Caracas, Venezuela
To conduct:
Neighborhood Concert – Cerritos Center
SFY – Pianissimo!
Neighborhood Concert MacArthur Park

The young conductor of 26 years of age, MANUEL LOPEZ, is a product of the internationally recognized State Foundation for the National System of Youth and Children’s Orchestras of Venezuela (FESNOJIV - Fundación del Estado para el Sistema Nacional de Orquestas Juveniles e Infantiles de Venezuela), commonly known as “El Sistema.” Manuel began his musical studies on the violin at the age of 6, and joined the Youth Orchestra of Venezuela in 1999, subsequently touring with the orchestra to the United States, Uruguay, Argentina, Italy, Germany, and Austria. Manuel also served as concertmaster of the Youth Orchestra of Caracas for 4 years under the baton of Maestro Gustavo Dudamel.

Active internationally as a conductor, Manuel Lopez has recently guest conducted the Orquesta Sinfonica de Bahia (Brazil), the Orquesta Sinfónica “Carlos Chávez” de Ciudad de México, and the Orquesta Sinfónica Gulbenkian (Portugal). He is also a frequent guest conductor of the Teresa Carreno Youth Orchestra and the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela and continues to perform as violinist with the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra.

Manuel has been a finalist in the Eduardo Mata International Conducting Competition in Mexico, as well as the Sir George Solti International Conducting Competition in Frankfurt, Germany, and is the conducting student of José Antonio Abreu, Gustavo Dudamel, and Sung Kwak.

“Thanks to his exceptional human spirit, high sense of profesional responsibility, and authentic artistic visión, Manuel is one of the principal and most brilliant leaders of the musical process in Venezuela.” – Jose Antonio Abreu (Founding Director of FESNOJIV)

“Manuel impressed all through his competence, education, generosity, seriousness and talent. He is a young musician and conductor with all the qualities to have a brilliant musical life.” – Ricardo Castro (Music Director of the Orquesta Sinfonica de Bahia – Brazil)