Role

:

Conductor

Birth

:

March 26, 1986 in St. Petersburg, Russia

 

Lidiya Yankovskaya is a renowned conductor and music director who has made a significant impact on the classical music scene. Born in Moscow, Russia, Yankovskaya grew up in a family of musicians and was exposed to music from a young age. Her mother was a pianist, and her father was a composer and conductor. Yankovskaya began playing the piano at the age of five and later studied at the Moscow Conservatory. After completing her studies, Yankovskaya moved to the United States to pursue her career in music. She earned a Master's degree in conducting from the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University and went on to study at the Tanglewood Music Center and the Aspen Music Festival and School. Yankovskaya's career took off when she was appointed as the music director of the Chicago Opera Theater in 2017. She became the first woman to hold this position in the company's history. During her tenure, Yankovskaya led the company in producing critically acclaimed productions of works by composers such as Tchaikovsky, Mozart, and Rossini. In addition to her work with the Chicago Opera Theater, Yankovskaya has also conducted for numerous other opera companies and orchestras. She has worked with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the New World Symphony, the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, and the Boston Lyric Opera, among others. One of Yankovskaya's most notable performances was her conducting of the world premiere of "The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs" at the Santa Fe Opera in 2017. The opera, which tells the story of the life and career of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, was composed by Mason Bates and received widespread critical acclaim. Yankovskaya has also been recognized for her contributions to the classical music world. In 2018, she was named one of the "Top 20 Women in Classical Music" by WQXR, a classical music radio station in New York City. She was also awarded the Solti Foundation US Career Assistance Award in 2019, which recognizes young conductors who show exceptional promise. In addition to her work as a conductor, Yankovskaya is also a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion in classical music. She founded the Refugee Orchestra Project in 2016, which brings together musicians who are refugees or immigrants to the United States. The project aims to promote understanding and empathy through music and has performed at venues such as the Kennedy Center and the United Nations. Overall, Lidiya Yankovskaya is a talented and accomplished conductor who has made a significant impact on the classical music world. Her dedication to promoting diversity and inclusion in the field is an inspiration to musicians and music lovers alike.

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