Andris Dzenītis

Born in 1978 in Rīga, Latvia, composer Andris Dzenītis studied at the Emīls Dārziņš Music School (composition with Pēteris Vasks 1993-96) in Rīga. His Sonata for Violin and Piano Pamestie (Deserted) was awarded the chamber music prize (1994) by the Latvian Composers' Union when he was only 16. As a Herder Scholarship winner he studied composition at the Vienna School of Music and Drama with Kurt Schwertsik (Herder scholarship)(1996-97). Dzenītis continued his studies at the Latvian State Academy of Music with Pēteris Plakidis (1997-99) and then at the Lithuanian Music Academy with Osvaldas Balakauskas (1999-2003) where he also qualified for his Master's degree. He has taken part in young composers' seminars at Ivanov (Russian Federation, 1995), Boswil (Switzerland, 1996), and attended mastercourses at Stockholm with Magnus Lindberg, Pär Lindgren and Bent Sorensen in 2002. His music has been performed in Latvia and abroad: at the Warsaw Autumn Festival (1997), the Gaida Festival in Vilnius (1998, 2002), at Spelplan Stockholm (2002), Maerzmusik Berlin (2003), Nyyd in Tallinn (2003), Arena in Riga (2002-2004), Bergen Music Festival (2005), Klangspuren Schwaz (2005), Time of Music, Viitasari (2006), ISCM World Music Days (Hong Kong 2007) and elsewhere by significant Latvian and international ensembles and musical formations like Latvijas Radio koris, Rīga chamber players, Sinfonietta Rīga, Kroumata percusion ensemble Stockholm, Paragon esnemble Glasgow, Reinbert Evers or Pierrot Lunaire Ensemble Wien, Caput (Iceland), Deutsche Radio Philharmonie Saarbruecken - Kaiserlautern under Karel Mark Chichon. Dzenītis is active as a music critic and journalist working as editor for music magazine Mūzikas Saule (Sun of Music). As a sound artist coloborated with number of Latvian visual atrists among them Oļegs Klimovičs and Gints Gabrāns which instalation Parahypnotic participated in international bienale for arts in Venice (2007). He has presented lectures at the London Guildhall School of Music (2001) and worked as a lecturer at the Latvian Academy of Culture (2002 - 2004), working now as a teacher of compostion and theoretical disciplines at Jāzeps Mediņš Rīga music school. He is the organizer and director of the biannual Young Composers' mastercourses at Dundaga (2002 - 2006) and Mazsalaca (2008 -) (Latvia). Andris Dzenītis is awarded Eternity prize by Latvian copyright agency by most played contemporary pieces (2003) as well his music for documentary film Workshop in the countryside was nominated for national cinematography prize Lielais Kristaps for Best Music (2004). Seven Madrigals by E.E.Cummings for mezzo-soprano and six instruments is awarded the first prize in International Jurgenson competition for young composers, Moscow (2005). Stipendiar of Latvian Ministry of Culture (2004). In 2007, Andris Dzenītis is awarded Great Music Prize - highest musical award in Latvia for his Fides.Spes.Caritas and five times nominated for the same prize in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011. Postludium. Ice for syphony orchestra awarded musical piece of the year by Latvian Radio 3 Classics in 2009 and received award in culture by Latvian national newspaper Diena (2010). Since 2004, Andris Dzenītis is member of the board of Latvian composer's union. Dzenītis is performing in different electronic projects with his electronic music group Woodpecker Project, founded back in 2006.