The gifted musician Regina Ilyinichna Spektor was born in Russia on February 18, 1980, but later emigrated to the US. When she was nine and a half years old, during the Perestroika era, which permitted Soviet citizens to leave, her family departed the Soviet Union.
She was saddened to have to part with her cherished piano. Due to the intensity of Spektor’s piano training, her parents were first hesitant to emigrate from the Soviet Union.
Yet, they ultimately decided to leave because of the prejudice towards Jews on the basis of race, ethnicity, and politics.
The Spektor family journeyed to Austria and then Italy to get to the United States. While there, they were helped by the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS) and were given refugee status.
They eventually relocated to the Bronx, where Regina completed her middle school education at SAR Academy, a Jewish day school located in the Riverdale neighborhood.
Regina was forced to practice on tabletops and other hard surfaces until she discovered a piano to play in the basement of her synagogue because they were unable to transport their piano from Moscow.
When she arrived in New York City, Sonia Vargas, a professor at the Manhattan School of Music, guided her in her classical piano studies until she was 17 years old. Vargas’ spouse, violinist Samuel Marder, introduced Vargas and Spektor’s father to one another.
Why Did Regina Spektor Leave Russia?
In 1989, during the Perestroika era, Regina Spektor, then nine and a half years old, emigrated from Russia with her family. Her family took advantage of the opportunity to escape at a period when Soviet nationals were allowed to do so.
They had to leave because Jews were being severely persecuted in Russia at the time. After relocating to the Bronx, her family immersed themselves in American culture while still keeping Jewish festivals as a part of their cultural heritage.
Regina claims that because of the institutionalized discrimination against Jews in Russia, the family was forced to flee in search of a better life in America.
Is Regina Spektor A Refugee?
Yes, the Spektor family arrived in Italy and then Austria before being helped by HIAS and being accepted as refugees (the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society).