Normunds Vīksne

Normunds Vīksne was born in Pļaviņas in 1960. He studied at Jāzeps Mediņš Secondary Music School and was admitted to Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music in the class of prof. Ventis Zilberts. He continued postgraduate studies in the piano duet class of Gunta Sproģe and Māris Švinka, actively participating in student chamber music festivals and concerts together with his fellow pianist Antra Vīksne. He further honed his skills through masterclasses with professors H.Ribera, L.Pohjola, H.Olaf. Piano duet of Antra and Normunds Vīksnes has performed in Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland, Germany, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, England, France, Spain, USA, Canada, Ukraine and other countries, participating in many international chamber music festivals and recording for Latvian Radio and Television as well as releasing CDs. Piano duet has performed both classical and contemporary music, premiering many pieces in Latvia. The duet has premiered pieces by and has had pieces dedicated to it by S.Mence, A.Vecumnieks, J.Karlsons, R.Jermaks, R.Kalsons, D.Aperāne, V.Līce, N.Gothams, C.B.Grifin and other composers. The ensemble has cooperated with Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, Jāzeps Mediņš Music School Orchestra, wind quintet Quintus Animus, as well as soloists - E.Saksons, R.Manuilovs, A.Sīmanis, A.Ābelīte, A.Nelsons, G.Pabērzs and others. Antra and Normunds Vīksne received the 1st prize in the 1st International Piano Duo Competition in Lithuania (1997), were finalists of the New York Pro Piano Recital Series in USA (2001) and the recipients of the Latvian Great Music Award (2001). As a teacher Normunds Vīksne has worked in Jāzeps Mediņš Primary and Secondary Music Schools in capacities of an accompanist and the Head of Piano and Chamber Ensemble Class. Since 1990 he teaches at the Compulsory Piano Department of JVLMA; from 1994 to 2008 he was the Head of the Compulsory Piano Department. In parallel to his work at JVLMA Normunds Vīksne chaired the piano duet class in Riga Teacher Training and Educational Management Academy. His students have received awards in international as well as local piano duo competitions. Students of the Compulsory Piano Department have received prof. O.Zīverss Award for several times. N. Vīksne has given masterclasses and been a jury member of various competitions as well as published articles in various magazines.  Since 2008 Normunds Vīksne is the Vice-Rector for Academic Work of JVLMA. More information on Antra and Normunds Vīksne piano duet can be found at www.duopianists.net