Mixed choir “Ventspils” – a collective with a big creative potential, expressive musicality and powerful spirit. The choir’s concerts and musical performances directed by Aigars Meri speak to the hearts of the audience and reveal the choir’s infinite possibilities for new musical challenges. “On a steady path to the greatest heights” is the main motto of the choir.
Mixed choir “Ventspils” started its work with a new quality by the end of 2014. Every year Ventspils audiences get offered original programmes of many different genres, as well as collaborative projects with renowed Latvian artists, the Ventspils Chamber Orchestra and the Ventspils Big Band.
Mixed choir “Ventspils” has successfully participated in multiple international choral music competitions:
2015 – the 14th International choir festival „Tallinn 2015” (1st place in “Folk Music” category)
2016 – XX International Stasys Šimkus Choir Competition (1st place in the mixed choir category, special prize for the best performance of mandatory composition, as well as special prize for the best programme)
2017 – 3rd European Choir games and the Grand Prix of Nations Riga 2017 (1st first place in category “Folklora a capella” at 3rd European Choir Games, a gold medal, and the highest achievement in this competition — champion’s title of “Grand Prix of Nations 2017”)
2017 – 5th International Copernicus Choir Festival & Competition “Per Musicam ad Astra” (Grand Prize, as well as 1st place in the mixed choir category and 1st place in the category “Folklore”)
In the summer of 2018, after successfully competing in the semi-finals of the XXVI Latvian Song Celebration Choir Competition in the mixed choir group, the singers from Ventspils came eighth, making it to the final of “Song Wars”, where they won the high third place among 20 of the best Latvian choirs.
In March of 2019, the XXX International Choir Competition (Italy, Verona), organized by “Music Cultur Travel”, mixed choir “Ventspils” won two of the highest awards (1st place in the category “Folk music”, 1st place in the category “Sacred music”), as well as a special prize for the best performance of the mandatory piece.
In September 2022, the mixed choir “Ventspils” led by conductor and artistic director Aigars Meri successfully participated in the 5th International Baltic Sea Choir Competition and got the high 2nd place and a diploma for the best performance of a piece in unison.
In 2023, in the final of the Choir Competition of the XXVII Latvian Song and XVII Dance Celebration, the mixed choir “Ventspils” won the 3rd place, and Aigars Meri made his debut as the chief conductor of the festival.
