1945
Choreographer, director of dance groups

Born 24 December 1945 in Liepāja. Studied the fundamentals of dance at the Liepāja Ballet Studio under L. Bubers. Graduated from the Rīga Cultural and Education Workers’ Technical College (1963–1967), gaining practical experience with Imants Magone in the Liesma (Flame) folk-dance ensemble (1964–1966).

1945
Educator, répétiteur

Born 23 March 1945 in Rīga. Graduated from Rīga Choreography Secondary School (1964), learning from outstanding educators such as Tamāra Vītiņa, Valentīna Bļinova, Helēna Tangijeva-Birzniece and Bella Matisone. Graduate of the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian State Conservatoire, Cultural Education Faculty, specialising in dance (1981–1986).

1940
Educator, choreographer, cultural figure

Born 13 August 1940 in Pededze Parish, Alūksne District. Started dancing as a child in the Lejasciems Elementary School dance group.

1932–2011
Choreographer, educator, ballet artist

Born 31 July 1932 in Rīga. Received her vocational education qualification at the Rīga Secondary School of Choreography, in the class of Helēna Tangijeva-Birzniece (1945–1953), and later worked as a soloist at the Latvian Opera and Ballet Theatre.

1925
Conductor, educator

Born in Jelgava on 14 June 1925. Gained his musical education at the Jelgava Teachers’ Institute and the Jelgava People’s Conservatory.

1954
Conductor, educator

Born 5 October 1954 in Rīga. Acquired the fundamentals of music theory and choir conducting at the Emīls Dārziņš Special Music Secondary School, then studied at the Latvian State Conservatory’s Department of Choir Conducting, graduating from the conducting class of Ludmila Pismennaja (1978). Later undertook postgraduate studies at the Leningrad State Conservatory (1983-1985).

1925-2018
Choir conductor, educator

A notable conductor and cultural functionary, an active facilitator and organiser of musical life in the Latgale region.

1944-2025
Conductor, educator, clergywoman

Daira Cilne (née Andersone) was born on 23 June 1944 in Rīga. At the end of the Second World War, escaped with her family to Germany as refugees, migrating to the US in 1949. Studied music and philology at the University of California, gaining a bachelor’s degree in 1965. Later, furthered her education at California State University in Northridge. Daira Cilne (née Andersone) was born on 23 June 1944 in Rīga. At the end of the Second World War, escaped with her family to Germany as refugees, migrating to the US in 1949. Studied music and philology at the University of California, gaining a bachelor’s degree in 1965. Later, furthered her education at California State University in Northridge.

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.

1962
Dancer, director of dance groups

Born 15 July 1962 in the Krāslava District. He acquired his basic skills in folk dancing during his school years, dancing in the Dagda Cultural Centre’s Dagda folk-dance ensemble (1978–1980).

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.

1942
Conductor, educator

One of the initial and most significant founders of the boys’ choir movement in Latvia.

Born 17 June 1942 at Miķeļtornis in Ance Parish, Ventspils District. Studied at the Jūrkraste and Mazirbe Elementary School, Ventspils Secondary School of Music, graduating in 1960, and at the Latvian State Conservatory (1965-1976).

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).

1937
Ballet soloist, choreographer

Born 25 November 1937 in Abava Parish. Studied at the Rīga Cultural and Education Technical College (1951–1955) with distinguished personalities such as Arvids Donass, Elga Drulle, Irēna Strode and Uldis Žagata. He also attended ballet classes at the M. Baranova Ballet Studio.

1935–2018
Dancer-soloist, choreographer, educator

Born 26 January 1935 in Rīga. He studied at Asari Elementary School, then at the Jūrmala Pumpuri Secondary School.

1938-2022
Conductor, composer, educator, oboist

Born on 2 October 1938 in Rīga. At the end of the Second World War, he and his parents escaped to Germany as refugees, emigrating to the US in 1949.

1962
Conductor, educator

Born 29 November 1962 in Rīga. Took his first musical steps in the piano class at the Jāzepa Mediņš Music school, then in the choir class of the Emīls Dārziņš Special Music secondary school.

1944
Conductor, educator

Born on 22 April 1944 in Rīga. In 1962, graduated from the conducting class of the Emīls Dārziņš Special Music School, continued his studies at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian State Conservatory, graduating from the Department of Choir Conducting (1967) and internship (1974) under the guidance of Ludmila Pismennaja.

1921–2017
Conductor, educator

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

1921–2011
Conductor, educator

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

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).

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.

1955
Conductor, educator

Born 20 December 1955 in Toronto, Canada. Graduated from the Toronto Latvian elementary and high schools. In her childhood, studied singing, saxophone and piano at the Royal Conservatory of Toronto. Continued her education at the University of Western Ontario, gaining a bachelor’s degree in music education (1982).

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).

1933–2011
Choreographer, educator

One of the most active and versatile collectors and maintainers of the Latvian folk dance tradition in North America, he actively promoted co-operation between Latvia’s choreographers and dancers and those living in exile.

1953
Conductor, educator

Born on 23 October 1953 in Rīga. Obtained his first professional music education at the Emīls Dārziņš Special Music secondary school, graduating from the choir class (1972).

1945
Choreographer

Born 2 May 1945 in Jelgava. Started dancing at an early age. Learned the basics of Latvian folk dance in the Diždancis (Grand Dance) Jelgava Cultural Centre folk-dance ensemble led by his father Vilis, as a dancer (from 1976), later as assistant director. Studied hydrology at the Kandava Soviet State Technical College (1970–1974).

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.

1926-2023
Conductor, composer, violinist, music critic, publicist

Born on March 22, 1926, in Mengele Parish. In his childhood, studied violin and sang in the children’s choir of the Youth Red Cross of Latvia led by Jānis Milzarājis.

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).

1938
Dance group leader, choreographer

Born 4 September 1938 in Dauguļi Parish, Valmiera District. From 1949 to 1955, was deported to the Amur region, where he studied at the agricultural technical college. After returning to Latvia, continued his studies at the Bulduri Horticultural Technical School.

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).

1953-2025
Educator, choreographer

Born 24 June 1953 at Šedere, Daugavpils District. Graduated from Daugavpils No 1 Secondary School (1970), then studied at the Rīga Cultural Workers Technical School (1972–1973) and the Choreography Department of the St. Petersburg Academy of Culture (1974–1978). Graduated from a stage-movement internship at St. Petersburg Theatre Academy in (1982–1986) and undertook post-doctoral studies at the University of Latvia (1998–2002).

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.

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.

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).

1906–2001
Conductor, educator, composer

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

1944
Conductor, educator

Born on 1 March 1944 in Staicele. Attended Staicele elementary school, then the choir-conducting department of the Alfrēds Kalniņš Cēsis Music secondary school. Even then, the young artist’s interests were wide-ranging – he learned to play the trumpet, clarinet and saxophone, and was a percussionist in the Cēsis Symphony Orchestra.

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.

1913–2015
Conductor, music critic, publicist

Born on 20 January 1913 at the Ambati homestead, Lube Parish. Studied at the Rīga Teachers’ Institute (1930-1935), Valmiera Music School and Liepāja Music School. Subsequently, started his teaching career at the Kocēni (then – Kokmuiža) parish primary school and with great enthusiasm directed choirs in the Kocēni, Lieziere, Liepāja and Valmiera areas.

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.