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).

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.

1968
Choir conductor, educator

Born on 19 June 1968 in Lubāna. She received her initial education at Lubāna Secondary School and Madona Children’s Music School (1975-1983). Continued her studies in the Choir Conducting Department of the Jāzeps Mediņš Rīga Music College (1983-1987).

1925-2018
Choir conductor, educator

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

1969
Conductor, educator

Born 15 July 1969 in Rīga. Obtained his musical grounding in the Emīls Dārziņš Music School’s choir class, graduating in 1987. Studied at the Department of Choir Conducting at the Latvian Academy of Music under Professor Edgars Račevskis and furthered his education at the Westminster Choir College in Princeton, USA, graduating with a Master’s Degree in 1995.

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.

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).

1962
Dancer, choreographer

Born 17 November 1962 in Valmiera. Studied at Heroic Secondary School No 11 in Valmiera (1970–1981). His love of dance came from dancing with the school dance group led by Ieva Adāviča and the Gauja dance group led by Vaira Kraukle (Dundure, 1977–1981).

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.

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.

1967
Conductor, educator

Born on 30 November 1967 in Rīga. Received his first professional music education at the Emīls Dārziņš Special Music Secondary School (1975-1986). Continued studies at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music with Professor Imants Kokars.

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.

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).

1968
Choreographer, dance group leader

Born on 2 December 1968 in Rīga. Attended Rīga Secondary School No 64 (1976–1979), then Rīga Secondary School No 85 (1979–1981, 1984–86), Rīga Extended Day School No 2 (1981–84) and Rīga Evening School No 9 (1986–87).

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.

1964
Choreographer

Born 20 May 1964, in Tīnūži Parish, Ogre District. Took his first dance steps in Year 1 with A. Gribule’s children’s dance group at the Society for the Blind. Later, extended his practical experience with the Vija folk-dance ensemble (1979–1985), led by former ballet dancer Pauls Tonigs. In parallel, studied at the Rīga Cultural Workers’ Technical School (1983–1986), qualifying in club and dance-group management. Managed the Rāzna club in Rēzekne District.

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).

1968–2013
Choreographer, dance educator

Arta Melnalksne (Mazitāne) was born 8 August 1968 in Rīga. Studied at Rīga’s No 2 Secondary School (now Rīga No 2 State High School).

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.

1969
Choreographer, director of dance groups

Born in Lielvārde. Graduated from the E. Kauliņš Lielvārde Secondary School in 1987 and began studying dance education at the Rīga Cultural Workers’ Technical School. Enhanced her folk-dancing skills by dancing in the Lāčplēsis folk-dance ensemble under the directorship of Vairis Ceimeris and Daumants Olis. Has a Master’s degree in Dance Teaching.

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).

1971
Choir conductor

Born on 9 December 1971 in Nereta. Studied at Jēkabpils No 1 Secondary School (1979-1987), at the Jēkabpils Music School (1980-1987) and in the Department of Choir Conducting of the Jāzeps Mediņš Music High School (1987-1991).

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.

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).

1972
Conductor, cultural event manager

Born on 7 May 1972 in Rīga. Received his first professional music education at the Emīls Dārziņš Special Music secondary school (1979-1991). Continued his studies at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music with Prof. Jānis Zirnis and Imants Kokars (1991-2001). Worked as an intern in Great Britain and Germany, supplementing his knowledge of Baroque music interpretation.

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).

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.

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.