Ausma Derkēvica
1929–2011
Choir conductor, educator
An outstanding Latvian conductor, the initiator and developer of the high-quality young female-choir movement in Latvia in the second half of the 20th century. The first woman to direct the Song Festival massed choir from the chief conductor’s podium.
Born 21 July 1929 in Rīga. After graduating from secondary school, enrolled at the Jāzeps Mediņš Music Secondary school, then studied at the Conservatory of Latvia (1954-1959).
From 1964 to 1972, a teacher at the Emīls Dārziņš Music Secondary school, from 1959 to 1964 head of the Music Department of the People’s Art Centre. In parallel, conducted the Revolutionary Veterans of the Latvian SSR choir (1958-1970) and together with conductor and her husband Imants Cepītis, directed the Dzintars (Amber) ‘People’s’ Choir. The choir is also one of the first to achieve great success outside the Soviet Union, gaining first place at the Béla Bartók Choir Competition in Debrecen in 1968. The choir achieved its first victory, as it did in many subsequent international competitions, not only in female-choir groups, but also in competition with all choirs.
The development of Dzintars and her work with composers, encouraging them to create musically and technically complicated compositions, characterises Derkēvica as the initiator and developer of the high-quality young female-choir movement in Latvia. For thirty years, directed the State Academic Choir (1969-1989) in an outstanding tandem with Cepītis. Has performed many of the most outstanding large-scale vocal instrumental pieces in collaboration with the world’s leading orchestras, conductors and soloists.
