Conductor Yabetza Vivas-Irizarry has joined Athlone Artists for General Management.

Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Vivas-Irizarry is the first Puerto Rican woman to conduct a classical season concert with the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra. This season she will conduct the OSPR’s Mother’s Day POPS Concert and several family experiences, opening on Feb. 29 with the program “Sound Adventures: Discovering Opera” an immersive musical and theatrical experience for children featuring excerpts from seven classical operas translated into Spanish.

Vivas-Irizarry received mentorship from Music Director Mei-Ann Chen as a Freeman Conducting Fellow with the Chicago Sinfonietta and has worked with renowned conductors such as Mei-Ann Chen, Dr. Emily Freeman-Brown, Kenneth Kiesler, and Roselín Pabón.

In a statement, Miguel Rodríguez, President and Founder of Athlone Artists said, “I’ve been waiting for a Puerto Rican woman conductor to emerge ready for the international stage. Maestra Vivas Irizarry not only has an impressive technical knowledge but also a unique passion for new works that makes her stand out. I’m thrilled to be working with this brilliant artist.”