Festival Director Aina Kalnciema

Aina Kalnciema was born in Riga. After graduating with distinction from the piano and organ departments of the St. Petersburg Conservatory, she continued to develop her mastery of the harpsichord in the Netherlands, France, Switzerland, and Germany.

As a solo harpsichordist, she regularly performs in concerts and has toured extensively throughout the former Soviet Union, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and European countries. She has performed with renowned orchestras, conductors, and soloists, including the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, the Moscow Virtuosi, Musica Viva, as well as various chamber orchestras from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, and Poland. Since 1998, Aina Kalnciema has been a member of the ensemble Baltic Trio, with which she performs and records contemporary works for flute, cello, and harpsichord by composers from the Baltic States.

Aina Kalnciema has participated in numerous festivals in Europe, Canada, and New Zealand, performing with outstanding musicians from different countries, including J. Holloway, B. Skride, I. Monighetti, S. Preston, A. Vizgirda, Teet Järvi, L. Duftschmidt, A. Mustonen, Paolo Pandolfo, A. Rudin, O. Zoboli, A. and M. Utkin, E. Bosgraaf, Massimo Mercelli, Eva Bindere, Ramon Jaffé, and others. She has also collaborated with renowned ensembles such as La Petite Bande, Musica Antiqua Köln, Les Arts Florissants, Hortus Musicus, and others.

Emeritus Professor Aina Kalnciema worked as a lecturer at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music for 30 years. She is President of the Bach Music Foundation and Director of the annual International Bach Chamber Music Festival in Riga, which she founded in 2001. As Festival Director, she is also a member and board member of the international early music organisations REMA and NORDEM. Aina Kalnciema has made numerous recordings of early and contemporary music, including world premiere recordings of works composed especially for her.

In 2008, Aina Kalnciema was awarded the Order of the Three Stars of Latvia (Officer rank). In 2024, she received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Cabinet of Ministers of Latvia for her lifelong contribution to the cultivation of early music traditions and for outstanding professional achievements in Latvia and abroad. She has also received certificates of appreciation from the Kuldīga Municipality and Jaunmoku Palace for her outstanding work in organising the Garden Festival over a period of ten years.

In 2011, Aina Kalnciema, as President of the Bach Music Foundation and Director of the International Bach Chamber Music Festival in Riga, received the annual “White Sparrow” Award from the Riga City Council for her significant contribution to international cultural exchange through collaboration with outstanding and internationally recognised artists.

English translation generated with the assistance of ChatGPT (OpenAI).