Eduards Grāvītis
1957
Conductor, music teacher
Born on 14 July 1957 in Rīga. Studied at the Choir Department of the Emīls Dārziņš Special Music Secondary School (1964-1971) and Rīga’s No 36 Secondary School (1971-1973). Graduated from the Music-teaching Department of the Rīga Pedagogical School (1977) and in the conducting class of Gido Kokars (1981) in the Department of Pedagogy of the Latvian State Conservatory; obtained a master’s degree at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music in 2002.
Began conducting choirs when still a student – conductor of the Lēdurga mixed choir (1977-1980), the Ādaži choir, the Daile (Beauty) mixed choir, choirmaster (1982-1984) and conductor (1985-1990) of the Dzintars (Amber) female choir. Grāvītis’ particular pet project is Senaiskalns (Ancient Hill), the chamber choir of the Latvian Academy of Art (1978-2009), which he created and directed. With the choir, he undertook concert tours to Lithuania, Estonia, Moldova, performed at the Chișinău Philharmonia, the Academic Glinka Capella in St. Petersburg, and has performed at festivals, competitions and concerts in Russia, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, France, Austria, Italy and Finland.
Experienced music educator at general schools. Worked at the Rīga No 45 Secondary School, since 1993 – conductor and artistic director of the Auseklītis (Morning Star) boys’ choir of the Rīga Imanta Latvian High School.
Was the principal choirmaster of the Latvian National Opera (1993-1994) and artistic director and conductor of the Auseklis (Morning Star) male choir (1988-2005). Was instrumental in promoting the music scene in Ventspils, having founded and directed the Ventspils Music Society’s chamber choir Ventspils (1989-1999), being the artistic director of the Ist, IInd, IIIrd and IVth Ventspils International Choral Music Festivals (1990-1997), Artistic Director of the Ist, IInd and IIIrd Mozart Music Festivals (1996-1998) and organiser of other musical events.
His first time as a chief conductor at a Song Festival came in 1993. Remembering his impressions when conducting the massed choir, Grāvītis states: “If you have never conducted thousands and now hear that Mirdzi kā zvaigzne (Shine Like a Star) by Dārziņš sounds exactly like you supposed it would – that is a fantastic feeling. I left myself in God’s hands, people close to me and those who were stood before me. It was my finest hour.” (Grauzdiņa, Ilma, Izredzētie (The Chosen Few), 2008. p 230
A chief conductor at the XXIst and XXIInd All-Latvian Song Festivals, XIth and XIIIth Gaudeamus Baltic Student Song Festivals, the VIIIth and XIth Latvian Schools’ Song and Dance Festivals, the centenary celebration of the Jelgava Song and Music Festival (1995), the VIth and VIIth Gatherings of Latvian boys’ choirs, the Rīga City Kurzeme District (1989-1996) and Ventspils City School Youth Choir (since 2000), the Ventspils City and District Choir (1989-2002) and Aizkraukle District School youth choirs (since 2005).
