JURIS KALNCIEMS (Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music)
23 February @11.00–14.00 in the Great hall
TOMS OSTROVSKIS (Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music)
23 February @11.00–14.00 in C-405
Pianist, teacher and professor Juris Kalnciems was born in 1957, Riga, Latvia. After graduating Emils Darzins Special Secondary Music School,he studied piano performance at Jazeps Vitols Latvian State Conservatory (currently known as Latvian Academy of Music) with professor Arnis Zandmanis and also at P.Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatoire with professor Samuel Alumjan. Juris Kalnciems has participated in several piano competitions and has won 1st prize of the Curlionis International Piano Competition, Vilnius, year 1978.
At present Juris Kalnciems is the Head of Piano Department of Latvian Music Academy. Since year 2001 he is the official president of European Piano Teachers Association (EPTA) Latvian branch. Professor Juris Kalnciems often performs on various international stages, works in juries of various competitions (including Jāzeps Vītols International Piano Competition) and gives masterclasses in Latvia and abroad. His repertoire includes music from various epochs. In 2006 his CD with 24 sketches for piano by Jānis Ivanovs was released; in 2007 his album Latvian Piano Music was completed.
Toms Ostrovskis began piano studies at the age of 6 at Emils Darzins Secondary Music School in Latvia, actively participating and winning prizes in several competitions and festivals in Lithuania, Estonia, France, Sweden, Hungary and Japan. He graduated Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music in 2002. During his studies he participated in many international competitions and masterclasses in Great Britain, Holland, Portugal and France, studying with various renowned artists-teachers, such as David Dubal, Joseph Banowetz, Christopher Elton, Joan Havill, Sergey Babayan, Karl Kemmerling, John O’Conor and others.
He is a member of EPTA Latvia since 1998 and one of its board members since 2010; he has represented EPTA Latvia in festivals and conferences in Norway, Cyprus, Austria, Portugal and Norway. Toms has participated in Liepaja Piano Stars Festivals 2000 and 2003, and has performed with the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, Liepaja Symphony Orchestra, Bucharest Radio Orchestra, Sydcap Symphony Orchestra, St. John’s Chamber Orchestra, Guildhall Symphony Orchestra, London City University Symphony Orchestra and other collectives.
Toms Ostrovskis has made recordings for the Latvian Radio 3 “Klasika” funds and for ABRSM Publishing company; he was a finalist of European Broadcasting Union Radio Competition “New Talent” (Romania, October 2002), finalist of Guildhall Gold Medal competition (London, May 2006) 3rd prize winner in International Jazeps Vitols Piano Competition (Latvia, December 2002), winner of Myra Hess Awards 2003-2006, Yamaha – Kemble UK Scholarship Award 2005. In 2003 with chamber ensemble “Bartok Players” he received Ivan Sutton Prize for the best performance of Bartok’s sonata for two pianos and percussion.
From 2002 to 2007 Toms Ostrovskis was scholarship student of Guildhall School of Music and Drama under Ronan O’Hora, where he obtained Master of Music in Music Performance Degree and an Advanced Instrumental Studies Diploma; from 2005 to 2007 he was a fellowship student and worked on his doctoral thesis, analysing advanced methods of piano teaching.
Since 2007 Toms Ostrovskis is a member of the Piano Department of Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music. He is an active member of “Amber Coast Artists” ensemble and on regular basis participates in various solo and chamber music projects in Latvia and abroad.
