Staņislavs Broks
1926–1977
Conductor, educator, composer
Notable conductor, music educator and important leader of the Latgale music scene.
Born on 10 January 1926, in Dricēni Parish, Rēzekne District. Attended Dricēni Primary School (1936) and Rēzekne Secondary School No 1, acquiring musical knowledge at Rēzekne Music Secondary School. While still at school, worked as a singing teacher and choir conductor at the Rēzekne Pedagogical School. In 1949, started studies at the Latvian State Conservatory, concurrently conducting choirs and working as a singing teacher in several Rīga general-education schools. After graduating (1954), he moved to Daugavpils, where he became the director and choir conducting teacher of the Daugavpils Music Secondary School, Conductor (1957-1958) and Director (1958-1959) of the Daugavpils Musical Drama Theatre.
In Broks, Daugavpils gained not only an energetic director but a truly outstanding organiser, enthusiastic public figure, a person who soon became the life and soul of the city’s and district’s cultural life, a driving force and leader. He lead the of the Jēkabpils District Teachers’ choir and the Daugava Daugavpils Cultural Centre mixed choir, founded in 1955, with which he won 2nd prize at the VIth World Youth and Students’ Festival in Moscow in 1957 and 2nd place in the XIIIth All-Latvian Song Festival choir competition. These successes, together with Latgalian Song Festival he initiated in 1959 and the Latgale Cultural Week events in Rīga (1959), lead to a significant upsurge in the musical self-confidence and growth of the entire Latgale region.
Turned to orchestra conducting with the same inspiration, directing the Daugavpils Symphony Orchestra (1962-1977) and organising and conducting countless symphonic and vocal-symphonic concerts in Daugavpils and other Latgale cities.
A chief conductor at the XIIIth-XVIth All-Latvian Song Festivals and Latgale Song Festival, as well as chief conductor of many Latgale region choirs.
Latvian SSR Order of Honour for artistic endeavours (1958), received multiple Presidium of the Latvian Supreme Council awards (1955, 1957) and many other honours.
