A recent broadcast on Latvijas Radio spotlighted Anita Zarāne, a Latvian music educator and conductor recognized for her decades-long commitment to choral music. Zarāne, who leads both the “Latgale” and “Dveiņuva” choirs, was recently honored with the “Choir Music Honorary Award 2025” as “Honorary Conductor”-a recognition of her significant contributions to Latvia’s vibrant choral tradition[[1]]. The program explored her musical journey, influences, and perspective on the role of choirs within the Latgale region and beyond[[3]].
Anita Zarāne, a music educator and choir conductor, has been a vital force in Latvia’s cultural landscape for over two decades. For 25 years, she has led the “Latgale” mixed choir of the Daugavpils District Culture Center “Vārpa,” and for 30 years has been a music teacher and conductor of the “Dveiņuva” mixed choir at Daugavpils State Gymnasium.
Zarāne recently received the “Choir Music Honorary Award 2025” as “Honorary Conductor” through a public vote. Earlier in her career, the performances under her direction at Daugavpils State Gymnasium were also honored with the Latgalian Culture Honorary Award “Boņuks 2012” as “Best Latgalian Performance in School.”
A recent broadcast featured a conversation with Anita Zarāne about music as an invitation, the tradition of choral music in Latgale, the significance of awards, and the current challenges facing choral music.
Zarāne’s path to professional music was somewhat serendipitous. “After finishing music school in Liepāja, a friend said – ‘I’m applying to the Daugavpils Music Secondary School for violin, do you want to come with me?’ So, we went! That’s how I ended up studying choral conducting at the Daugavpils Music Secondary School. And that’s where my path began – studying with Terēze Broka in the ‘Rūta’ choir, and then at the University of Daugavpils with Terēze Broka for a year of conducting.”
However, continuing on that path required dedication and responsibility. Anita Zarāne considers leading the “Latgale” choir a gift from her mentor, Terēze Broka, a long-time choir director and chief conductor of song festivals.
“The ‘Latgale’ choir is a gift to me. Perhaps the greatest gift a person can receive, and even more so – from someone like Terēze Broka, the mother of choral music in Latgale. It is a great joy, but also a great challenge, and a responsibility.”
“An award is an award, but a choir is living people!”
Ieteikt
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