One of the current leading Latin-American conductors in the US, Andrés Lopera has led orchestras throughout the Americas for more than a decade. Having recently completed his third season as assistant conductor of the Colorado Symphony, Lopera has directed performances with orchestras such as the Oregon Symphony, Toledo Symphony, New World Symphony, and Portland Columbia Symphony Orchestra, as well at summer festivals, including the National Repertory Orchestra and the Youth Orchestra of the Americas. In 2017, he covered a series of concerts with the Los Angeles Philharmonic under the direction of Gustavo Dudamel and Carlos Miguel Prieto. At the international level, Lopera has performed with the Xalapa Symphony Orchestra and the EAFIT Symphony Orchestra in his home country of Colombia, among others. He has also presented concerts and collaborated with both professional and youth orchestras throughout Central and South America, including organizations in Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, and Honduras. In 2012, Lopera was appointed music director of the Metropolitan Youth Symphony in Portland where he oversaw a program with more than 450 students, 12 ensembles, and 10 conducting staff. In recognition of his contributions to Portland, he received the Portland Monthly Award, Rising Star Award, and the Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber Bravo Award. Additional honors include the Orgullo Colombiano Award and Egresados Que Inspiran from EAFIT University, both received in 2017. Lopera has studied and worked with some of the most outstanding professional artists in the field, including Hugh Wolff, Andrew Litton, David Loebel, Carlos Kalmar, Ludovic Morlot, and Marin Alsop. He earned a master’s in orchestral conducting from New England Conservatory.