Aivars Broks

(28.09.1955 )

"Writing music is the same as talking to God – eye to eye, directly – no intermediaries and no hiding behind words or rituals. That is why musicians are the most fortunate – unluckily selected to be allowed to be close to God (unluckily because at times, the good fortune of being able to enjoy the spirit of God in large quantities can drive one to the insane asylum) and who therefore are ready to endure and suffer much. I began to write late – what can you talk with God about when you are twenty – about girls? Apparently, like Pēteris Butāns, I will truly begin to write in my 50s – a true Latgallian approach – at the start soaking up, enjoying and living life, then removing it and showing others. I have hope, since it is not for nothing that I share the first letter of my last name with Bach, the Beatles, and Butāns (not to mention Beethoven, Brahms, Berlioz, Bruckner, Bartok, Bizet, Bernstein, and the rest of the Bs)."
Aivars Broks

Aivars Broks was born on September 28th, 1955 in Daugavpils to the family of choir conductors Staņislavs Broks and Terēzija Broka. He gained his teaching and accompanist qualifications after studies at the Daugavpils College of Music piano department (1971–1975, Raisa Nahmanoviča) and his studies at the Latvian State Conservatory performance department (1975–1980, Rafi Haradžanjans – piano, Maija Saiva – chamber ensemble, Daina Graubiņa – accompanist class). In 1989 he further developed his skills in monthly courses at the Moscow Gnesin Institute performance department. He studied in the Latvian Academy of Music’s composition department (1992–1994, Juris Karlsons – composition, Ludvigs Kārkliņš – harmony, Georgs Pelēcis – polyphony). He has worked as an accompanist at the Latvian State Conservatory (1977) and as a teacher at the Jelgava College of Music (1979–1980).

He was a musician in the regional defence headquarters’ orchestra (tenor) and pianist (1980–1982), artist at the PPIO Daugava (1993–1994), pianist at the hotels Hotell St. Gotthard in Zurich and Hotell de la Paix in Geneva, Switzerland. Still, his professional work is most closely associated with the Daugavpils College of Music, where he began to work as an accompanist (1974–1975), later as a teacher and accompanist (1980, 1982–1993) and director of the piano department (1984–1992). As of 1995, Aivars Broks is the director of the Daugavpils College of Music. In 1997, the musician turned to conducting, starting work with the Daugavpils College of Music chamber orchestra, with which he prepared and performed many concert programmes. In February of 1998, the orchestra performed at the Mozart music festival in Riga, and has multiple times participated in the international festival September Chamber Music Days (1999–2002). In his work as an accompanist, Aivars Broks has worked together with both instrumentalists and vocalists. As of 1997, he has regularly performed with the singer Jeļena Borele, with whom he has given many concerts in Latvia, including the festival September Chamber Music Days in Daugavpils (1998, 2000, 2002). He has played in piano ensembles (trio, quartet, quintet). He has performed as a soloist, performing lounge and jazz music both in concerts and at festivals, including the International Jazz Festival in Daugavpils (1996, 1997), and the VII International New Music Festival Mūzikas forums in Riga (1996).

He is involved in many professional and social organizations: he was the chairman of the Daugavpils College of Music trade-union committee (1988–1991), the Latvian Music Instruction Institutions’ Director Association (LMMIVA) governing board member (1997–1999), as of 1991, he is a member of the Latvian Piano Instructor’s Association, and as of 1999, the deputy chairman of LMMIVA.