Andrés Lopera began his official duties as Assistant Conductor of the Columbus Symphony and Music Director of the Columbus Symphony Youth Orchestras on September 1, 2018. One of the leading Latin-American conductors in the US today, the 39-year old Colombian native brings more than 10 years of leadership experience with both professional orchestras and youth orchestras to his role.
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 October 2017, Lopera covered a series of concerts with the Los Angeles Philharmonic under the direction of Gustavo Dudamel and Carlos Miguel Prieto.
At the international level, he 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 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 degree in orchestral conducting from New England Conservatory.