Recognized as one of the most versatile musicians of his generation, Cuban-born violist Yunior Lopez enjoys a unique career as a chamber musician, conductor, arts leader, and entrepreneur, earning acclaim on both national and international stages. A JUNO award-winning artist, Mr. Lopez appears regularly throughout North America and abroad, collaborating with esteemed artists as both conductor and violist.
A devoted chamber musician, Mr. Lopez founded The Annex Quartet in September 2008. His leadership and vision propelled the quartet to prominence as one of Canada’s leading chamber music ensembles. Their notable achievements include a milestone American debut at Carnegie Hall in 2010, performing in Zankel and Weill Recital Halls. In 2015, Mr. Lopez led the quartet’s successful collaboration on Jane Bunnett’s Maqueque album, which culminated in the prestigious 2015 JUNO Award for Jazz Record of the Year. He also played a pivotal role in conceiving the groundbreaking Roaring Twenties Project, an album featuring singer Sarah Jane Pelzer and producer Roberto Occhipinti. As a highly sought-after chamber musician, Lopez has engaged in artistic endeavors with an eclectic array of international artists, including Jan Lisiecki, Mikel Rouse, Phil Dwyer, and the Kronos Quartet. His recent performances encompass prestigious venues and festivals such as the Music Toronto Chamber Series, Ottawa International Jazz Festival, Stratford Summer Music, and collaborations with members of renowned ensembles like the Fine Arts, Linden, and St. Lawrence string quartets. Lopez’s recorded contributions appear on an assortment of labels, including ECM, Universal, Justin Time, Modica, and Alma. Notable recent releases featuring Mr. Lopez include David Virelles’ Gnosis and Stabilimento by Roberto Occhipinti. Additionally, in January 2019, The Annex Quartet unveiled their second studio album, Latinoamericana, which showcases both popular and forgotten works from the Latin American musical heritage.
As an emerging young conductor, Yunior Lopez is motivated by the power of music and its endless possibilities. At the age of 20 and upon the recommendation of Maestros Uri Mayer and Mario Bernardi, Mr. Lopez was appointed Conductor of the Phil & Eli Taylor Academy Orchestra at The Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, Canada. Since then, he has been invited to conduct orchestral productions throughout North America. Most recently, he directed the premier of a Wagner opera in Las Vegas. His collaborations with classical soloists include Jan Lisiecki, Mark Fewer, Barry Shiffman, Stanislav Pronin, Andres Diaz, Stephan Moccio, and Steven Dann, among others. In September 2015, Mr. Lopez founded the Las Vegas Young Artists Orchestra, where he currently serves as Executive & Music Director. Recently renamed The Dr. Shirley Linzy Young Artists Orchestra of Las Vegas, the organization is recognized as one of the few tuition-free, professional training youth orchestras in the United States and has become a model for high-quality music education, collaborative programming, and community engagement. The impact of his leadership and innovative programming is evident in the success of the Young Artists Orchestra, with 100% of its high school graduates receiving scholarships to attend some of the finest music schools and universities in the United States.
Beyond his achievements on stage and on the podium, Mr. Lopez has emerged as a passionate arts leader and international educator. He currently serves as a Commissioner for the City of Henderson on the Arts Advisory Commission, where he champions cultural initiatives and fosters community engagement through the arts. In addition, as President of the OPUS Music Competition, he leads efforts to recognize and promote emerging musical talent. His global perspective on the arts is further reflected in his summer work in China with the Cyrus Tang Foundation, where he serves as Music Director for their summer music programs, facilitating cross-cultural collaboration and supporting the development of young musicians.
Mr. Lopez is the recipient of many awards and prizes, including the Nevada Arts Council Artist Fellowship (2024), Best of Las Vegas Award – Arts & Culture Event (2020, 2022-2024), MPower Artist Grant from the Sphinx Organization (2016, 2021), JUNO Award for Best Jazz Album of the Year (2015), and multiple prizes at the Glenn Gould School Chamber Music Competition.
Born into a family of chemists, doctors, and lawyers, Mr. Lopez became interested in music through his exposure to various styles and genres native to the island. Furthermore, his aunt, Anais Abreu, is one of Cuba’s foremost singers and one of the world’s leading figures of bolero. Following his family’s defection from Cuba, Mr. Lopez settled in Las Vegas, where he won a contract with the Las Vegas Philharmonic at the age of 17. Simultaneously, he spent summers studying with David Holland at the Interlochen Arts Camp and with members of the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center’s Summer Music Institute. Throughout his youth, he performed as principal violist with various orchestras, including Lukas Foss’s National Festival Orchestra, the World Youth Symphony, the Royal Conservatory Orchestra, the Kennedy Center’s National Institute Orchestra, and toured with Sphinx Virtuosi.
Yunior Lopez attained a Performance and Artist Diploma from the prestigious Glenn Gould School of The Royal Conservatory of Music. He studied viola with Steven Dann, Susan Barton, and David Holland. Other influences include conductors Uri Mayer and Mario Bernardi, and members of the Kronos, Tokyo, Orford, and St. Lawrence String Quartets. Additionally, he has performed in masterclasses for Yuri Bashmet, Pinchas Zukerman, Hsin-Yun Huang, Masao Kawasaki, and Heidi Castleman. When not performing, Yunior enjoys traveling, watching professional boxing, collecting watches, and playing Texas Hold’em Poker. Mr. Lopez currently resides in Las Vegas, NV with his wife, two kids, and two Boston terriers. He also cherishes spending their summers with relatives in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He performs on a 1936 Frederick Haenel viola inherited from Susan Barton, and conducts using the batons of his late friend and mentor, Mario Bernardi.
For more information please visit www.YuniorLopez.com
