Ilze Valce
1964
Choir conductor, educator
Ilze Valce (née Džeriņa) was born on 31 March 1964 in Jelgava. Commenced her musical education at Aizpute Music School and continued at the Emils Melngailis Liepāja Music secondary school. Graduated from the Latvian State Conservatory in 1987, later studied for a master’s degree at the Latvian Academy of Music in the choir- and orchestra-conducting class (1993-1995) and continued doctoral studies (since 2004).
Currently an associate professor at the University of Liepāja (since 1987), conducts the Liepāja University female choir Atbalss (Echo, since 1990), the Intis youth choir of the Folk Art and Cultural Centre (since 1992) and is head of the choir studio at the Liepāja Children’s and Youth Centre. Her choirs have been awarded countless prizes at and won international competitions. The Liepāja University female choir Atbalss is one of the best female choirs in Latvia, as evidenced by the title of European Champion and a Gold Medal at the 2nd European Choir Games and the 1st Grand Prix of Nations in Magdeburg (2015), Gold Medal at the 8th World Choir Games in Rīga (2014) and 2nd place in the XXVth All-Latvian Song Festival choir competitions (2013). The mixed Intis choir took 3rd place in the XXIIIrd All-Latvian Song Festival choir competitions (2003) and 1st place in the Latvian Radio 1 Choir competition (2008).
“Ilze is an unusual and powerful personality. We sometimes don’t understand how she manages to do it, to drag what she wants out of us. And then you suddenly realise that to sing is beautiful”, says Sintija Zīverte, president of the Atbalss and Intis choirs. “…Ilze gives her all during rehearsals, dances and jumps around in front of the choir if she needs to, to explain the spirit and character of a song. Maybe that sounds too cute, but she really has taught us to see and feel the beauty of songs and music. Ilze has told us more than once that she would be nothing without us, the singers. Yes, you can also say that we would not be who we are, without her.” (Imbovica, Indra. The person at the heart of the week. Kurzemesvards.lv, 5 July 2003)
A chief conductor at the XXVth-XXVIIth All-Latvian Song Festivals.
Chairman of the Liepāja City Council’s Cultural Committee (1994-1997), received Certificates of Recognition from Latvia’s Ministry of Education, Liepāja City, the Liepāja Pedagogical Academy and Latvia’s Ministry of Culture (2014).
