Raffaele Cipriano is an esteemed Italian conductor, opera coach, and composer, excited to work with the Youth Symphony of Kansas City and guide young musicians in learning masterpieces of symphonic literature.

Trained at the prestigious Conservatories of Padua and Venice, he excels in orchestral conducting, collaborative piano, opera repertoire, and composition. In 2015, he pursued a doctorate in orchestral conducting at KU, mentored by Maestro David Neely, graduating with honors in 2018. Cipriano has garnered acclaim through collaborations with esteemed organizations like Lawrence Arts Center, Lawrence Opera Theater, and Landlocked Opera. He served as assistant/cover conductor at Sarasota Opera and currently holds the position of assistant conductor for the Topeka Symphony Orchestra. He has recently joined the Music faculty at Washburn University as a lecturer and Director of Orchestra.

Notable achievements include music direction for Romeo and Juliet, Cinderella, and Carmen for Lawrence Opera Theater, conducting A Chorus Line in Topeka, and guest conducting the Springfield Symphony. Based in Kansas City, Cipriano is the music director and conductor of the Overland Park Orchestra and serves as music director at the Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Shawnee.