Māra Marnauza
ICCF
BIO
Māra Marnauza is professor, PhD at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music. She has graduated with a distinction the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian State Conservatory Choir Conducting Department (1987), conducting class of professor Mendelis Bašs (1982–1987), earned pedagogical doctoral scientific degree in music pedagogy at the University of Latvia (2000).
M. Marnauza is a chief conductor at the Latvian Song Festival (XXV, 2013; XXVI, 2018), at the Baltic States’ Student Song Festival Gaudeamus (1999-2018), and a chief conductor of choirs of Dobele and Saldus districts. M. Marnauza is the founder, conductor and artistic director of the winners of international choir competitions – the female choir Balta (1999) and the Chamber Choir Fortius (1985).
M. Marnauza has gained recognition as a conductor in many choir festivals and competitions, concerts and masterclasses in Germany, USA, China, South Korea, Switzerland, Austria, Netherland, Belgium, Great Britain, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Spain, Italy, Finland, Lithuania, Estonia, Belorussia, Ukraine, Poland, Russia, Czech Republic.
She has been a jury member of the IV International Choir Competition Voices for Peace (2019, Perugia/Assisi, Italy); Estonian Female Choirs Competition (2018, Tallinn, Estonia), Choir Competition of Germany (2018, Freiburg, Germany); International Festival Riga Symphony (2018, Riga, Latvia), the 8th World Choir Games (2014, Riga, Latvia), InterkulturInternational Anton Bruckner Choir Competition (2013, Linz, Austria) and Latvian Choir Competition, etc.
M. Marnauza published a monograph Conducting Methodology (2012), choir music CDs, DVDs – Balta. Pearls; Peteris Vasks. Our Song; Latvian Choral Music; The Loving Ones; Sparks of Jazz; Meditatio Adventus; Sparks of Light; Upwards; The Day is Dawning etc.
