Lilija Zobens
1950
Conductor, ethnomusicologist, composer, singer, educator
Born 9 November 1950 in Halifax, Yorkshire. Acquired her first musical skills in piano and cello. Studied musicology at the University of London Royal College of Music (1969-1972) obtaining a bachelor’s degree. Studied singing at the Guildhall Music and Drama School. As the possessor of an expressive soprano voice, has performed solo concerts in Europe, Australia and North America.
A fateful turning point in the musician’s life is the sudden death of Alberts Jērums – she is obliged take over the London Latvian Choir, founded and directed by Jērums, which is due to take part in the Song Festival in Gotland in just a couple of months’ time. “Not in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine that my performance in Visby would open the way to becoming a chief conductor at exile-community and later independent Latvia’s song festivals. For many years, my concert experience had mainly revolved around chamber singing!” the artist acknowledges in a candid conversation with Olģerts Grāvītis. (Grauzdiņa, Ilma, Izredzētie (The Chosen Few), 2008, p 300)
The artist’s range of interests has always been very extensive – studied ethnomusicology at the Institute of Musicology of the Belgrade Academy of Arts and Science, earning a master’s degree (1977), has also studied composition and written many pieces – choral songs and folk-song arrangements for choir, instrumental chamber music and pieces for kokle. Has also directed her rich personality to teaching – working as a lecturer in ethnomusicology at the Guildhall Music and Drama School for 20 years, and has taught courses in ethnomusicology and analysis at Brunel University. Since 2001, has given vocal classes at the Enfield Arts Support Service, and has taught music and singing at the London Latvian School and European Latvian summer schools. In parallel, has worked as an assistant archivist in the UK’s Archival Sound Recordings, has participated in the development of two music lexicons –The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians and The New Grove Dictionary of Musical Instruments.
Has been a member of the Executive Council of the Latvian National Council in Great Britain for more than 25 years, originally as head of the cultural section, but as Chairman of the Board since 2009. Zobens is a lifetime member of Daugavas Vanagi, has been a member of the board and audit committee of the Daugavas Vanagi Foundation, currently a board member of the Daugavas Vanagi London branch. The conductor is deputy chairman of the World Federation of Free Latvians (since 2013), the European rapporteur on music for the Cultural Foundation the World Federation of Free Latvians, as well as a member of the European Association of Latvians.
Together with her husband Leslie East, has been conducting the London Latvian Choir for more than 40 years and sings in the Latvian ensemble Atbalss (Echo). “Singing is the healthiest musical activity, especially singing in a choir, because when you sing, the level of oxytocin in your body increases, which raises your feelings of comfort – you feel good and positive. In a choir, these feelings are even broader, deeper. Sometimes when I’m tired, when I’ve been working all day, I still have a choir rehearsal in the evening. But after working with the choir for two hours, I drive home completely rejuvenated. Choral singing has been important not only to me personally, but also to the Latvian nation – I would like to hear Latvians keep on singing more and more, especially at Jāņi (Midsummer Night),” the musician shares her thoughts. (Lancere, Gita, Lilija Zobens: Each of us is an ambassador of Latvia at our place of work, in our own community. Lsm.lv, 9 November 2017)
A chief conductor at the XXth-XXIInd All-Latvian Song Festivals, Honorary chief conductor at the XXVIIth All-Latvian Song Festival, VIIth Latvian Song Festival in Canada (1982), Vth European Latvian Song Festival in Leeds (1982), World Free All-Latvian Association Song Festivals in Gotland (1979) and Munster (1984), Australian Latvian Arts Festival in Perth (1980), as well as the conductor of many other major choral concerts.
Awarded the Order of the Three Stars (2007) and the honorary award of the Cultural Foundation of the World Federation of Free Latvians (2002).
