Imants Kokars

From 1951 to 1956, studied at the Latvian State Conservatory’s Choir-conducting Department and worked as choirmaster of the Latvian Radio Choir (1950-1962). Has successfully led many winners of contests and choir competitions – the Dziedonis (Minstrel) male choir (1955-1990), Zemgale Jelgava Teachers’ choir (1961-1967) and the Cēsis District Teachers’ choir Beverīna (1966-1980). In 1969, founded the legendary Rīga chamber choir Ave Sol from alumni of the Latvian State Conservatory, which has become the inspiration for many contemporary choral works by Latvian composers. Under the guidance of Kokars, the choir has promoted Latvian choral culture in countless concert tours and festivals, and has won many awards in international choral music competitions.

Kokars passed on his choir-conducting experience to students, working at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music (1963-2000), concurrently taking over as Rector (1977-1990). A jury member at many international choir competitions, has presented master classes in Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway and Israel. Was the initiator and leader of the fundamental project Anthology of Latvian Choral Music in 12 Volumes.

A chief conductor at the XIVth-XXIInd All-Latvian Song Festivals, Honorary chief conductor at the XXIIIrd and XXIVth All-Latvian Song Festivals, artistic director of and chief conductor at the Vth-Xth Gaudeamus Baltic Student Song Festivals, chief conductor at countless regional and district days of song. After the restoration of Latvia’s independence, established the Baltic and Nordic song-festival movement and was a chief conductor at the subsequent festivals (1995, 1997, 1999), a chief conductor of the West Coast and Canadian Latvian Song Festivals and the Faeroe Islands music festival.

Kokars reflects on the Song Festival: “The history of our Latvia is the history of Song Festivals: I am convinced that, in 1918, Latvia could only be founded thanks to its Song-festival history, which started with the first Latvian Song Festival in 1873. In Latvia’s first independence period, this movement flourished in its entirety, but during the Soviet era it became a movement of our nation’s unification. Thanks to the Song Festival, we could come together in a singing revolution at Mežaparks – what would we have done there, if we hadn’t had our Lauztās priedes (Broken Pines) and Gaismas pils (Castle of Light) ? The songs strengthened us and gave us the strength to join hands and stand in the Baltic Way . The whole world then saw that tanks were not welcome here, that this was a singing revolution.” (Raita, Santa. Imants Kokars: mathematician-instigator and romantic-lover). Tvnet.lv, 9 October 2006)

Latvian SSR Order of Honour for artistic endeavours (1967), Latvian SSR National Award Winner (1958), People’s Artist of the Latvian SSR (1975), Latvian SSR (1974) and USSR (1979) State Prize Laureate, People’s Artist of the USSR (1985), Commander, Order of the Three Stars (1995), winner of the 1995 Latvian Grand Music Award, Life Beneficiary of the State Culture Capital Foundation (1999), Honorary Member of the Latvian Academy of Sciences (1993).