Principal Pops Conductor Steps Down at the Nashville Symphony

Enrico Lopez-Yañez, who first joined the orchestra in 2017, will end his tenure at the conclusion of the 2024/25 season

Conductor Enrico Lopez-Yañez will conclude his time as Principal Pops Conductor at the Nashville Symphony at the close of the 2024/25 season. Lopez-Yañez first joined the orchestra in 2017 as Assistant Conductor and was made Principal Pops Conductor in 2019.

He will continue his roles as Principal Pops Conductor for both the Detroit and Pacific Symphony Orchestras, as well as the Principal Conductor of the Dallas Symphony Presents series. In addition, Lopez-Yañez will be invited back to Nashville on occasion to lead future concerts.

Lopez-Yañez has led hundreds of concerts during his time in Nashville and has collaborated with artists including Nas, Trisha Yearwood, Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight, Itzhak Perlman, The Beach Boys, Hanson, Kenny Loggins, Ben Folds, Kelsea Ballerini, Toby Keith, Ben Rector, and Cody Fry.

He has also been highly successful in engaging with the local Latino community, through concerts such as Latin Fire and The Three Mexican Tenors. In 2023, he received the Mexicanos Distinguidos Award, which is given to members of the Mexican diaspora for outstanding career accomplishments.

"I am incredibly thankful and appreciative to the Nashville Symphony for their years of artistry and collaboration across the hundreds of performances we’ve shared together," Lopez-Yañez said. "Making Nashville my home has been an honor, and it has been a source of great pride to bring exceptional music and entertainment – representative of the diverse and ever-growing Nashville community – to the Schermerhorn Symphony Center and throughout Middle Tennessee."

"Thank you to the musicians, audiences, and administration for allowing me to lead us on this musical journey over the course of my tenure. I look forward to returning to the Nashville Symphony many times in the future with new programs and artists."

"It has been an honor to have Enrico in the Nashville Symphony family for the past seven years," said Nashville Symphony Music Director Giancarlo Guerrero. "He arrived as a young Assistant Conductor, and it has been inspiring to witness his artistic growth."

"His endless musical talent and creativity is having a huge impact on the musical world. I am honored to call him my friend and colleague."