The Riga Latvian Society’s Mixed Choir
Artistic leader and leading conductor Ārijs Šķepasts

The Riga Latvian Society’s Mixed Choir was restored on October 14, 1989. The beginnings of the RLS choir come from the 19th century. The choir was founded in 1869. Starting with the II General Song Festival (1880) it worked successfully until 1940 when the Soviet regime closed the Riga Latvia Society. The restored choir gave its first concert on January 14, 1990, under the leadership of Ārijs Šķepasts.

During these 18 years the choir has worked actively: participated in “Choir Wars” and in all General Song Festivals in Latvia, acquired the repertoire of all Baltic and Nordic countries’ song festivals, as well as participated in them all in Latvia, Sweden, Norway and Lithuania. In two years’ time the choir has had concerts in many Latvian culture centres, where performed the song cycle of Elga Īgenberga “I want to dream tonight”, directed by Oļģerts Šalkonis. The performance was stated for several times in the Riga Latvian Society’s House, as well as on the National Theatre’s stage.

The mixed choir is among those choirs that always sing with pleasure in different State’s and annual events in Riga. The choir enriches the concert programmes of different events at the RLS, in all Latvia and abroad. The choir’s repertoire is varied: sacred music, compositions of different Latvian and abroad composers, folk songs and conductor’s Ārijs Šķepasts’ arrangements. 

Contacts: Ārijs Šķepasts phone + 371 29137361, e-mail: arijsskepasts@gmail.com