Yanakov graduated from Mannes College of Music, and was a full-scholarship fellow at the Accademia Chigiana in Siena, Italy. He made his conducting debut with the Czech National Symphony Orchestra, and is currently the Director of the London Chamber Players. Regular TV and Radio appearances on 3 continents, including live from the Los Angeles Museum of Art.
Regular masterclasses at major universities include the Birmingham Conservatoire. Jury president, the Russian Piano Competition in Sanremo, and jury member, the Ernest Bloch International Competition (Royal College of Music in London).
His project, The Four Pianists, mixing classical and jazz, has successfully toured Europe, playing at Cadogan Hall London and in front of 4,000-strong audiences.