Choir “Mūza”

Artistic Director and Conductor: Didzis Kauliņš
Conductor: Artūrs Plaudis

Choir “Mūza” was founded in 1947 by the distinguished conductor Leonīds Vīgners (1906–2001), who led the choir until 1985. Originally established as the mixed choir of the Central Workers’ Club of the Latvian Trade Union Council, the ensemble adopted the name “Mūza” in 1977.

As one of Latvia’s most historically significant amateur choirs, it became the first amateur ensemble in the country to receive the honorary title of Meritorious Collective of the Latvian SSR in 1956, followed by the prestigious status of People’s Choir in 1963.

The choir’s repertoire has always combined major masterpieces of the international choral tradition with the finest works of Latvian choral music. Alongside large-scale classical compositions, it performs works by pioneering Latvian composers such as Jāzeps Vītols, Emilis Melngailis, Jānis Cimze, Andrejs Jurjāns, Alfrēds Kalniņš, as well as Latvian folk songs and compositions by later generations of Latvian composers.

In 1999, under the leadership of Didzis Kauliņš, “Mūza” was re-established as a youth choir. Since then, it has performed internationally at the Montmartre in Europe Festival in France (2000), the International Choir Competition in Arnhem and concerts in the Netherlands (2001), as well as a concert tour of Portugal (2003). The choir also initiated the charitable project “Mūza for Frozen Souls”, which has been organised since 2003.

Over the years, “Mūza” has participated in numerous musical projects, international festivals, and choir competitions, earning many awards and distinctions. Today, under the artistic direction of Didzis Kauliņš and conductor Artūrs Plaudis, the choir continues to explore new artistic directions, with a strong focus on contemporary vocal music, close collaboration with composers and professional musicians, while maintaining an important place for Latvian classical choral works and traditional folk music in its repertoire.