Ārijs Šķepasts
1961
Conductor, composer
Born on 10 September 1961. Studied music at the Emīls Dārziņš Special Music secondary school, then attended the choir-conducting department of the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian State Conservatory in the class of Jevgenijs Augustinovičs (1985).
When still a student, began working with the Senaiskalns (Ancient Hill) chamber choir and the Minjona University of Latvia female choir, but after graduation, responded to the invitation of Leonīds Vīgners, taking over the professor’s mixed choir Mūza (Muse). Currently conducting the Austrums (Orient) choir (since 1987), the Rīga Latvian Society mixed choir (since 1990) and the Latvian National Guard choir Stars (Ray). His choirs have successfully participated in festivals and competitions in Latvia and abroad and surprise with their interesting concert programmes. Austrums stands out for its dramatic mode of expression. Its performances of arrangements and original songs are often astonishing with unusual means of expression – sounds from nature and non-traditional instruments. Items worthy of mention in the choir’s trophy cabinet include 2nd place at all-Latvian Song Festival choir competitions (2008, 2003), 2nd place at the 16th International Stasys Šimkus choir competition in Klaipėda (2007), 2nd prize and special prize for the best contemporary-music performance at the 11th Neuchatel International Choral Festival 2006 in Switzerland, and many other awards.
“I have had my own understanding of what is valuable, what less so. My teacher Leonīds Vīgners sowed the seeds of my values, he didn’t teach me in many classes, but from the very beginning I felt that we understood each other. When I joined his teachers’ chamber choir, I realised that our musical-taste criteria and aesthetics concurred. It has also been important for me to believe that people have their own opinion, moreover – one they can justify.” (Auguste, Ilga. Conductor Ārijs Šķepasts: A white sparrow with the dreams of an eagle. Klasika.lsm.lv, 10 September 2014)
Since 1995, artistic director, composer and arranger of the Harmonija Rīgai (Harmony 4 Rīga) Barbershop ensemble.
Worked as an educator at the Rīga Dome Choir School. Currently working at Rīga Secondary School No 6.
A chief conductor at the XXVth All-Latvian Song and XVth Dance Festival (2013) and at the XXVIIth All-Latvian Song and XVIIth Dance Festival Massed choir concert “The Field. The Road of Song” (Tīrums. Dziesmas ceļš) (2023). Chief conductor and composer at the Latgale Song Festival, active member of the Rīga Latvian Society, has also been on the Society’s board.
“In my 32 years of creative activity, I have always focused on Latvian music. Over the years, my conviction about the correctness of this choice has only increased. The tradition of staging a programme devoted to a Latvian composer every season is still maintained. Looking down the list of composers we have featured, you have to conclude that we have sung more or less the entire treasure chest of Latvian classics.” (Choir conductor Ārijs Šķepasts celebrates his 50th birthday with a concert. Delfi.lv. 13 September 2011)
On October 18, 2023, the Chapter of Orders decided to award conductor Ārijs Šķepasts with the Order of the Three Stars and to appoint him a Knight of the Order of the Three Stars for special services to the Latvian state.
