Carlos Lopez leads an outdoor concert in 2021.
In Wednesday’s (12/13) Republic News (Columbus, Indiana), Brian Blair writes, “In the time that many teens have not yet even heard their first live orchestra, Columbus resident Carlos Lopez has organized and led two such ensembles in the past four years. The 18-year-old recent high school graduate will raise his baton with the 55-member Kikai (Japanese for ‘opportunity’) Orchestra at a free concert at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, 719 Fifth St. in downtown Columbus. Members include volunteers from the Columbus Symphony Orchestra (which he has played with), volunteers from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, volunteers from his previous Okto Camonia ensemble, and a few professionals from the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic and the Evansville Philharmonic. The performance also will include a guest conducting appearance from Josh Aerie, former music director of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra… The concert will feature several guest performers, including Columbus resident Natalie Cantu as a vocalist, and Seymour pianist Sana Tori. The repertoire will feature a variety of piano pieces, Johann Strauss marches, and a Christmas sing-along.”
