Yunior Lopez

Recognized as one of the most versatile musicians of his generation, Cuban-born violist Yunior Lopez enjoys a career as a chamber musician, conductor, arts leader, and entrepreneur, earning acclaim on both national and international stages. A JUNO award-winning artist, Lopez appears regularly throughout North America and abroad, collaborating with esteemed artists as both conductor and violist.

A devoted chamber musician, 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, 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.

As an emerging young conductor, Lopez is motivated by the power of music and its endless possibilities. In 2015, Lopez founded the Las Vegas Young Artists Orchestra, where he currently serves as executive and 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.