Lidiya Yankovskaya

Born in Saint Petersburg. Yankovskaya studied ballet between the ages of three- and five-years-old.{{Cite web|url=https://operawire.com/qa-chicago-opera-theater-music-director-lidiya-yankovskaya-on-future-goals-conducting-and-the-future-of-opera/|title=Q&A: Chicago Opera Theater Music Director Lidiya Yankovskaya on Future Goals, Conducting and the Future of Opera|website=operawire.com|date=3 October 2017 |language=en-US|access-date=2018-05-10}} She studied music from the age of five, playing piano and singing in the Saint Petersburg Children’s Choir of Radio and Television. She attended performances with her mother regularly, citing a production of Prokofiev's The Love for Three Oranges at the Mariinsky Theater as one of her first experiences with opera.{{Cite news|title=Out of Russia: A Conversation with Lidiya Yankovskaya|last=Scorca|first=Marc A.|work=Opera America Magazine|year=2017|issue=Fall 2017|pages=14–16}}

Due to the anti-Semitic climate in Russia, Yankovskaya immigrated to the United States with her mother at nine-years-old. They settled in upstate New York, where Yankovskaya attended Hebrew day school.{{Cite news|url=https://nationalsawdust.org/thelog/2017/11/08/meet-the-ns-artist-in-residence-lidiya-yankovskaya-activist-conductor/|title=Meet the NS Artist-in-Residence: Lidiya Yankovskaya, Activist Conductor|work=The Log Journal|access-date=2018-05-10|language=en-US}}

Yankovskaya's mother prioritized her musical development, enrolling her daughter at Guilderland High School in Albany, NY. Yankovskaya also joined the selective private teaching studio of piano duo Vladimir Pleshakov and Elena Winther, and began studying the violin. At 17, she won the school's concerto competition for a performance of Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 12 (K. 414). During rehearsals, conductor Jeff Herchenroder suggested that Yankovskaya try leading from the piano. She later made her conducting debut at Herchenroder's request, leading the orchestra for the third movement of Dvořák's Symphony No.7 in D minor.

After graduation, Yankovskaya attended Vassar College, where she studied piano, voice, and conducting. She switched her focus from piano performance to conducting during her junior year. Yankovskaya led her own ensemble of approximately 55 instrumentalists and 30 singers in regular performances of contemporary works. Yankovskaya holds a master's degree in conducting from Boston University.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/music/2017/05/18/refugee-orchestra-project-spreads-musical-message-inclusion/7slW7KGhCdCqPWMZ3CqAFK/story.html|title=Refugee Orchestra Project spreads a musical message of inclusion - The Boston Globe|work=BostonGlobe.com|access-date=2018-05-10}}

Yankovskaya joined the Boston-based Juventas New Music Ensemble as an associate conductor and served as their music director between 2010-2017. Also taking on the role of artistic director in 2014, she sought to present collaborative, interdisciplinary works ranging from opera and ballet to puppetry, aerial dance, and robotic instruments.{{Cite web|url=https://beta.worldcat.org/archivegrid/collection/data/670428656|title=The Exquisite Corpse|last=Juventas New Music Ensemble|date=2010-09-19|publisher=The Boston Conservatory|language=en|type=CD|oclc=670428656|access-date=2018-05-17}}

Also in the Greater Boston area, she has served as the music director of Commonwealth Lyric Theater, music director of Lowell House Opera at Harvard University (2011-2015), and artistic director of the Boston New Music Festival.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2012/3/27/yankovskaya-portrait-lowell-opera/|title=Portrait of an Artist: Lidiya V. Yankovskaya {{!}} Arts {{!}} The Harvard Crimson|last=Drummond II|first=Jay A.|date=2012-03-27|website=www.thecrimson.com|language=en|access-date=2018-05-12}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.classical-scene.com/2015/03/07/queen-of-spades-lowell-house/|title=Пиковая дама aka Piqued Lady - The Boston Musical Intelligencer|date=2015-03-07|work=The Boston Musical Intelligencer|access-date=2018-05-12|language=en-US}} Yankovskaya has conducted the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras Opera Chorus and prepared the Tanglewood Festival Chorus for programs with the Boston Symphony.

As a guest conductor, Yankovskaya has performed with the Washington National Opera, the Spoleto Festival USA, Symphony New Hampshire, Wolf Trap Opera, Stamford Symphony Orchestra, Opera Saratoga, Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra, the Brookline Symphony, Beth Morrison Projects, American Lyric Theater, and the Center for Contemporary Opera in New York City.{{Cite web|url=http://operawire.com/kevin-puts-latonia-moore-venera-gimadieva-headline-washington-national-operas-2018-19-season/|title=Kevin Puts, Latonia Moore & Venera Gimadieva Headline Washington National Opera's 2018-19 Season|last=Salazar|first=Francisco|date=2018-01-30|website=operawire.com|language=en-US|access-date=2018-05-12}}{{Cite web|url=https://spoletousa.org/events/pia-de-tolomei/|title=Pia de' Tolomei {{!}} Spoleto Festival USA 2018|website=spoletousa.org|language=en-US|access-date=2018-05-12}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.symphonynh.org/blog/102517|title=Introducing our 2017-18 Season Guest Conductors|work=Symphony NH|access-date=2018-05-12|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=https://dcmetrotheaterarts.com/2017/08/12/review-bastianello-juniper-tree-barns-wolf-trap/|title=Review: 'Bastianello' and 'The Juniper Tree' at The Barns at Wolf Trap - DCMetroTheaterArts|last=Morgenstern|first=Ana|date=2017-08-12|work=DC Metro Theater Arts|access-date=2018-05-12|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.wolftrap.org/press-and-media/news_and_announcements/performance-news/summer2017/wto-juniper-tree-bastianello.aspx|title=Wolf Trap Opera Season Concludes with a Double-Bill Featuring John Musto's Bastianello and Philip Glass and Robert Moran's The Juniper Tree The Barns at Wolf Trap, Four Performances, August 11, 13, 16, and 19|website=www.wolftrap.org|access-date=2018-05-12}}{{Cite news|url=http://wshu.org/post/music-interview-lidiya-yankovskayas-debut-stamford-symphony#stream/0|title=Music Interview: Lidiya Yankovskaya's Debut With Stamford Symphony|last=Remington|first=Kate|date=2017-10-09|work=WSHU Public Radio|access-date=2018-05-12|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=https://poststar.com/lifestyles/crossing-the-operatic-divide-opera-saratoga-preps-for-th-summer/article_ab957e54-18e4-56a4-ac7a-a9ff3519de8f.html|title=Crossing the operatic divide: Opera Saratoga preps for 55th Summer Festival Season|last=Phalen-Tomaselli|first=Kathleen|date=2017-07-02|work=The Post-Star|access-date=2018-05-12|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=http://azdailysun.com/entertainment/music/flagstaff-symphony-orchestra-prepares-for-an-all-classics-season/article_8dd9b956-cc17-5c1d-ba53-d400b7036c55.html|title=Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra prepares for an all classics season.|last=Muller|first=Seth|date=2016-09-25|work=Arizona Daily Sun|access-date=2018-05-12|language=en}}{{Cite web|url=https://sites.google.com/a/brooklinesymphony.org/main/music-director-search-finalists|title=Music Director Search Finalists - Brookline Symphony Orchestra|website=brooklinesymphony.org|access-date=2018-05-12}}{{Cite web|url=http://operawire.com/beth-morrison-projects-announces-bmp-next-generation-finalists-for-march-2018-concert/|title=Beth Morrison Projects Announces 'BMP: Next Generation' Finalists For March 2018 Concert|last=Salazar|first=David|date=2018-02-16|website=operawire.com|language=en-US|access-date=2018-05-12}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.altnyc.org/the-life-and-deaths-of-alan-turing/|title=The Life and Death(s) of Alan Turing (in development)|website=American Lyric Theater|language=en-US|access-date=2018-05-12}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwopera/article/American-Lyric-Theater-and-MasterVoices-to-Present-InsightALT-The-Life-and-Deaths-of-Alan-Turing-20161201|title=American Lyric Theater and MasterVoices to Present 'InsightALT: The Life and Death(s) of Alan Turing'|last=Opera News Desk|date=2016-12-01|work=BroadwayWorld.com|access-date=2018-05-12|language=en}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.wbur.org/artery/2017/03/22/lidiya-yankovskaya-juventas|title=Boston Conductor Lidiya Yankovskaya Juggles Many Roles — And, Now, A Circus Piece|last=Powers|first=Keith|date=2017-03-22|website=www.wbur.org|language=en|access-date=2018-05-12}}

In 2015, Yankovskaya was one of six conductors selected to join the Dallas Opera's inaugural Hart Institute for Women Conductors and received honorable mention from Marin Alsop's Taki Concordia Conducting Fellowship.

Yankovskaya was appointed the music director of Chicago Opera Theater in June 2017 and began regular conducting duties with the 2018-19 season. She was the first female music director at Chicago Opera Theater. She stepped down as Music Director at the end of the company’s 2023-24 50th Anniversary season.{{Cite web|url=https://operawire.com/chicago-opera-theater-music-director-steps-down/|title=Chicago Opera Theater Music Director Steps Down|website=operawire.com|access-date=2025-03-07}}

During the Syrian refugee crisis, Yankovskaya started a grassroots performance ensemble that would become known as the Refugee Orchestra Project. The first performance by the ensemble took place on May 10, 2016 in Cambridge, MA. Growing interest on social media led to concerts in Boston, New York City, and Washington, DC. The orchestra joined the National Sawdust artists-in-residence for the 2017-18 season.

• 2018: U.S. representative at the World Opera Forum in Madrid{{Cite web|url=http://www.teatro-real.com/en/season-17-18/other-activities/world-opera-forum/|title=World Opera Forum|website=Teatro Real de Madrid|language=en|access-date=2018-05-12}}
• 2018: Selected for the Bruno Walter National Conductor Preview, The League of American Orchestras{{Cite web|url=https://americanorchestras.org/conducting-artistic-programs/conducting/bruno-walter-national-conductor-preview.html|title=2018 Bruno Walter National Conductor Preview|website=The League of American Orchestras|access-date=2018-05-12}}
• 2018: National Opera Association, Best Opera Production for Rubinstein's The Demon with Commonwealth Lyric Theater{{Cite web|url=https://www.noa.org/competitions/opera-production/2016-2017-winners.html|title=National Opera Association - 2016-2017 Production Competition Winners|website=www.noa.org|language=en|access-date=2018-05-12}}
• 2017: Featured speaker, Opera America Conference in Dallas{{Cite news|url=https://conference.operaamerica.org/includes/docs/2017programbook.pdf|title=Creating Collaborative Change: Opera Conference 2017 Program|date=2017-05-04|work=OperaAmerica.org|access-date=2018-05-12}}
• 2015: Participated in the Dallas Opera’s inaugural Hart Institute for Women Conductors{{Cite news|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/arts/arts/2015/06/05/dallas-opera-announces-women-conductors-institute-participants|title=Dallas Opera announces Women Conductors Institute participants|last=Cantrell|first=Scott|date=2015-06-05|work=Dallas News|access-date=2018-04-15|language=en}}
• 2015: Honorable Mention from Marin Alsop’s Taki Concordia Conducting Fellowship{{Cite news|url=http://takiconcordia.org/news/marin-alsop-and-taki-concordia-announce-2015-17-conducting-fellows/|title=Marin Alsop and Taki Concordia announce 2015-17 Conducting Fellows|date=2015-05-29|work=Taki Concordia Conducting Fellowship|access-date=2018-04-15|language=en-us}}
• 2014: Winner of The American Prize in Opera Performance (Professional Division) for The Magic Mirror with Juventas New Music Ensemble{{Cite web|url=http://theamericanprize.blogspot.com/2014/10/opera-companies-professional-division.html|title=OPERA COMPANIES: professional division|last=Katz|first=David|date=2014-10-08|website=The American Prize Blog|access-date=2018-04-15}}
• 2014: Winner of The American Prize in Opera Performance (Community Division) for A Midsummer Night's Dream with Lowell House Opera{{Cite web|url=http://theamericanprize.blogspot.com/2014/10/opera-companies-community-division.html|title=OPERA COMPANIES: community division|last=Katz|first=David|date=2014-10-08|website=The American Prize Blog|access-date=2018-04-15}}
• 2014: Second Place in The American Prize in Conducting, Opera Division{{Cite web|url=http://theamericanprize.blogspot.com/2014/10/conductor-winner-runners-up-opera.html|title=CONDUCTOR WINNER, RUNNERS-UP: opera division|last=Katz|first=David|date=2014-10-25|website=The American Prize Blog|access-date=2018-04-15}}
• 2013: National Opera Association, Best Opera Production for Rachmaninoff's Aleko with Commonwealth Lyric Theater{{Cite web|url=https://www.noa.org/competitions/opera-production/2012-2013-winners.html|title=National Opera Association - 2012-2013 Production Competition Winners|website=www.noa.org|language=en|access-date=2018-05-12}}

• Caplan, Oliver. Illuminations. Juventas New Music Ensemble and Cleveland Contemporary Players. Oliver Caplan Music 5637904943, 2012. CD.{{Cite web|url=http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/Name/Lidiya-Yankovskaya/Conductor/265812-3|title=Oliver Caplan: Illuminations - Oliver Caplan Music: 18719383 {{!}} Buy from ArkivMusic|website=www.arkivmusic.com|language=en|access-date=2018-06-13}}
• Lane, Peter Van Zandt. HackPolitik. Juventas New Music Ensemble. Innova Recordings 892, 2014. CD.{{Cite web|url=https://www.innova.mu/albums/peter-van-zandt-lane/hackpolitik|title=Hackpolitik {{!}} Innova Recordings|website=www.innova.mu|language=en|access-date=2018-05-10}}

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.lidiyayankovskaya.com/ Official Website]
• [https://www.ada-artists.com/conductor-lidiya-yankovskaya ADA Artist Management]
• [http://www.refugeeorchestraproject.org/ Refugee Orchestra Project]
• [https://www.chicagooperatheater.org/ Chicago Opera Theater]

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Category:Russian women conductors (music)

Category:American women conductors (music)

Category:21st-century American conductors (music)

Category:Russian emigrants to the United States

Category:Soviet conductors (music)

Category:Music directors (opera)

Category:1986 births

Category:Living people

Category:Musicians from New York (state)

Category:Vassar College alumni

Category:Boston University alumni