Iveta Apkalna facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Iveta Apkalna
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Iveta Apkalna
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Iveta Apkalna |
| Born | 30 November 1976 Rēzekne, Latvia |
| Genres | Classical |
| Occupation(s) | Organist, Pianist |
| Instruments | Organ, Piano |
| Years active | 1999–present |
Iveta Apkalna (born November 30, 1976) is a world-famous organist and pianist from Latvia. She is known for her amazing talent in playing the organ, a large and powerful musical instrument often found in churches and concert halls.
A Musician's Journey
Iveta Apkalna was born in Rēzekne, Latvia. From a young age, she loved music and began studying both the piano and the organ. She attended the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, where she excelled. In 1999, she graduated with high honors in both instruments.
To continue improving her skills, Iveta moved to London. There, she studied piano at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Later, she went to Germany to study with the famous organist Ludger Lohmann at the State University of Music and Performing Arts Stuttgart.
Performing for the World
Iveta has performed in some of the biggest and most famous concert halls and cathedrals across Europe and North America. She is a regular performer at the beautiful Riga Cathedral in her home country of Latvia.
One of her most special performances was in 1993. She was the official organist at the Aglona Basilica in Latvia during a visit from Pope John Paul II.
Since 2016, she has been the main organist at the Elbphilharmonie, a famous concert hall in Hamburg, Germany. She brings organ music to new audiences by playing everything from classic composers like J.S.Bach to modern music.
Awards and Recognition
Iveta's incredible talent has won her many awards throughout her career. These awards show that she is one of the best organists in the world.
- 2002: She won the European part of the Royal Bank Calgary International Organ Competition in London.
- 2002: She received the J.S.Bach prize at the World Competition of the Royal Bank Calgary International Organ Competition in Canada.
- 2003: She was the winner of the 3rd Mikael Tariverdiev Organ Competition in Kaliningrad, Russia.
- 2003 & 2017: She was honored with the Great Latvian Music Award, a top prize in her home country.
- 2005: She won the prestigious "ECHO-Klassik" prize in Germany as "Instrumentalist of the Year."
Recordings
Iveta Apkalna has recorded many albums, sharing her music with people everywhere. Her recordings feature a wide range of music, from powerful organ solos to collaborations with orchestras and other musicians. Some of her albums include:
- Iveta Apkalna Live (2003)
- Himmel & Hölle (which means Heaven & Hell) (2004)
- The New Organ of the Philharmonie Mercatorhalle Duisburg (2009)
- Iveta Apkalna – Bach & Glass (2015)
- Light & Dark (2018), her first solo album recorded at the Elbphilharmonie
See also
In Spanish: Iveta Apkalna para niños
