Enrico Lopez-Yañez is redefining what it means to be a conductor in the 21st Century.

 

Celebrated for his charismatic stage presence, genre-defining collaborations, and passion for making orchestral music accessible to all, Lopez-Yañez is one of the most innovative and in-demand conductors in North America. He currently serves as Principal Pops Conductor of the Detroit and Pacific Symphonies, Principal Conductor of Dallas Symphony Presents, and Principal Guest Conductor of Pops at the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. He previously spent eight seasons conducting the Nashville Symphony, where he also served as their Principal Pops Conductor. 

 

As a trailblazer in the symphonic world, Lopez-Yañez has premiered dozens of groundbreaking symphonic collaborations with artists including Dolly Parton, Kelsea Ballerini, Portugal. The Man, The Mavericks, Tituss Burgess, and The War and Treaty. His wide-ranging collaborations span genres and generations, featuring artists such as Nas, Itzhak Perlman, Kenny Loggins, Stewart Copeland, Toby Keith, Richard Marx, Bernadette Peters, Leslie Odom Jr., Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight, Ben Folds, The Beach Boys, Tower of Power, and Kenny G. 

 

As a composer and arranger, Lopez-Yañez’s versatility is equally expansive. He has written for artists like Big Sean and Mariachi Los Camperos, and he has been commissioned by major orchestras including the Baltimore Symphony, Cincinnati Pops, Detroit Symphony, Houston Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony, San Diego Symphony and many more.

 

Highlights of the 2025–26 season include performances with Ben Rector, Cody Fry, Common, Trisha Yearwood, Angela, Leonardo, and Pepe Aguilar. He will make appearances with the Cleveland Orchestra, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, and Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra, while returning to lead the Baltimore Symphony, Cincinnati Pops, Minnesota Orchestra, National Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, and Seattle Symphony, among others. Past guest engagements include the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Houston Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, St. Louis Symphony, and Toronto Symphony.

 

In 2023, Lopez-Yañez was honored with the “Mexicanos Distinguidos” award by the Mexican government, recognizing outstanding career achievements by Mexican citizens abroad. A passionate advocate for Latin music, he has arranged and produced concerts featuring Latin Fire, Mariachi Los Camperos, and The Three Mexican Tenors, and collaborated with Aida Cuevas, Arturo Sandoval, Lila Downs, and Lupita Infante.

 

His work as a producer, composer, and arranger can be heard on numerous recordings, including the UNESCO benefit album Action Moves People United and award-winning children’s albums such as The Spaceship that Fell in My Backyard and Kokowanda Bay. His work has received honors from the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, Hollywood Music in Media Awards, Parents’ Choice Foundation, and Global Media Awards, where he was recognized for his “catchy arrangements.”

 

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Jessica Slais is the Creative Consultant for Popular and Special Programming at the Detroit Symphony, curating the Pops Series, films in concert, and special events with the DSO at historic Orchestra Hall. 

 

Previously, Slais served as Vice President of Artistic Administration at the Nashville Symphony and as Vice President of Artistic Planning at the Omaha Symphony.  In those roles she oversaw the programming of classical, pops, film, and family concert series, and collaborated extensively on education concerts for young audiences.  Before taking on the role of artistic planner, Slais was the Acting General Manager at the Omaha Symphony. 

 

Slais started her orchestral career as a music librarian and served as head librarian at the Omaha Symphony for twelve seasons.  In 2010 she chaired the hosting of the Major Orchestra Librarians’ Association (MOLA) annual conference in Omaha.

 

Jessica was a fellow with the New World Symphony in Miami Beach, and studied clarinet performance at Concordia College, Moorhead MN.