Conductor and Music Director

John LoPiccolo returns for his 11th season as Conductor and Music Director of the Poway Symphony Orchestra, where his leadership and artistic vision have elevated the Orchestra to new heights. Under his direction the Poway Symphony Orchestra has experienced record attendance and several sold-out performances, expanded its roster of talented musicians, both amateur and professional, and for the first time in the orchestra’s history welcomed world-renowned guest artists to the Poway stage. LoPiccolo was also instrumental in guiding the formation of the Poway Symphony Orchestra Foundation Board of Directors, helping strengthen the Orchestra’s long-term presence in the community. 

Known for his creative programming and commitment to excellence, LoPiccolo continues to broaden the Orchestra’s musical reach—bringing engaging performances that inspire audiences and make orchestral music accessible to all. His ability to blend classic repertoire with dynamic, audience-friendly selections has become a defining hallmark of the Poway Symphony experience. 

A lifelong musician, LoPiccolo’s passion for music began at age 8 when his parents introduced him to the piano and his cousin played a recording for him of the Rachmaninoff 2nd Piano Concerto. Further studies and a lot of practicing led him to attend the famed High School of Music and Art in New York City where he began bassoon studies as well as piano. The Mannes Conservatory of Music was where he developed an interest in conducting after having several opportunities to lead orchestral ensembles. From there, LoPiccolo traveled to the west coast to attend San Francisco State University where he received his Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education and later received a Master of Music Degree in Orchestral Conducting from Eastern Washington University. 

Throughout his distinguished career, LoPiccolo has collaborated with an impressive roster of world-renowned guest artists, including pianists Misha Dichter, Garrick Ohlsson, Alexander Toradze, Lorin Hollander, Jose Feghali, Andreas Bach, Cecil Licad, Frederick Moyer, William Corbett-Jones; violinists Eugene Drucker, Daniel Heifetz, Stephanie Chase, and Chin Kim; Flutist Carol Wincenc, Harpist Heidi Lehwalder, Trumpeter David Hickman, Bassoonist George Zuckerman, Double Bassist Gary Karr; as well as guitarists Los Romeros Guitar Quartet, Novacek and Bissiri, and ensembles such as The Magic Circle Mime Company, Chestnut Brass Company, the Oregon Ballet and the Escondido Choral Arts Foundation, and the Florida International Music Festival Orchestra. 

Before joining the Poway Symphony Orchestra LoPiccolo served as Conductor and Music Director for the Idaho Falls Symphony, Helena Symphony, and Waterloo/Cedar Falls Symphony, where he transformed both the artistic profile and community presence of each organization. 

In addition, he was conductor for the Living Arts, Inc. New York touring production of Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, conducting over 800 performances throughout the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Trinidad, Tobago, Canada, Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand. 

He also served on the conducting faculty at the Festival at Sandpoint, ID, and Brevard Music Center, NC working closely with his mentor, Pulitzer Prize and MacArthur Genius Award winning composer/conductor/author, Gunther Schuller. 

Having appeared as guest conductor to over 15 orchestras in the US and abroad, LoPiccolo has received invaluable experience conducting groups that vary in size and artistic abilities. He was appointed cover conductor for the Boise Philharmonic and has been an adjudicator for the Idaho State Civic Symphony, the Idaho Falls Symphony Young Artist Competition, the Idaho Falls Music Club Scholarship Awards, and the Rancho Bernardo Rotary Club Music Scholarship Awards. 

Some of the highlights of his career include being a recipient of the Outstanding Service to the Community Award presented by the Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce and “50 Who Make a Difference” in the community award presented by the City of Helena, Montana; implementing a Sponsor-A-Concert program; introducing an annual pops concert; writing, producing and conducting critically- acclaimed “young people’s” concerts for more than 6,000 school children annually; establishing a professional resident string quartet; creating a 150 member Idaho Falls Symphony Chorale; and sharing the conductor’s podium with Gunther Schuller at the Spokane Symphony. 

As a music educator LoPiccolo has taught beginning and advanced band and orchestra in numerous public-school systems in California, Montana, Idaho and Washington State, as well as being an adjunct professor of music at Idaho State University for over 20 years. 

When not practicing the piano or studying one of the more than 1,000 scores in his collection, LoPiccolo enjoys being a guest speaker at various services clubs and music organizations, listening to great music, cooking, tinkering with computers, constructing and flying model airplanes, and repairing anything that needs fixing. Most of all, he treasures time with his wife Mary, daughter Sabrina, son-in-law Jack and his two granddaughters, Madeline and Kennedy, who inspired his move to San Diego County.