newportbeachindy . com FEBRUARY 16 , 2024 3
STEPPING OUT
Meet New Pacific Symphony Pops Conductor Enrico Lopez-Yañez
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By Christopher Trela | NB Indy
Longtime attendees of Pacific Symphony Pops concerts know the familiar face and insightful commentary of Pops conductor Richard Kaufman , who guided audiences through more than 30 symphonic pops seasons featuring a dazzling array of musical guests , including Olivia Newton John , Frankie Valli and The Righteous Brothers .
This season , Kaufman has turned his baton over to Enrico Lopez-Yañez , a bright new light in the Pops music world who made his official Pacific Symphony Pops debut conducting the “ Music of Star Wars ” on Nov . 3 ( although he also conducted the symphony ’ s final 2022- 2023 Pops concert last June ).
At only 34 , Lopez-Yañez also holds the same Pops Conductor title with the Nashville Symphony and Dallas Symphony and is becoming nationally known for his unique style of audience engagement and his ability to fuse orchestral music and entertainment .
Lopez-Yañez was born in San Diego and was a UCLA music student , so coming to Pacific Symphony marks a homecoming of sorts .
His father is an opera singer and his
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mother is a pianist , so he grew up in opera houses and concert halls around the world . An active composer / arranger , Lopez-Yañez has conducted for a widerange of performers , including Patti LaBelle , Itzhak Perlman , Nas , Kelsea Ballerini , Portugal the Man and many others .
Lopez-Yañez is an advocate for Latin music , and has arranged and produced shows for Latin Fire , Mariachi Los Camperos , The Three Mexican Tenors , and collaborated with artists including Aida Cuevas and Lila Downs .
His next Pops concert with the Pacific Symphony is this weekend , February 16 and 17 , when he welcomes Latin jazz trumpeter Arturo Sandoval .
Upcoming Pops concerts conducted by Lopez-Yañez feature Lyle Lovett ( March 8 and 9 ) and viral sensations Ben Rector and Cody Fry ( May 10 and 11 ).
On Friday , Nov . 3 , members of the media were invited to meet Enrico Lopez- Yañez prior to a rehearsal for his “ Music of Star Wars ” pops concert that evening . Pacific Symphony President John Forsyte moderated a Q & A session with Lopez- Yañez .
Enrico Lopez- Yañez , new
Principal Pops conductor for Pacific Symphony . photo by Dokk Savage Photography
Forsyte : For 33 years the Pacific Symphony has a had a principal Pops conductor , Richard Kaufman , who came from Hollywood . At some point in any great artist ’ s tenure he has transitioned into what we call Principal Pops Conductor Emeritus . We have big shoes to fill to find a conductor who can work in so many diffirent forms of music and program works that are entertaining yet at the same time maybe a little new and interesting to a multi-generational audience . That ’ s the challenge of being
a Pops conductor . So I am delighted to introduce one of the most exciting young artists , someone who is trained in the classical tradition but has an incredibly wide background . We are excited that he has accepted the invitation to become the Pacific Symphony ’ s new principal Pops conductor . Welcome Enrico Lopez-Yañez . This is an interesting career you have selected for yourself . Tell us a little about your musical DNA .
ENRICO Page 8
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