Traditions and awards
JVLMA's every day is busy and filled with different events. This would be inconceivable without the creative energy of students and teaching staff in preparation for competitions, targeted professional-growth master classes, guest lectures and conferences, and the development of the stage experience of young musicians performing in wonderful and diverse concerts. The traditions developed over the years highlight the achievements of students and educators and the work they have invested in motivating the achievements of new artistic and creative heights.
The success of students in national and international competitions brings success and high results every year. The benchmark for sustainable and labour market requirements is also JVLMA graduates who are present in the cultural environment of Latvia in a wide variety of musical disciplines. Often after graduation, young music professionals join the university teaching community, making a significant contribution to pedagogical work and receiving the most important music awards in the country.
JVLMA is proud of the prize winners, competition winners, scholarship holders and events which are included on the list of major events of the year. The professional achievements of the new talents are awarded with such prizes as the JVLMA and LMT Annual Award (up to 2015 – the Swedbank/Hansabanka Annual Award), the composer and flautist Arnolds Šturma award, piano performance Professor Olģerts Zīvers award, the composer Tālivaldis Ķēniņš award, the award founded by Reverend Dr Anita Gaida and Dean Ivars Gaidis, the Nick Botham award, the 7th June award and Ilga Štauvere’s award. The AS “Latvijas Finieris”, New Innovation Fund, Yamaha and Vītols scholarships are awarded to encourage artistic and creative activities.
JVLMA and LMT Annual Award for Young Musician is the highest award of JVLMA. The award is given to two students for their creative activity and outstanding achievements in music. The tradition began in 2004 - JVLMA's 85th birthday. A year later - in 2005 - the JVLMA and LMT Annual Award for the best teaching staff was established, awarding it to one of the brightest teachers of the Academy of Music of the year for outstanding pedagogical and creative work.
In early 2019, the JVLMA launched a wonderful concert project called “Side by Side”, which aims to introduce pupils to the creative world of the symphony orchestra by gaining practical and artistic experience for playing in the group. The idea’s author is Jānis Puriņš, director of the JVLMA’s symphony orchestra. Supported by the State Culture Capital Fund, students of the music academy go on regional trips where, along with a prepared concert programme, they also perform pieces together with the youngest musicians – music school pupils. In March 2019, the JVLMA symphony orchestra visited Ogre’s Music School, inviting children from Salaspils, Ogre and Lielvārde’s music schools to take part, and a month later the same took place with pupils from the music schools in Auce and Dobele, together with Auce’s Culture Centre.
DeciBels is a Contemporary Music Festival of Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music. In the spring of 2021 it will be taking place for the 7th time already. Mixing experimental, electroacoustic, ethnic and traditional expressions, deciBels still explores new realms into contemporary academic music - from chamber to choir.