Riga Cathedral Boys Choir
under its conductor and artistic director Martins Klisans
The choir, obtainer of the highest award of Culture Ministry in Latvia - the Great Music Award, was first established in Latvia in 1950. It consists of a very well musically educated treble singers from the special choir school and a professional male group. It is the first Latvian professional choir that performed in Alberthall, London, and no doubts - one of the top boys’ choirs of the world.
Started from 1993 the choir has recorder 23 solo CDs and participated in several recording co-projects. The choir has got the Great Award for the best recording of a year, also has been nominated for the Great Award for several times.
RCBC has performed as a representative choir for prominent persons: two of The President of the United States (Bill Clinton and Barack Obama), the President of Finland, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Turkey, H. R .H. Prince Charles and HM Elizabeth II Queen of the United Kingdom, participants of NATO summit have all enjoyed performances in Riga.
The choir has a great experience of participation in different International Music festivals: e.g., Switzerlland and Finland 2001, Sixth World Symposium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA 2002, Legnano, Italy 2005, France 2006, Finland 2008, Sweden 2009, Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany 2011,2012, Poland and Czech Republic in 2014, London, England 2017, annualy we participate in Sacral music and Ancient Music festivals in Latvia. Regulary the choir and its soloists participate in performances of Latvian National Opera.
Singers tour all over the world. They have performed in the greatest and largest halls in Japan (since 1995 until now), the USA, Canada and a lot of European countries. The choir concert tours have been highly appreciated by the public and press.
Ilze Baumane, Managing director, member of the board
Phone/fax: +371 67804777
GSM: +371 29289928
E-mail: rigaboyschoir@gmail.com
Graduated from
- the Liepaya Academy of Pedagogy,
- the University of Latvia.
- the Culture Management Course in Poland and Belgium,
- the Business Managers Workshop at Collegeville, the U.S.A.,
- the Leadership, Executive and Management Coaching Courses in Riga,
- the Project Method and Management Course in Riga.
Participated at
- the International Artist Managers’ Association (IAMA) 12th Conference in Vienna, Austria,
- the IAMA 13th Conference in London, UK,
- the world’s music market MIDEM in Cannes,France,
- the International Society for the Performing Arts (ISPA) 20th Congress in Hong Kong, China,
- the ISPA 21st Congress in Brussels, Belgium,
- the International Art Festival in Shanghai, China,
- special course for professionals “ Democratic Europe yesterday, today, tomorrow” in Iceland,
- classical Nordic- Baltic 2013 music conference in Riga
Martins Klisans, Conductor and Artistic Director
Phone: +371 67804777
GSM: +371 29110626
E-mail: mklisans@gmail.com
Education
2006 - 2009 – Jazeps Vitols Latvian Academy of Music, master’s degree in conducting
1986 -1993 - Jazeps Vitols Latvian Academy of Music, bachelor’s degree in conducting
1975 -1986 - Emils Darzins Special Music Secondary School
Work experience
2009 –today lecturer, conducting teacher of a Department of Conducting and a conductor of the mixed choir at the Latvian Academy of Music
2008 – 2010 conductor of the Riga chamber choir „Ave Sol”
2005 –today conductor of the mixed choir „Vaidelote” at Riga secondary school
2001 -today conductor of the mixed choir „Valmiera”
2007 – 2008 chief conductor of the choirs of Valmiera region
1998 –today artistic director and conductor of Riga Cathedral Boys Choir
1995-1997 conductor of Riga Dom Cathedral Boys Choir
1993 – 1996 conductor of Latvian university students’mixed choir „Juventus”
1994-1996 conductor of the chamber choir „Sacrum”
1992 –today chief conductor of the choirs of Cesis region
1992 – 2000 artistic director and conductor of the Cesis region teachers’ mixed choir „Beverina”
Additional education
2006 the 20th International Congress ISPA in Hong Kong - participant
2005 workshop of the EU Choir Association in the European Parliament, Brussels, elected as a vice-president of the Association
2002 workshop of the EU Choir Association in the European Parliament, Brussels
2000 the13th International Conference of Boys Choirs’conductors in New Jersey, the USA
1997 vocal singing studies at the Stuttgart Bach Academy under Prof. Bruce Abel
Other experience
XXIV Latvian National Song and Dance Festival – chief conductor
Choir department – board member
IX,X Latvian School Youth Song Festivals– chief conductor
EU Choir Association- vice-president
Choir competitions – jury member
Regular performances with the choirs in Europe and other parts of the world
World Festival of Singing for Boys and Men, organized by AmericaFest –guest conductor of international choirs
Staging of chamber opera „Pilot” by Nick Gotham – artistic director and conductor
International music competitions – participant
Riga Vocal Group – singer
Chamber choir „Ave Sol” - singer
Martins Klisans is one of the most professional, well-balanced and versatile conductors. Artisitic director and conductor of the Riga Cathedral Boys Choir since 1998. Almost all recordings are made and greatest awards the choir has got under the conducting Master Martins Klisans.
Born in Riga, November 30, 1967. Obtained his first professional music education in choir conducting at the Emils Darzins Music School. Continued his choir conducting studies at the Jazeps Vitols Latvian Academy of Music under Prof. Imants Kokars. In 2009 got a Master’s degree in conducting.
Perfected his knowledge in vocal at the Stuttgart Bach Academy under Prof. Bruce Abel.
Martins Klisans is the chief conductor of the 9th Latvian School Youth Song Festival (2005) and of the 24th Latvian National Song Festival (2008). He is the artistic director and conductor of the mixed choir “Valmiera”. He was invited to conduct international choirs in the AmericaFest – World Festival of Singing for Boys and Men in Czech Republic in July, 2004.
Martins Klisans is a lecturer of a Department of Conducting and a conductor of mixed choir at the Latvian Academy of Music and a music teacher at the Riga Choir School.