ABOUT
The OPUS Music Competition (formerly known as the Susan D. Barton Music Competition) began as a scholarship competition in Southern Nevada operated by the Young Artists Orchestra of Las Vegas. Beginning in 2021, the OPUS Music Competition will be independently operated, and will run at the state and national level. The OPUS Competition operates at the state level with winners advancing to the national competition. Winners are selected by instrument & age category within each state. All winners, including merit prize recipients, are invited to compete in the OPUS National Music Competition for cash prizes & national awards.
The OPUS Music Competition is operated by The OPUS Organization – a national institution devoted to youth empowerment through music. The organization hosts the state & national competition for young musicians in the United States, and has plans to expand to scholarship programs in the near future.
MISSION
The OPUS Organization wants to encourage young musicians to grow through the power of music. Our music competitions offer many rewarding benefits to students, and provide a platform to track progress, enhance growth, and attain goals. We also believe the process helps students develop confidence, which in turn help materialize a students full potential. Throughout this process we hope to discover future artists of outstanding artistry & personality, and provide awards to help launch college and/or musical careers.
MEET THE LEADERSHIP
Yunior Lopez | President
THE OPUS ORGANIZATION
Recognized as one of the most versatile musicians of his generation, Cuban-born violist Yunior Lopez enjoys a unique career as a chamber player, conductor, and entrepreneur. A recipient of many awards and prizes, Mr. Lopez appears regularly throughout North America collaborating with esteemed artists as both conductor and violist. He is the former conductor of the Phil & Eli Taylor Academy Orchestra at The Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, Canada and currently serves as Executive & Music Director of the Dr. Shirley Linzy Young Artists Orchestra of Las Vegas, an organization he founded in 2015. A highly sought after chamber musician, Mr. Lopez is the founding violist of Canada’s Annex Quartet. He has worked and performed with a diverse range of international artists such as Jan Lisiecki, Mikel Rouse, Phil Dwyer, the Hilario Durán Trio, the Kronos Quartet, the Gryphon Trio, David Virelles, and members of the Fine Arts, Linden, and St. Lawrence string quartets.
Mr. Lopez is a graduate of The Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, Canada. 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, to name a few. When not performing Yunior enjoys speed skating, traveling, watching professional boxing, and Texas- Hold’em Poker. A young entrepreneur, he has founded over a dozen businesses and currently serves as the CEO of the Lord of the Cigars Corporation in Miami, FL, the Executive & Music Director of The Dr. Shirley Linzy Young Artists Orchestra in Las Vegas, and the President of The OPUS Organization. Mr. Lopez currently resides in Las Vegas, NV and conducts using the batons of his late friend and mentor, Mario Bernardi.
To learn more about Mr. Lopez, please visit www.YuniorLopez.com
Jennifer Au | Operations
THE OPUS ORGANIZATION
Regarded as an advocate for music education and its power to transform lives, Jennifer Au has served in leadership positions in arts organizations throughout southern Nevada. She has served on the Board of Directors for the Nevada School of the Arts, the Las Vegas Youth Orchestras, and currently serves as the Secretary of the Dr. Shirley Linzy Young Artists Orchestra of Las Vegas. She also serves her local community as a member of The Give Group – an all-women charitable group that gives to local charities.
For over 10 years Ms. Au has been the Managing Director of the Desert Strings violin shop in Las Vegas. As the Managing Director she oversees the shops operations including import & export, accounting, wholesale & distribution, marketing, and partnerships with professional musicians and other musical institutions across the country. Moreover, she serves as a managing advisor for Cleveland Violins in Cleveland, Ohio, the sister company of Desert Strings.
Jennifer Au earned her Bachelors Degree in Business Marketing from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She enjoys traveling and considers herself a ‘foodie.’ She joins The OPUS Organization as Chief Operations Officer.
BOARD OF ADVISORS
Peter Cosbey, Cellist | The Annex Quartet
Stanislav Pronin, Violin | Berlin Symphony
Jonathan Krehm, Philanthropist | Founder Canzona Chamber Players
Yanbing Chen, President | New Cleveland Group (Cleveland Violins & Desert Strings)
Melissa Rios, Executive Assistant | The Dr. Shirley Linzy Young Artists Orchestra of Las Vegas
Mitchell Au, Manager of Enterprise Service Center | Mission Support and Test Services