Kalejs, Aivars (1951)
Biography Works
The composer and organist Aivars
Kalējs was born on April 22nd, 1951 in Riga to a family of artists.
From 1958 to 1969, he studied at the Emīls Dārziņš College of Music
in the choir and special music theory class, studying composition
with Ģederts Ramans. From the age of 7 until 13, he sang in the
College boys’ choir. At the age of 18, he began to play the organ.
In 1969, he entered the Latvian State Conservatory. He graduated
the composition class of Ādolfs Skulte (1974), and the organ class
of Nikolajs Vanadziņš (1977). Studying at the Latvian State
Conservatory, he was one of the last, who studied special harmony
and polyphony with Lūcija Garūta. He has participated in
masterclasses given by organists Ewald Koimann and Leo
Kremer.
He has given concerts in almost all of the countries in
Europe, the United States, Canada and Japan. He has participated in
international organ music festivals in Estonia, Belgium, Denmark,
Germany, Italy, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Spain and the United
States, as well as the Echternach music festival in Luxembourg. In
1998, joining the orchestra Kremerata
Baltica, he performed in the United States, Switzerland,
Austria, Germany and Russia. He has performed together with
Kristina Stobaeus (Sweden), Lina Mkrtchyan, Oleg Rjabec, Ruslan
Javajev (Russia), Alise Zinovjeva (Latvia/Italy), Inessa Galante,
Ingus Pētersons, Jānis Sproģis, Dita Krenberga, Arvīds Klišāns,
Uldis Urbāns. He was the concert master of the Leonīds Vīgners
chamber choir and the choir Mūza, he has
worked together with the women’s
choir Dzintars, the chamber
choir Ave Sol, the chamber
choirs Sacrum and the Latvian Radio
Choir. He led the vocal
ensemble Dardedze (1971–1991). He
has performed in the Latvian Philharmonia Chamber Orchestra,
directed by Tovijs Lifšics, and the Andris Veismanis Chamber
Orchestra. From 1980 to 1985, he worked on the monument board at
the Latvian Ministry of Culture’s, focusing on research of the
organs of Latvian churches, and accomplishing the addition of 250
organs to the index of protected cultural monuments. Aivars Kalējs’
writings about organ history can be read in music lexicons and
periodicals.
He has played at church services at the Riga Cross
Congregation. He is one of the concert organists at the Riga Dome
Cathedral, is an organist at the New. St. Gertrude Church (as of
1989) and is the organist for the Riga Dome Boys’
Choir.
His works have won awards at the
competition Sinfonia
Baltica competition (2004), the chamber
orchestra Kremerata Baltica new
work competition (2003), the organ work
competition Sibīrijas bērni (2002),
and the song competition Es dziedu par Latvijas
mežiem (2004). He has received the AKKA/LAA
Copyright's Infinity Award (2004).