Anna Marija Zariņa

1927-2004
Pianist, teacher, diplomat, active public worker

Marija Anna (also Marie-Anne, Marianna) Zarina was born on 30 September 1927 in Stockholm to Latvian envoy Karlis Zarins (Kārlis Zariņš) and his wife Henriete. The first years of her life were spent in Tallinn (1930-1931) and Riga (1931-1933); in 1933 the family moved to London where Marija Anna Zarina studied at the French Lycée. In 1951 she graduated from the Royal British College of Music with a degree in piano performance. From 1953 she worked as a teacher in the studio of her mentor Vinogradova-Bika (Vinogradova-Bīka), and later founded a private piano school. She also developed her concert career, performing at various concerts and festivals.

She was active in various exile organisations, including the London Chapter Board of Daugavas Vanagi, the England Chapter of the European Latvian Youth Association and for a long time the Latvian National Council in Great Britain (1962-1990), where she held both the positions of vice-president and the head of the cultural department. Zarina also performed the duties of a delegate there. For many years she was the Chairman of the Baltic Council and the Publishing Manager of the newspaper “Londonas avize” (1980-1987).

In 1990 Zarina was appointed Head of the Latvian Embassy in London with the right of charge d'affaires, and from 1992 to 1993 she served as Counsellor of the Embassy.

Zarina was also the chairperson of the organising committee of the 4th European Latvian Song Festival in London (1977) and the 5th European Latvian Song Festival in Leeds (1982).

She has received the Order of the Three Stars, V Rank (1997), the Golden Badge of Daugavas Vanagi and the award of the Latvian National Council in Great Britain (2002).


Information sources

Lesničenoka, A (2020, marts). Ar Latvijas vārdu pasaulē. Leģendas, 153, 49–55. Leģendas, Nr.153 (01.03.2020) (periodika.lv)

Marie Anna Zariņa. (b.g.). Marie Anna Zariņa (timenote.info)

Zariņa Marianna. (2006). No Latvju enciklopēdija 1962–1982 (5. sējums, 436. lpp.). Rockville: Amerikas Latviešu apvienības Latviešu institūts.