Terēzija Broka
1925-2018
Choir conductor, educator
A notable conductor and cultural functionary, an active facilitator and organiser of musical life in the Latgale region.
Terēzija Broka, also known as Terēze Broka, was born on 30 September 1925 in the Viļāni Parish, Rēzekne District. Graduated from the Vītoli Primary School (1934-1940) and Rēzekne Secondary School No 1 (1940-1946), but in music theory and conducting from the Rēzekne Music Secondary School (1946-1949) and the Latvian State Conservatory (1949-1954).
Even as a student, was already conducting several amateur choirs, but after moving to Daugavpils, began working at the Daugavpils Music College as a teacher in the Choir Conducting department. In this period, took over the directing of many choirs in the Latgale region:
the Līksna village mixed choir (1958), Latgale Daugavpils District choir (since 1963), Jēkabpils Teachers’ Choir (1968-1977), Rūta female choir (since 1977), Daugavpils Central Cultural Centre choir Daugava (1956-1978), and also founded and directed the Daina female vocal-instrumental ensemble. Under Broka’s direction, these choirs have participated in countless regional concerts, days of song, gatherings, and also achieved success in foreign competitions and festivals.
Broka’s life is unthinkable without constant contact with young people – choirs and future conductors: she educated Edgars Znutiņš, Jevģenijs Ustinskovs, Skaidrīte Ērlihe, Silvija Juhņeviča, Jeļena Bogatirjova and many other notable musicians. She acknowledges her pedagogical work as an important and beautiful mission. Broka believes it is important “... when looking back, to see at least some traces of your past life. It is also very important to me that those who have spent time with me, will follow in my footsteps and succeed me – my students, who I took through their first professional steps at the music secondary school.” (Grauzdiņa, Ilma, Izredzētie (The Chosen Few), 2008. p 196)
A chief conductor at the XXth-XXIInd All-Latvian Song Festivals, Honorary chief conductor at the XXIIIrd-XXVIth All-Latvian Song Festivals, chief conductor at the VIIth Latvian Schools’ Song and Dance Festival, chief conductor and organiser of Latgale Song Festivals and Teachers’ choir gatherings, Daugavpils City and District Choir chief conductor.
Latvian SSR Order of Honour for artistic endeavours (1977), Latvian People’s Performing Artist (1986), Officer of the Order of Three Stars (1995), Ministry of Culture Award for Folk Art and the Spīdola Award (1998), Grand Music Award 2003 and Cabinet of Ministers Diploma and Prize winner (2005). Awarded the Boņuks Latgale Cultural Annual Award for her lifelong contribution to Latgalian culture (2013) and the Daugavpils City Award For Her Lifelong Contribution (2015).
