“A strong generation of vocalists must be formed from an early age, but a serious vocal competition is a good start to think about the problems of this type of art as widely as possible, bringing together guests from near and far. International experience always pushes the boundaries of culture. Therefore, it is an opportunity for singers to look at their daily work from a different point of view,” the idea of ​​the international vocal competition at a press conference explained musical theater actor, director and vocal educator Dr.paed Edgars Kramiņš.

The Janis Zabers I International Vocal Competition was a big event two years ago, because international vocal art competitions, in which high quality criteria are set, take place very rarely in Latvia and also in neighboring countries.

The Janis Zabers II  International Vocal Competition will take place in three rounds from September 16 till 20 this year in Riga, VEF Culture Palace. Students and graduates of music schools, secondary schools, colleges and music universities from 10 to 35 years of age from different countries are invited to apply by 31 August. However, we assume that students who study vocal art in private schools or privately with vocal specialists will also be represented.

This year, the jury will also be joined by profesor Irina Gavrilovici from Vienna, who is known in Latvia as a teacher and advisor to Elīna Garanča, Inga Kalna, Egīls Siliņš and many other famous singers.

“This is a unique competition, because no vocalist competition in Latvia is based on the principle of succession, from the moment when the basics of vocal art are mastered to the age when vocal studies have been completed, thus raising and forging a quality new generation of vocalists and supporting the necessity of the academic basics at vocal schools,” emphasizes the artistic director of the competition Edgars Kramiņš.