacional of Perú .
Ms . Abrego develops the program Sharing Notes , an academic exchange program between Mexico and the US , for musicians with a passion for teaching and interest in community work , by offering Master classes , lectures , and concerts to the students in Mexico .
Ms . Abrego ' s recordings include “ Alma Mía ” and " Cancion Mexicana " by Vientos del Sur Productions . Her debut recording includes Bossa Nova , Mexican traditional song , opera , musical theater , and tango .
Dokk Savage Photography
MAY-JUN 2023 / OVERTURE 27