Ivars Bērziņš
1954
Conductor, educator
Born 5 October 1954 in Rīga. Acquired the fundamentals of music theory and choir conducting at the Emīls Dārziņš Special Music Secondary School, then studied at the Latvian State Conservatory’s Department of Choir Conducting, graduating from the conducting class of Ludmila Pismennaja (1978). Later undertook postgraduate studies at the Leningrad State Conservatory (1983-1985).
Has directed several amateur choirs – the Pūt, vējiņi (Blow Wind, Blow) Limbaži mixed choir, Dziedonis (Minstrel) Smiltene male choir, Imanta Valmiera male choir and was also choirmaster of the Tēvzeme (Fatherland) male choir. Also worked with professional choirs – was choirmaster and second conductor of the Latvian Radio Choir (1978-1986), founded and directed the unique chamber choir Sindi putnu dārzs (Sindi Bird Garden) (1987-1993), with whom he staged striking performances of contemporary music. “We are a watchable choir, not listenable. We aren’t sophisticated musicians, we’re stiffer, but more experimenting. Everything a person does – not just their voice, but also their body and mimicry – expresses emotion. And our goal is to express and create a direct emotional experience with all the means at our disposal,” says the conductor, explaining the expressive style of Sindi putnu dārzs. (Grauzdiņa, Ilma, Izredzētie (The Chosen Few), 2008. p 192)
Worked at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music (1990-1993). Since 1993, the conductor has also included cultural management and cultural economics in his main interests, earning a master’s degree from the Hamburg University of Music and Theatre (1995), and a doctorate at the University of Munster 2005 in these subjects. Worked as a coordinator and advisor for several projects, since 1997 has been a lecturer at the Latvian Academy of Culture.
A chief conductor at the XXth and XXIst All-Latvian Song and Dance Festivals, the VIIth Latvian School Song and Dance Festival, as well as at regional song festivals and days of song.
