Ausma Derkēvica (21 July 1929 – 26 December 2011) was a

Latvia Latvia ( or ; lv, Latvija ; ltg, Latveja; liv, Leţmō), officially the Republic of Latvia ( lv, Latvijas Republika, links=no, ltg, Latvejas Republika, links=no, liv, Leţmō Vabāmō, links=no), is a country in the Baltic region of ...

n choral conductor and music teacher. She is an honored professor at the

Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music ( lv, Jāzepa Vītola Latvijas Mūzikas akadēmija), formerly the Riga Conservatory, is a higher education establishment of music at 1 Barona Street, Riga, Latvia. The junior institute is the Emīls Dār ...

Biography

In 1959, Ausma Derkēvica graduated the

, class of T. Kalniņš. From 1958 until 1970, she was the choral conductor of the Latvian SSR Revolution Veteran choir. From 1958 until 1989, she led the folk choir "Dzintars" together with her consort Imants Cepītis, afterwards until 2000, Ms Derkēvica was the choir's principal leader. Under her conduct, "Dzintars" was the first Latvian choir to win an international competition and in 1968 they received a "Grand Prix" in the competition in Debrecen. "Dzintars" has received many international prizes not only in the women choirs' group, but also in other choirs competitions. Ausma Derkēvica can be characterized as a starter and developer of a new movement of women's choirs in Latvia. She also was the choral conductor of the National Academic Choir (1969–1989). From 1964 until 1972, she worked as a teacher at the Emīls Dārziņš secondary music school. From 1959 to 1964 , A. Derkēvica led the musical sector of the Folk Art house. She has been the main conductor of many

Latvian Song and Dance Festival The Latvian Song and Dance Festival ( lv, Vispārējie latviešu Dziesmu un Deju svētki) is one of the largest amateur choral and dancing events in the world and an important event in Latvian culture and social life. As one of the Baltic song ...

s since 1973. In 1995, A. Derkēvica was awarded the third class

Order of the Three Stars Order of the Three Stars ( lv, Triju Zvaigžņu ordenis) is the highest civilian order awarded for meritorious service to Latvia. It was established in 1924 in remembrance of the founding of Latvia. Its motto is "Per aspera ad astra", meaning "Thr ...

, in 1980 - a prize from the Latvian SSR. In 1999, she received a lifetime pension from the Latvian Culture Capital Foundation.

References

1929 births 2011 deaths Academic staff of Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music Latvian choral conductors Latvian women conductors (music) {{conductor-stub