He was most recently director of orchestras at Northwestern University's Bienen School of Music, a position he had held from 1984 to 2022.
He was a member of the Moscow Philharmonic as both violinist and assistant conductor, under the direction of renowned Maestro Kyrill Kondrashin.
The orchestra was Canada's only professional regional ensemble; Yampolsky was at its helm until financial problems caused its disbanding in 1983.
At the same time, he also accepted a position as conductor of the Young Artists Orchestra at the Boston University Tanglewood Institute.
"Utah Symphony president and CEO Donald L. Andrews confirmed that Yampolsky was invited to be a candidate several months ago, but until now, he preferred to have his candidacy kept confidential," according to a 1997 Deseret News article.
"[8] The symphony hired Thomas Wilkins to lead the orchestra in 2005; Yampolsky retained the title music director emeritus.
[9] Yampolsky has conducted more than 80 professional and student orchestras throughout the world, including repeat engagements with orchestras in the United States, Canada, Spain, Portugal, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan, the Czech Republic and Chile.