Uldis Kokars

1962
Conductor, teacher

Uldis Kokars was born into the family of renowned conductor Imants Kokars. He studied at the Emīls Dārziņš Secondary School of Music, initially studying violin and piano, and later choir conducting. He received his higher education at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, obtaining bachelor’s and master’s degrees in choral conducting under Professor I. Kokars. In parallel, he studied symphony orchestra conducting with V. Sinaiskis, R. Glāzups, P. Megi, M. Bašs, J. Zirnis and V. Gailis.

For many years, Kokars sang with Rīga’s Ave Sol chamber choir, but from 2000 to 2013 was its artistic director and chief conductor. With this choir, he has given many important concerts all over the world, as well as recorded songs for the Latvian Choral Anthology in 12 Volumes collection, being one of the anthology project’s implementers.

Kokars has also worked as a conductor of important Latvian amateur choirs – he successfully conducted the Lauda youth chamber choir, the Balvi district Mirklis (Moment) mixed choir (since 2012) and the University of Latvia Dziedonis (Minstrel) male choir, with which he has staged important concert programmes, performed several major concert tours and won prizes in competitions. Under his leadership, Dziedonis was awarded the highest possible prize – the Grand Prix – at the XXVI Latvian Song Celebration and XVI Dance Festival (2018) choir competition.

In addition to his artistic work, Kokars has taught at the Rīga Doms Choir School (1986-2000) and the Jāzeps Mediņš Rīga Music High School (from 2014).

Kokars has given master classes in conducting in the Baltic States, Germany, France and Japan, has conducted many Latvian and international choir festivals and song days, as well as being a chief conductor for the Alūksne, Balvi and Gulbene districts.

A chief conductor at the Latgale Song Festival (2015) and at the XXVII Latvian Song Celebration and XVII Dance Festival Massed choir concert “The Field. The Road of Song” (Tīrums. Dziesmas ceļš) (2023).


Information sources

Rīga’s Ave Sol chamber choir. Available at: AVE SOL :: PAR MUMS :: Rīgas kamerkoris AVE SOL (riga.lv) [accessed 10.01.2023]

Uldis Kokars. Available at: Uldis Kokars | LMIC [accessed 10.01.2023]

Uldis Kokars. Available at: Uldis Kokars — Vikipēdija (wikipedia.org) [accessed 10.01.2023]

Uldis Kokars. Available at: Uldis Kokars | Jāzepa Mediņa Rīgas Mūzikas vidusskola (jmrmv.lv) [accessed 10.01.2023].