Ligita Sneibe

Our thoughts, our work like threads woven together, links, cords. At times they knit together, at times chained. Sometimes they draw us in, sometimes they deny us freedom (Ligita Sneibe, Valgi [Cords] for cello and organ). … we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and you will do well to pay attention to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts – 2 Peter, 1: 16, 19 (Ligita Sneibe, Gaidīšana [Waiting] for flute and piano).

Ligita Sneibe (Arāja) was born on January 4th, 1962, in Riga. She received a diploma in composition from the Latvian Academy of Music (1986, Valentīns Utkins, Ģederts Ramans) and organ (1990, Pēteris Sīpolnieks, Vija Vismane, Tālivaldis Deksnis). As an organist, she furthered her studies in Sweden, in the Piteo College of Music with professor Hans-Ola Ericsson (1991–1993, master’s studies). She has continuously developed her knowledge of many different eras of organ music, as well as introductions to and interpretations of national schools with organists of Europe including: Harald Vogel, Ludger Lohmann, Zsigmond Szathmáry, Montserrat Torrent, Gijs van Schoonhoven, and others. Ligita Sneibe herself has taught organ playing at the Latvian Lutheran Church’s Theology seminar (1987–1991), and as of 1993 is a teacher of organ at the Latvian Academy of Music. She was also given the Jānis Ivanovs Composition Award in 1991.

As an organist, she began her work at the Dubulti and St. Gertrude’s Church (1987–1991). She has won awards at international organ competitions: II Level laureate in Lahti, Finland (1993), II Level Laureate at the Čiurlionis Competitions in Lithuania (1991, 1995), receiving there a special award for the best interpretation of a work by Olivier Messiaen. The musician has participated in international organ festivals in Germany (Internationaler Orgelsommer 1995 in Stuttgart), Sweden (Fero Islands, 1997), and elsewhere. Ligita Sneibe’s community activities also involve the organ, for example, the concert campaigns Mēs – ērģelēm (We – for the organ) in the Sloka Lutheran Church in the mid 90s. Latvian organ music has a notable place in her concerts, which led to the cycle Latviešu komponistu portreti (Portraits of Latvian Composers) in the Riga Dome Cathedral, gathering around herself other Latvian organists. Together with her students she has participated in the Organ Summer Academy in Leufstabruk, Sweden, where she also conducted activities. Ligita Sneibe’s artistic experience is in solo concerts in many different countries, including London’s Westminster Abbey (1999), and the great Notre-Dame, the Paris Cathedral (2002). Her concert at the Nuremberg Meistersinger Hall was broadcast on Bavarian Radio in 1998.

Lolita Fūrmane © LMIC