Jānis Dūmiņš

His entry into professional circles was outstanding. Having just graduated from the Choir Conducting Faculty, and commenced work at the Latvian SSR State Choir (now the State Academic Choir), initially as a choirmaster, then conductor, finally as its artistic director and chief conductor (1949-1960). First honoured with the title of chief conductor at the Ogre District Song Festival in 1948.

He founded Rīga Latvian Academy of Medicine and VEF factory mixed choir (1962-1985) (now the Rīga Stradiņš University mixed choir Rīga) and simultaneously worked with the Gaismaspils (Castle of Light) Latvian SSR Academy of Sciences mixed choir (1960-1967).

For almost 50 years, was a lecturer at the Latvian Academy of Music (1950-1994), also worked at the Rīga Teacher Training and Education Management University and the Tbilisi State Conservatory (1957-1958). Continuing his close co-operation with Georgia, directed the Georgian State Choir (1957-1967) and was principal choirmaster of the Tbilisi State Opera and Ballet Theatre Choir (1982-1985).

A chief conductor at the XIIth-XXIInd All-Latvian Song Festivals, Honorary chief conductor at the XXIIIrd and XXIVth All-Latvian Song Festivals, as well as the chief conductor and organiser of the Gaudeamus Baltic Students’ Song Festival, the IInd-VIIth Latvian Schools’ Song and Dance Festival and chief conductor and organiser of countless district and regional days of song.

“The choir conducting art of Jānis Dūmiņš has his own signature: it is temperamental, gripping, ‘hot-blooded’ art, which has proven itself across a very wide spectrum – both in terms of the quality of the sound itself and in repertoire. The choirs directed by Jānis Dūmiņš have sounded and sound vocally bright, they are capable of handling large-scale and complex artistic challenges, they have established an artistic bearing.” (Grauzdiņa, Ilma, Izredzētie (The Chosen Few), 2008. p 123)

Latvian SSR Order of Honour for artistic endeavours (1956), Latvian SSR State Prize Laureate (1958), Georgian Order of Honour for artistic endeavours (1958), Latvian SSR People’s Performing Artist (1977), Officer of the Order of the Three Stars (1996), Honorary Member of the Latvian Academy of Sciences (1997), Honorary Doctor of Rīga Stradiņš University and Honorary Member of the Teodors Reiters Foundation.