• Imants Imants Cepītis Chief conductor
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    ImantsCepītis

    Imants Cepītis

    1933–1993
    Conductor, educator

    Born on 9 January 1933 in Gulbene. Studied at Gulbene Secondary School and later at the Cēsis Music Secondary School. Furthered his musical education at the Latvian State Conservatory, in the choir conducting class of Jānis Ozoliņš (1954-1959).

  • Ausma Ausma Derkēvica Chief conductor
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    AusmaDerkēvica

    Ausma Derkēvica

    1929–2011
    Choir conductor, educator

    An outstanding Latvian conductor, the initiator and developer of the high-quality young female-choir movement in Latvia in the second half of the 20th century. The first woman to direct the Song Festival massed choir from the chief conductor’s podium.

  • Jānis Jānis Dūmiņš Chief conductor , festivals outside Latvia
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    JānisDūmiņš

    Jānis Dūmiņš

    1922–2011
    Conductor, educator

    One of the most outstanding Latvian conductors and educators.

    Born on 30 March 1922 in Rīga. Studied at the Krišjānis Barons Elementary School and the Rainis Evening Secondary school, graduating in 1941. Initially acquired his musical knowledge from private tutors, then at the Vīgneru Ernests Rīga Institute of Phonology.

  • Daumants Daumants Gailis Chief conductor
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    DaumantsGailis

    Daumants Gailis

    1927–1991
    Conductor, educator

    Born 9 February 1927 at the Viduķēsas homestead in Rāmuļi Parish. Studied at Rāmule (1935-1939) and Vaive Elementary Schools (1939-1941), Cēsis No 1 Secondary School and simultaneously at the Cēsis Music School (1941-1946). In Rīga, continued his studies at the Emīls Dārziņš Special Music Secondary School (1946-1948) and at the Conservatory of Latvia, where he studied choir and symphonic orchestra conducting (1948-1953).

  • Gido Gido Kokars Chief conductor
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    GidoKokars

    Gido Kokars

    1921–2017
    Conductor, educator

    A notable and beloved Latvian conductor of the second half of the 20th century.

  • Imants Imants Kokars Chief conductor , festivals outside Latvia
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    ImantsKokars

    Imants Kokars

    1921–2011
    Conductor, educator

    One of the most outstanding and influential Latvian conductors of the second half of the 20th century.

  • Pauls Pauls Kvelde Chief conductor , festivals outside Latvia
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    PaulsKvelde

    Pauls Kvelde

    1927–2017
    Conductor, composer

    Born 23 February 1927 in Priekuļi. Studied at Auce elementary school and Rīga Secondary School No 1. Initially studied at the Latvian Academy of Agriculture (1945-1951), then at the Conservatory of Latvia, in the choir-conducting classes of Jānis Dūmiņš and Teodors Kalniņš (1950-1955).

  • Aleksandrs Aleksandrs Lembergs Choreographer
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    AleksandrsLembergs

    Aleksandrs Lembergs

    1921–1985
    Ballet dancer, ballet master, educator, Premier danseur of the Latvian State Opera and Ballet

    One of the most prominent Latvian ballet personalities of the second half of the 20th century.

  • Imants Imants Magone Choreographer
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    ImantsMagone

    Imants Magone

    1936–2008
    Choreographer, educator

    Born 18 April 1936 at the Taureskalns farmstead, Balvi District. Acquired his basic education at Balvi No 1 Secondary School and took his first dance steps under M. Aizpure. Continued his studies at Cēsis No 1 Secondary School (1953–1955), becoming a member of the Cēsis Young people’s dance group, led by Milda Letiņa. After one successful performance, he was invited to dance in the Sakta (Brooch) State dance ensemble.

  • Haralds Haralds Mednis Chief conductor
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    HaraldsMednis

    Haralds Mednis

    1906–2000
    Conductor, educator, organist

    Born on 16 August 1906 at the Opekalns homestead in Jaunlaicene Parish. Studied at Lazdona congregational school and Rīga’s City secondary school No 1 (1920-1924).

  • Jānis Jānis Ozoliņš Chief conductor
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    JānisOzoliņš

    Jānis Ozoliņš

    1908–1981
    Conductor, educator, composer

    Born on 30 May 1908 in Jelgava. Studied at the Škibe, then the Dobele elementary school and secondary school (1923-1926), actively participating in the school orchestra and choir.

  • Vilis Vilis Ozols Choreographer
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    VilisOzols

    Vilis Ozols

    1923–2011
    Choreographer, cultural figure

    Born 20 March 1923 at the Mežgaiļi farmstead, Valgunde Parish, Jelgava District. Studied at the Jelgava Teachers’ Institute (1941–1943). During World War II, he ended up in Leningrad, where he became a member of amateur ensembles – playing in an orchestra, dancing in the Gorky Palace choreography studio and directing dance groups.

  • Edgars Edgars Račevskis Chief conductor , festivals outside Latvia
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    EdgarsRačevskis

    Edgars Račevskis

    1936-2022
    Conductor, educator, composer

    Born 11 July 1936 in Skrunda Parish. Attended Turlava elementary school, studied music at Liepāja Music secondary school and the Jāzeps Mediņš Music secondary school, later studied in the choir-conducting class at the Latvian State Conservatory (1955-1960).

  • Ingrīda Edīte Ingrīda Edīte Saulīte Choreographer
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    Ingrīda EdīteSaulīte

    Ingrīda Edīte Saulīte

    1935
    Educator, choreographer

    One of the Dance Celebrations’ brightest and most active personalities.

    Born 24 October 1935 in Rīga. Initial education at Rīga’s No 19 Seven-year school, also attending the Beatrise Vīgnere School of Plastic, followed by the Rīga Choreography School (1946–1952).

  • Alfrēds Alfrēds Spura Choreographer
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    AlfrēdsSpura

    Alfrēds Spura

    1928–2001
    Ballet artist, choreographer

    Born 30 March 1928 in Stelpe Parish. Graduated from the Rīga Secondary School of Choreography (1947–1951). Spent thirty years of his life (1947–1976) at the Opera and Ballet Theatre, including with ballet stars Māris Liepa, Haralds Ritenbergs, Uldis Žagats and Arturs Ēķis. The artist was a striking character-role dancer.

  • Harijs Harijs Sūna Choreographer
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    HarijsSūna

    Harijs Sūna

    1923–1999
    Choreographer, academic, educator

    One of the most outstanding and versatile Latvian personalities in the 20th century dance genre.
    Born 23 March 1923 in Sigulda Parish. Graduated from the Latvian State University, Faculty of Architecture. Then studied at the A. Lunacharsky State Dramatic Art Institute in Moscow (1960–1964), including with the famous choreographer Igor Moiseev.

  • Uldis Uldis Šteins Choreographer
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    UldisŠteins

    Uldis Šteins

    1935-2023
    Choreographer, dance educator, engineer, film producer

    Born 28 July 1935 in Rīga. After graduating from the Rīga Polytechnical Institute (1959), started working at the Rīga Film Studio as Chief Engineer (1968–1978), later as Deputy Director (1978–1990) and Director (1990–1998), taught cinema technology at the Latvian Academy of Culture.

  • Osvalds Osvalds Štrauss Choreographer
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    OsvaldsŠtrauss

    Osvalds Štrauss

    1927–2014
    Choreographer, educator

    Born 8 July 1927 in Kalnciems Parish. Studied at Kalnciems Elementary School, Bulduri State Horticultural-Apiary School, Bulduri Horticultural Technical School and graduated from the Latvian Academy of Agriculture, Faculty of Agronomy (1967). Received a Master’s degree in Educational theory from the Latvian University of Agriculture on the topic The Preparation of Schoolchildren for Dance Celebrations and its Educational-theory Aspect (1997).

  • Leonīds Leonīds Vīgners Chief conductor
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    LeonīdsVīgners

    Leonīds Vīgners

    1906–2001
    Conductor, educator, composer

    One of the 20th century’s most outstanding conductors of choirs, orchestras and opera performances.

  • Uldis Uldis Žagata Choreographer
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    UldisŽagata

    Uldis Žagata

    1928–2015
    Ballet artist, choreographer

    Born 17 March 1928 at the Pērles farmstead in Jeri Parish. Studied at the Rīga Choreography School (1944–1948). After graduation, he became a soloist at the Opera and Ballet Theatre (1948–1968), an outstanding performer of character roles.

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