Organist Iveta Apkalna to perform in Brussels

Iveta Apkalna is one of the most active and popular organists in Europe. In her performances, her brilliant stage presence is fused with perfect virtuosity and a flawless sense of style. Iveta's sparkling personality shines though in her joie de vivre combined with a very serious attitude towards work, careful attention to detail and the ability to conjure up impressive interpretations. These traits allow her to master the organ, considered by many to be the queen of all musical instruments. Iveta Apkalna has made it her mission to bring the splendour of organ music out beyond church walls and into concert halls.

Iveta studied piano and organ at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music and continued her studies at the London Guildhall School of Music in England and Stuttgart Academy of Music and Fine Arts in Germany. As a soloist, Iveta Apkalna appears in concerts throughout the world, performing in prestigious concert halls from Berlin, Budapest, Cologne, Luzern, Luxemburg and Vienna to San Francisco and Moscow. She has also appeared with many of the world’s leading orchestras under the direction of renowned conductors.

In 2003, Iveta Apkalna received the Latvian Grand Music Award and in 2005 she became the first organist ever to receive the title of “Best Performing Artist” given by the German Music Award ECHO Klassik.

Photo: Nils Vilnis. Courtesy of Iveta Apkalna

The concert forms part of the Latvian EU Council Presidency cultural programme which has contemporaneity, uniqueness and excellence as its core values. It is organised by the Secretariat of the Latvian Presidency in cooperation with the Embassy of the Republic of Latvia to the Kingdom of Belgium and the BOZAR Centre for Fine Arts.