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.

1961–2016
Educator, choreographer

Born 11 June 1961 in Daugavpils. Studied dance under I. Ancāne with the Daugavpils District Cultural Centre dance group and under the guidance of R. Ērmane and répétiteur A. Stahovskis with the Laima (Goddess of Fate) students’ dance group.

1962
Choreographer, designer

Born 5 April 1962 in Seattle, USA. As a child, danced folk dances, learned the fundamentals of ballet and jazz dance. Was a long-time dancer with the Trejdeksnītis dance group in Seattle, later taking over as director (1986–1993). Lecturer at the Latvian Dance Summer School Kursa (1981, 1984, 1985).

1925-2018
Choir conductor, educator

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

1964
Educator, choreographer, stage director

Born 25 March 1964 in the Daugavpils District. Studied at the Eglaine eight-year school in Daugavpils District (1971–1979), then at Rīga Cultural and Education Workers’ Technical College, specialising as a cultural worker and dance-group leader (1979–1982).

1963
Choreographer, educator, stage director

Born 26 October 1963 in Sigulda. Studied at Sigulda Secondary School where became acquainted with folk dancing under the guidance of Daina Štāla and Guntis Puķītis. In 1985, graduated from the Latvian State Conservatoire’s Department of Cultural Studies in the Department of Dance Specialisation (1981–1985) and in 2008 received a Master’s degree in Theatre Direction from the Latvian Academy of Culture.

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.

1966
Choreographer, folklorist

Conserver and populariser of Latgale region folklore, master of folk-music instruments.

Born 24 December 1966 in Viļāņi. Graduated from the Cultural and Education Workers’ Technical College (1989), then continued his education in the Choreography Department of the Jāzeps Vītols Music Academy, graduating in 1998.

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).

1947–2016
Choreographer, educator

Born 30 December 1947 in Madona. Studied at Madona Secondary School No 1 and Cesvaine Boarding School, where took his first dance steps in the dance group led by teacher L. Malina.

1955
Conductor, educator

Born on 20 March 1955 in Rīga. Studied at the Department of Choir Conducting of the Emīls Dārziņš Special Music secondary school.

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.

1957
Conductor, music teacher

Born on 14 July 1957 in Rīga. Studied at the Choir Department of the Emīls Dārziņš Special Music Secondary School (1964-1971) and Rīga’s No 36 Secondary School (1971-1973). Graduated from the Music-teaching Department of the Rīga Pedagogical School (1977) and in the conducting class of Gido Kokars (1981) in the Department of Pedagogy of the Latvian State Conservatory; obtained a master’s degree at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music in 2002.

1949
Choreographer, cultural scene organiser

Born 30 October 1949 in Rīga. Mastered his first dance steps in the Dzintariņš (Little Amber) folk-dance group under the guidance of Zinaida Zeltmate and in the Teachers’ Centre dance group under E. Jercuma.

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).

1954
Choreographer, educator

Born 19 February 1954 in Rīga. Studied at Cēsis No 1 Secondary School. Initial interest in dance arose in the school dance group led by I. Pūcītis. Graduated from the Cultural and Education Workers’ Technical College (1976) and furthered her education in the Choreography Department of the Jāzeps Vītols Academy of Music (1981–1986).

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).

1970
Choreographer

Born 15 August 1970 in Saldus. Learned the basics of dance as a dancer in the Kursa folk-dance ensemble under the guidance of teacher Velta Lodiņa. Graduated from the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, Department of Choreography (1988–1992), University of Latvia, Faculty of History and Philosophy (1997) and the Latvian University of Agriculture, Faculty of Social Sciences (2002).

1945
Conductor, educator, arranger

Born on 4 December 1945 in Grobiņa, Liepāja District. Attended Grobiņa elementary school, graduated from Liepāja’s Music secondary school (1965) and studied at the Leningrad State Conservatory, where he graduated from the conducting class of Nikolay Romanovsky (1973).

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.

1948
Conductor, educator, politician

Born on 1 December 1948 in Sigulda. Studied at Rīga Secondary School No 5 (1955-1966) and in the accordion class at the Pāvuls Jurjāns Music School. Continued his education at the Jāzeps Mediņš Music secondary school, in the accordion class of Alfrēds Tučs (1966-1969).

1971
Dancer, choreographer, dance educator, organiser

Born 4 June 1971 in Rīga. Graduated from Rīga’s No 4 Secondary School (now Rīga’s English High School, 1977–1989). Then studied at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, Department of Choreography, from which he graduated in 1993. In 1998, started studies at the Rīga Teacher Training and Educational Management Academy, where in 2000 gained a Master’s degree in educational theory. In 2006, received a Master’s degree in Arts from the Latvian Academy of Culture.

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).

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).

1969
Conductor, educator

Born on 27 June 1969 in Rīga. Studied at Rīga Music school No 1 and the Emīls Dārziņš Special Music school.

1963
Choreographer, director of dance groups

Born 8 May 1963 in Saldus. While studying at Saldus No 2 Secondary School, started dancing in the Kursa folk-dance ensemble under the guidance of Velta Lodiņa. Here her love of dance came to the fore and she took her first steps in choosing her future profession.

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.

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.

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).

1960
Conductor, educator

Born 19 August 1960 in Rīga. Graduated from the Emīls Dārziņš Special Music School (1978) and Jāzeps Vītols Latvian State Conservatory’s choir- and orchestra-conducting department, receiving a diploma in the conducting of choirs and symphony orchestras, as well as in musical pedagogy (1983). Obtained a master’s degree in music at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music (2003). Supplemented his knowledge at choir-conducting courses in the US and at Germany’s Bach Academy (1992-1993).

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.