“I’ve got the greatest job in the world! I get to work with good people doing what I love–performing some of the most beloved music ever written.”–Dr. Yugo Sava Ikach, Music Director, Washington Symphony Orchestra

There’s Something Wonderful in Washington and you are a part of it.  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I’ve got the greatest job in the world!  I get to work with good people doing what I love.  What I love is being a part of the WSO family performing some of the most wonderful music ever written and having fun while doing so.

When I picked up that WSO baton in 2005 I could have only hoped that it would grow to what it is today.  Thank you for being a part of it, and thank you for allowing me as well.

This year our Artistic Committee have outdone themselves in programming innovative, inspirational and thought provoking music. If it does not bring you to tears of joy, make your heart well with longing, or inspire you to noble thoughts, then you are not sitting close enough.  Let’s smile, cry, enjoy and stand tall together!”

Yugo has enjoyed the post of WSO Music Director and Principal Conductor since 2005.  In addition to his work with the WSO, he is the director of Choirs at California University of Pennsylvania where he is also Chair of the Music Department.  His choirs and small singing ensembles at CalU regularly perform over 50 times a year.  Performances have included stints at The White House, Busch Gardens, Disney World, Chicago, New York City and recording in Nashville, TN. He is also Director of Music for Immaculate Conception Church in Washington, Pennsylvania.  His choir at Immaculate Conception has sung annual concerts with orchestra for the past twenty years featuring major works from the sacred repertory.  On January 1, 2015 they will have had the honor of singing Mass (the Octave of Christmas) with Pope Francis in Rome, Italy.  In addition to his conducting credits, Yugo has been featured as a singer and emcee in venues ranging from opera and music theater stages to concert halls, casinos and riverboats.

Yugo holds music degrees from Carnegie-Mellon University, the Peabody Conservatory of Music (Johns Hopkins University), and West Virginia University.  Yugo and his wife Charmaine, along with children Savannah, Arwen, Isaac and Isabelle are happy residents of Washington.