From refugee to maestro: Yankovskaya returns to lead Albany Symphony

CBS6 Morning News

Albany, NY

The Albany Symphony Orchestra will present a special concert conducted by Lidiya Yankovskaya at Proctors on Saturday March 8.

Yankovskaya immigrated to the U.S. as a refugee back in 1995. She went to Guilderland where she was inspired by her High School music teacher, Jeff Herchenroder, who was a bassist for Albany Symphony. She first picked up the baton at 17-years-old, when she started conducting at the High School with 4 orchestras, 5 bands, and 7 choirs.

Now, Yankovskaya lives in Chicago with her husband Dan and their children. She has conducted more than 40 world premieres and founded the Refugee Orchestra Project in 2016 to help unite refugee musicians and raise funds for those fleeing the Syrian refugee crisis.

She stopped by the CBS6 studio and talked to morning anchor Julia Dunn about her journey to the U.S. and her love for music.