Ilona Meija

Ilona Meija began her musical carrer in Limbazi, Latvia, continuing her studies at the Jazeps Medins Secondary Music School and at Jazeps Vitols Latvian Academy of Music in Riga. She improved her professional skills in masterclasses in Thy, Denmark (1996, 1999) and Geneva, Switzerland (1996) with prof. Andreas Blau and prof. Craig Goodman. In 1991, the year Latvia regained its independence from the Soviet Union, she placed first in the Andrejs Jurjans competition. On the same year Ilona joined the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra as the piccolo flutist. From 1997 to 2001 she was the principal flutist of the Latvian National Opera Orchestra. From 2006 Ilona is the principal flutist of the chamber orchestra Sinfonietta Rīga. As a soloist she has appeared with the Latvia National Symphony Orchestra, the Latvian National Opera Orchestra and Riga Chamber Orchestra Sinfonietta Riga. Currently Ilona Meija is a flute and chamber music professor at the Jazeps Vitols Latvian Academy of Music.

Ilona Meija was flute professor at masterclasses Salacgrīvas Classical music festivals, Maastricht (Netherlands), Cosenza (Italy), Jarvi Festival in Parnu (Estonia), as well as many Latvian cities. Ilona Meija performs in various chamber configurations. Her scene partners Jautrīte Putniņa, Pēteris Plakidis, Zoja Sļivkina, Dzintra Erliha, Herta Hansena, Vsevolod Dvorkin (piano), Larisa Bulava (organ), Ieva Saliete (harpsichord), Ivars Bezprozvanovs, Eric Kiršfelds (cello), Dzintars Jurgelaitis, Jānis Semjonovs (bassoon), Andra Darzins (viola), Ilze Urbane, Liene Denisjuka (flute), Alexey Lundin (violin).

In several workshops Ilona Meija performed together with flutists Philippe Benoit, Philippe Bernold, William Bennett, Daniela Troiani, Giedrius Gelgotas, Renate Greiss Armin. Since August 2014, she is president of Latvia Flute Association. Ilona Meija as a chamber musician has participated in many radio soundtracks and CD PETERIS VASKS chamber music (CONIFER CLASSICS, 1996), JONATHAN HARVEY choir music (Hyperion, 2011), CANADIAN AND LATVIAN Composers (2010), LUCIA GARUT vocal and instrumental chamber music (2010).