Indriķis Zīle
1841–1919
Conductor, organist, composer, educator
Born on 7 May 1841 at the Vecdreimaņi homestead in Vīķi parish. Attended the Aloja Congregational school (1855-1858), later the Vidzeme Teachers’ Seminary in Valka (1859-1862), where he was recruited as an assistant teacher (1862-1867). Importantly, met Jānis Cimze here, who laid deep ideological foundations for the rest of Zīle’s life.
The versatile musician took on the roles of organist and choir conductor at the Valka church (1867-1878), and founded the Valka singing society Dziesmu kronis (Crown of Song), also arranging folk songs for its repertoire.
In the latter half of his life, he moved to Tartu in Estonia, where he became a tenant of several estates and later their owner. Even though ceased his teaching duties at the Valka Teachers’ Seminary, he remained an advocate for Cimze’s ideas until the end of his life.
A chief conductor at the Ist-IIIrd All-Latvian Song Festivals, Honorary chief conductor and active organiser of the IVth and Vth All-Latvian Song Festivals, as well as a choir-competition jury member at the Ist, IInd and Vth Song Festivals.
