Andrés Lopera is a Colombian-American orchestral conductor and Music Director of the Richmond Symphony Orchestra in Indiana. Recognized for his engaging leadership, expressive performances, and commitment to audience connection, he has built a career spanning symphonic masterworks, pops concerts, opera, and innovative education initiatives.

Since 2023, Lopera has served as Music Director of the Richmond Symphony Orchestra, where he has led artistic planning, expanded community engagement, and developed programming that balances the orchestral canon with contemporary voices and meaningful audience experiences.

Prior to his appointment in Richmond, Lopera spent six seasons as Associate Conductor of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra. There he conducted a wide range of performances, including the orchestra's nationally recognized Picnic with the Pops and Popcorn Pops series, subscription concerts, family programs, and education performances, gaining extensive experience in large-scale outdoor concerts and crossover programming that reached thousands of audience members each season.

Earlier in his career, he served as Assistant Conductor of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, where he worked alongside the orchestra on subscription, education, and community performances while assisting internationally recognized guest artists and conductors.

As a guest and cover conductor, Lopera has collaborated with leading orchestras including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Oregon Symphony, Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, New World Symphony, Elgin Symphony Orchestra, Toledo Symphony Orchestra, and the Xalapa Symphony Orchestra in Mexico. His operatic work includes productions with Opera Columbus, the New England Conservatory Opera.

A strong advocate for contemporary music, Lopera has collaborated with internationally recognized composers including Arturo Márquez, Gabriela Ortiz, Jimmy López ,Enrico Chapela, and has performed works by Wynton Marsalis, Chen Yi, and Carlos Zamora. His performances reflect a commitment to presenting both established repertoire and new voices that broaden the orchestral experience.

Born in Medellín, Colombia, Lopera earned a Master of Music in Orchestral Conducting from the New England Conservatory, a Master of Music from The University of Texas at Austin, and bachelor's degrees in Music from Universidad EAFIT. He has studied with Hugh Wolff, Rossen Milanov, Marin Alsop, Carlos Miguel Prieto, Benjamin Zander, and Ludovic Morlot.

At the center of Lopera's artistic philosophy is the belief that orchestras can achieve the highest artistic standards while remaining welcoming, relevant, and deeply connected to their communities. Whether conducting a major symphonic work, a pops concert, or an educational performance, he seeks to create musical experiences that inspire curiosity, foster belonging, and build lasting relationships between orchestras and the audiences they serve.