Riga Dom Cathedral Boys Choir

The choir was first established in Latvia in 1950. It consists of a very well musically educated treble singers and a professional male group.

During the last 30 years, under the leadership of Janis Erenstreits, the boys of the Emils Darzins Music School gained international renown as angelic wonders, capable of producing musical miracles.

In 1990, as Latvia approached the restoration of its national independence, the boys of the Emils Darzins School chose to follow a centuries' old tradition by naming the choir in honour of Riga 's 800-year old Dom Cathedral. Since 1994 the boys have been a part of the Riga Dom Choir School .

Started from 1993 the choir has recorder 19 CDs.

In 1998 the CD “Christmas Together” ( with a pop music soloist from Great Britain Chris Norman), but in 2000 the CD “Odi Et Amo” in collaboration with Latvian contemporary composer Ugis Praulins got the Great Award as the best recordings of a year 1997 and 1999.

In 2001 the choir got the Great Music Award that is the highest award of Culture Ministry in Latvia .

The President of the United States , the president of Finland , Ukraine , Uzbekistan and Turkey , H. R .H. Prince Charles and HM Elizabeth II Queen of the United Kingdom, participants of NATO summit (2006) have all enjoyed performances in Riga . The choir concert tours have been highly appreciated by the public and press.

Tours of the choir:

2006 - France
2005 – Italy , France
2004 – Czech Republic , Japan
2002 – the USA , Finland , Estonia
2001 – Switzerland
2000 – the USA
1999 – Japan
1998 – Finland , Norway , Sweden , Russia , Great Britain
1997 – Russia , Germany , Netherlands , France
1996 – Germany , France
1995 – the USA , Japan , Canada
1994 – Belgium , France , Netherlands , Germany , Andorra
1993 – Sweden
1992 – Germany , Netherlands , the USA , Canada
1991 – Sweden , Norway
1988 – Belgium , Netherlands , Germany , France

Presently the choir or its soloists participates in five performances of Latvian National Opera: P. Chaikovsy “Queen of Spades”, V. A. Mozart's “Magic Flute”, Giacomo Puccini's opera “Toska” and Benjamin Britten's opera “Noah's ark” and Latvian contemporary composer's Janis Lusen's “Birds'Opera” for children. The boys participate also in a drama theatre performance “Dreadnoughts”. The choir is preparing for the coming soon “Carmen” by G. Bizzet.

Celebrating the choir' s 55 th anniversary in 2005, it did the summer tour in Latvia , presenting the 18 th CD (in English could be “ Cheer!”), recorded together with Latvian Three tenors from National Opera and pop music singers. The tour consisted of 13 open-air concerts. The next CD (2006) also was a collaboration with Latvian Three tenors – folk music, arranged by contemporary Latvian composer Juris Kulakovs. This program will be heard on a tour of Scotland in September 2007. Now the choir is recording its 20 th J. S. Bach motets.

The choir represented the state during the Latvian Culture days in Paris in November 2005 and gave a special concert for presidents of Latvia Mrs. Vike-Freiberga and Mr. Shirak's wife and their guests.

Annually the choir participates in the International Music festivals. The last were Legnano music festival in Italy and de La Chaise- Dieu festival in France .

Martins Klishans

Riga , November 30, 1967 . Obtained his first professional music education in choir conducting at the Emils Darzins Music School . Continued his choir conducting studies at the Latvian Academy of Music under Prof. Imants Kokars.

Perfected his knowledge in vocal at the Stuttgart Bach Academy under Prof. Bruce Abel.

Martins Klishans is the chief conductor of the 9 th Latvian School Youth Song Festival (2005) and of the 24 th Latvian National Song Festival (2008). He is the artistic director and conductor of the mixed choir “Valmiera”. He was invited to conduct international choirs in the AmericaFest – World Festival of Singing for Boys and Men in Czech Republic in July, 2004.

Martins Klishans is the principal conductor of the Riga Dom Cathedral Boys Choir, and a music teacher at the Riga Dom Choir School . The last fourteen CD recordings of the Boys Choir are made under the conducting Martins Klishans.