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Mixed Choir “SONORE”

Year founded:
1987
Participant's average age:
18-50
Participants:
40
Website:
https://www.sonore.lv/
Head's name:
Andis Groza
Phone:
+371 29422549
Email:
andis.groza@inbox.lv

Artistic Director and Chief Conductor: Mārtiņš Ozoliņš
Conductor: Andis Groza
Rehearsal Director: Andris Pujāts

Mixed Choir “SONORE” was founded on 13 October 1987 by the distinguished conductor Professor Edgars Račevskis as a choir united by the joy of music and a love of singing. Today, the ensemble brings together around 40 young singers with expressive voices, artistic ambition, and a passion for choral music.

Since 1997, the choir has been led by Mārtiņš Ozoliņš, who earned a Master’s degree in Choral Conducting under Professor Edgars Račevskis at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, later graduating in Symphonic Conducting under Imants Resnis. In 2013, he made his debut as a Chief Conductor of the Latvian Song and Dance Festival. Since December 2013, he has served as Chief Conductor of the Latvian National Opera, and since 2014 as its Artistic Director. Renowned for his clarity of musical vision and exceptional artistic precision, he has conducted major opera productions including Nabucco, The Flying Dutchman, The Queen of Spades, Eugene Onegin, Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District, as well as ballets such as The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, and Cinderella.

The choir’s artistic team also includes conductor Andis Groza, who holds Master’s degrees in both Music and Physics, and rehearsal director Andris Pujāts, a graduate of the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music and participant in the European Choral Academy masterclasses in Mainz, Germany.

SONORE performs regularly in Latvia and abroad and has achieved notable success at international competitions. Among its achievements are:

  • 2002 – First Prize at the Baltic and Nordic Song Festival Competition in Klaipėda, Lithuania, and participation in the International Choral Competition in Arezzo, Italy.
  • 2003 – Participation in the 49th International Habaneras and Polyphony Competition in Spain.
  • 2004 – Winner of the Schumann/Europe Trophy at the 50th International Choral Festival in Cork, Ireland.
  • 2005 – Participation in the International Choir Festival of Flanders in Maasmechelen, Belgium.
  • 2006 – Concert tour in Slovakia.
  • 2009 – Second Prize at the International Choir Competition in Tallinn, Estonia.
  • 2010 – Second Prize at the International Competition of Sacred Music in Vilnius, Lithuania.
  • 2013 – Third Prize at the Latvian Song and Dance Festival Choir Competition.
  • 2014 – Silver Diploma in the Chamber Choir Champions Category at the 8th World Choir Games in Riga.

The choir’s repertoire is exceptionally diverse, encompassing masterpieces from different musical periods and styles. It includes works by internationally renowned composers such as Joseph Haydn, Anton Diabelli, Anton Bruckner, Johannes Brahms, Francis Poulenc, and Petr Eben, alongside music by leading Latvian composers including Jāzeps Vītols, Pēteris Barisons, Alfrēds Kalniņš, Arturs Maskats, and Pēteris Vasks. The choir also performs a rich selection of a cappella works and sacred music programmes.

In short, SONORE is a choir driven by creativity, musical excellence, and a genuine passion for an active concert life.