JAZEPS VITOLS LATVIAN ACADEMY OF MUSIC

JVLMA stands for Jazeps Vitols Latvian Academy of Music - the only one university type education establishment in Latvia providing higher music education in performing arts, composition, music science, music pedagogy, choregraphy, as well as carrying out scientific research and creative work including studies on doctoral level. The activities of Latvian Academy of Music are based on the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia, the Law of Higher Education and the Constitution of the Latvian Academy of Music. Artistic and organizational activities of JVLMA are closely related to the Ministry of Culture, but academic and scientific work - to the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Latvia. Jazeps Vitols Latvian Academy of Music, K. Barona Street 1, Riga, LV-1050, Latvia Phone: 371 7228684, 371 7227228, Fax: 371 7820271, e-mail: academy@music.lv Academic Year Academic year is divided into autumn and spring semesters. Autumn semester: September 1 - December 20. Spring semester: January 6 - June 15. Holidays: Christmas /December 20-January 6/ and Easter /one week/. Academy is closed for summer holidays from July 10 till August 26. Admission Students are accepted for studies in JVLMA on basis of entrance examinations (second half of June); for applicants from abroad it is possible also to submit recording /CD together with the application and arrive for live audition outside examination period. Exchange students in frames of Socrates Erasmus programme have to apply through their institutional Socrates co-ordinators submitting Erasmus Student Application Form and Learning Agreement. Erasmus students should apply before November 15 if they intend to study during spring semester and before May15 if they intend to study during autumn semester. A Glance in History JVLMA, previously Latvian Conservatoire, was founded at the end of 1919. Its first rector till 1944 was Latvian composer Jazeps Vitols. Following rectors were composers and conductors Alfreds Kalnin (1944-1948), Jekabs Medin (1948-1950), Janis Ozolin (1951-1977). International recognition Latvian State Conservatoire obtained during Imants Kokars` rectorship (1977-1990). This policy was continued by present rector composer Juris Karlsons. Latvian Conservatoire was founded as classic type music education establishment following ancient traditions of the famous St.Petersburg Conservatoire where Jazeps Vitols was teaching for 30 years. Main tasks formulated by the programme of the new educational institution were significant and extensive: - " development of the inner culture in Latvia, broadening of possibilities for perception of the art and furthering and promotion of real talents in achievements of higher levels of musical maturity and virtuosity" . The main purpose of Jazeps Vitols and his colleagues was development of music culture in Latvia and organic combination of professional education with the mission of enlightenment. Network of good music teachers, choir and orchestra conductors gradually spreading in all the country was considered as the first real success of the Conservatoire. In 20-ies and 30-ies of the 20th century it was graduated by many talented singers, performers, composers, organists and conductors. Jazeps Vitols invited to teach famous musicians representing various national musical cultures - Latvian, German and Russian. It helped the new national culture to avoid provincialism and naturally integrate into the European culture. After the World War II the Conservatoire was incorporated into the Soviet system of music education sharing its achievements and deficiencies. Several new departments were established - Choir conducting (1944), Musicology (1947), Music education (1966). In 1960-ies along with the political "thaw" and loosening of restrictions on international contacts information about the new music, music materials and recordings became more accessible in Latvia. New possibilities opened up for students and teaching staff - among the Latvian musicians appeared first winners of international competitions, "old Europe" more and more often cheered Latvian soloists, choirs and conductors. By the beginning of 90-ies together with political transformation - regaining of state independence - the scale of international contacts rapidly increased. Our students study abroad, foreign students more often can be seen at JVLMA. Mutual contacts are furthered by participation in international competitions, festivals, masterclasses and joint projects. As a result we can see rapid development of classic music education programmes offered by the Academy, as well as introduction of the new ones: wind orchestra conducting, accordion, classic guitarre; considerable attention is paid presently to the early music interpretation problems, development of jazz and ethnomusic study programmes, improvement of music education study programmes. Academy Today in Facts and Figures academic year 2004/005 - 611 students (Bachelor studies - 476, Master studies - 125, Doctoral studies - 10) graduates 2004 - 84 Bachelors, 35 Masters, 2 Doctors academic personnel - 202 teachers (28 professors, 27 associated professors, 50 assistant professors) 21 teacher with Doctor`s or Dr.habil. scientific degreee teaching staff includes many famous musicians of outstanding artistic background; several of them holders of the Three Stars Order - highest reward of the State young teachers - JVLMA graduates - are employed in all Academy structures: 16 departments and 11 classes 29 students - winners of various international competitions in 2003; Grand Prix in Music 2003 was awarded to Iveta Apkalna, JVLMA Master in Organ studies, and chamber ensemble Altera Veritas Performing Units Strong chords in the sonority of JVLMA are played by its performing units - symphony orchestra, mixed choir of Choir Conducting department, women choir of Music Education department, Opera Studio Figaro , as well as kokle and other chamber ensembles provide both professional training and skills in repertoire of various styles and periods, collective music making from one side and creative experience culminating in artistic results enriching Latvian culture from the other side. Student symphony orchestra (conductors Andris Vecumnieks, Imants Resnis) during last two years intensified its activities performing new concert programme practically each month and inviting also guest-conductors from abroad (Enkhbaatar Baatarjav /Russia-Mongolia/, Colin Metters /UK/ during concert season 2003-2004). In 2002 and 2004 JVLMA student symphony orchestra participated in Young Euro Classic - summer festival of youth orchestras in Berlin. Mixed choir of Choir Conducting department (conductor Juris Klavin) each year participates in performances of Europa Chor-Akademie , but Music Education department choir has been awarded several prizes in international competitions. Both choirs are the forge of young conductors - leaders of children and adult amateur choirs. Their mission is to continue more than 130 years old Song Festival tradition in Latvia. Since 2003 Baltic Song and Dance Festivals are included in UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Opera Studio Figaro under the leadership of conductor Viesturs Gailis during its existance prepared concert-performances of several operas including E. Humperdink`s " Hansel und Grethel ", G. Rossini " Il Barbiere di Siviglia ", C. Debussy "The Prodigal Son" , J. Kalnin ` " Lolitas brinumputns " . Opera Studio activities involve students, Masters and young artists - JVLMA graduates . Figaro is a mobile unit performing in many Latvian towns, villages, countryside and schools. Several performances were staged in the National Opera house. International Activities JVLMA is a member of several international organizations: AEC ( Association Europeenne des Conservatoires, Academies de Musique et Musikhochschulen ), CHAIN (Conservatories-Hochschulen-Academies, International Network for Music and Dance), ABAM (Association of the Baltic Academies of Music), NICA (Network of International Cooperation in the Arts) and ELIA (European League of Institutes of Arts). Riga was the host of CHAIN Choir Week (1997) and Concours Moderne (2003). Participation in EU PHARE TEMPUS programme in 90-ies was the beginning of intensive international collaboration. Since 1998 Latvia participates in EU ERASMUS SOCRATES programme involving exchange of students and academic staff with 16 partner universities in Europe. Next to student and teacher mobility Latvian Academy of Music participated in several ERASMUS Intensive Programmes: Conducting Courses in Vilnius, ERASMUS Chamber Orchestra in Tallinn, "Church Organs - Mobility and Traditions" in Groningen and Mallorca, "We Make Opera" in Vilnius, Chamber Music Masterclass in Finland, etc. JVLMA provides possibility for young musicians to participate in the activities of the world music culture (study periods in partner schools, masterclasses, competitions, participation in the international youth orchestrasm choirs and festivals). Our students are regularly selected for participation in Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester , Schleswig - Holstein Festival orchestra, Jeunesses Musicales, Bach-Akademie Stuttgart orchestra and choir, EU Youth Orchestra, Young Euro Classic orchestra festival in Berlin, etc. Latvian Academy of Music is involved in several scholarship schemes which ensure study periods abroad: DAAD, Guildhall Baltic Scholarship, YAMAHA Grant, Holland Music Sessions scholarships, as well as scholarship programmes offered by the governments of Austria, Denmark, The Netherlands, Switzerland and other countries.