Broks, Aivars (1955)
Biography Works
Aivars Broks was born
on September 28th, 1955 in Daugavpils
to the family of choir conductors Staņislavs Broks and Terēzija
Broka. He gained his teaching and accompanist qualifications after
studies at the Daugavpils College of Music piano department
(1971–1975, Raisa Nahmanoviča) and his studies at the Latvian State
Conservatory performance department (1975–1980, Rafi Haradžanjans –
piano, Maija Saiva – chamber ensemble, Daina Graubiņa – accompanist
class). In 1989 he further developed his skills in monthly courses
at the Moscow Gnesin Institute performance department. He studied
in the Latvian Academy of Music’s composition department
(1992–1994, Juris Karlsons – composition, Ludvigs Kārkliņš –
harmony, Georgs Pelēcis – polyphony).
He has worked as an accompanist at the Latvian State
Conservatory (1977) and as a teacher at the Jelgava College of
Music (1979–1980). He was a musician in the regional defence
headquarters’ orchestra (tenor) and pianist (1980–1982), artist at
the PPIO Daugava (1993–1994), pianist at the hotels Hotell St.
Gotthard in Zurich and Hotell de la Paix in Geneva, Switzerland.
Still, his professional work is most closely associated with the
Daugavpils College of Music, where he began to work as an
accompanist (1974–1975), later as a teacher and accompanist (1980,
1982–1993) and director of the piano department (1984–1992). As of
1995, Aivars Broks is the director of the Daugavpils College of
Music.
In 1997, the musician turned to conducting, starting work
with the Daugavpils College of Music chamber orchestra, with which
he prepared and performed many concert programmes. In February of
1998, the orchestra performed at the Mozart music festival in Riga,
and has multiple times participated in the international festival
September Chamber Music Days (1999–2002).
In his work as an accompanist, Aivars Broks has worked
together with both instrumentalists and vocalists. As of 1997, he
has regularly performed with the singer Jeļena Borele, with whom he
has given many concerts in Latvia, including the festival September
Chamber Music Days in Daugavpils (1998, 2000, 2002). He has played
in piano ensembles (trio, quartet, quintet). He has performed as a
soloist, performing lounge and jazz music both in concerts and at
festivals, including the International Jazz Festival in Daugavpils
(1996, 1997), and the VII International New Music Festival
Mūzikas forums in Riga (1996).
He is involved in many professional and social organizations:
he was the chairman of the Daugavpils College of Music trade-union
committee (1988–1991), the Latvian Music Instruction Institutions’
Director Association (LMMIVA) governing board member (1997–1999),
as of 1991, he is a member of the Latvian Piano Instructor’s
Association, and as of 1999, the deputy chairman of
LMMIVA.