The children’s voices that moved Latvia – the best school choirs receive AKROPOLE prizes worth EUR 10 000

Thousands of children and young people filled Riga with song, dance rhythms and heartfelt emotions this summer at the XIII Latvian School Youth Song and Dance Festival. To thank them for their passion, hard work and creativity, shopping and entertainment centres AKROPOLE Rīga and AKROPOLE Alfa congratulated the winners of the Choir Competition with prizes worth almost EUR 10 000.

The Grand Prix prize was awarded to Balvi Music School Choir of forms 2–9, which won an Akropole gift card worth EUR 1250. Another 23 choirs were awarded cash prizes according to their placings in the different competition groups – EUR 500 for 1st place, EUR 350 for 2nd place and EUR 200 for 3rd place.

“At Akropole, we believe in the power of culture and unity, so we are happy to support the children and teachers who bring this power to life. The prizes will give each choir the opportunity to choose what they need most – whether it is a rest together after intensive rehearsals or a practical investment in their future plans. The main thing is that it will strengthen the team spirit and inspire them to create new wonders of sound in the future,” says Kaspars Beitiņš, CEO of SIA Akropole Latvija.

Results of the final of the Choir Competition 

BOYS’ CHOIRS

Group A:

1st place – Dobele Music School Boys’ Choir, conductor Karīna Zandersone;
2nd place – Liepāja Music, Art and Design Secondary School Boys’ Choir, conductor Krišs Pozemkovskis;
3rd place – Ventspils Centre Primary School Boys’ Choir Vivo, conductor Santa Treilība.

Group B:

1st place – Rēzekne Primary School Boys’ Choir Vokālā iedvesma, conductor Jānis Veļičko;
2nd place – Babīte Secondary School Boys’ Choir Trellis, conductor Sandra Sestule;
3rd place – not awarded.

FORM 4–9 CHOIRS

Group A:

1st place – Ernests Vīgners Kuldīga Music School Girls Choir Cantus, conductors Amanda Gertnere and Maruta Grigale;
2nd place – Ķekava Music School Choir of forms 3–9, conductor Vineta Litauniece;
3rd place – Pāvuls Jurjāns Riga Music School Choir of forms 4–9, conductors Oksana Čerkasova and Kristīne Eglīte.

Group B:

1st place – Ventspils State Gymnasium No. 1 Girls’ Choir Dzeguzīte, conductor Rita Veverbrante;
2nd place – Varakļāni Secondary School Choir of forms 5–9, conductor Ārija Tumane;
3rd place – Tilža Primary School Choir of forms 2–9, conductor Linda Vītola.

FORM 5–12 CHOIRS

Group A:

1st place – Liepāja Music, Art and Design Secondary School Girls’ Choir, conductor Andris Kontauts;
2nd place – Riga School Children and Youth Centre Girls’ Choir Riga, conductors Irīna Švarcbaha and Aija Smiltēna;
3rd place – Ventspils Music Secondary School Choir Nošu planētas, conductors Rudīte Tālberga, Antra Ziemele and Valērija Saveka.

Group B:

1st place – Ikšķile Secondary School Choir of forms 5–12, conductor Maira Līduma;
2nd place – Riga Rīnūži Secondary School Choir Prima of forms 4–12, conductor Natalja Jekimova;
3rd place – Riga Lithuanian Secondary School Choir Kibirkštys of forms 5–12, conductor Toms Kazimirisaņecs.

MIXED CHOIRS

Group A:

1st place – Jelgava Secondary School No. 4 Mixed Choir ROTĀ, conductors Līga Celma-Kursiete, Krista Delvere and Ingus Leilands;
2nd place – Liepāja Children and Youth Centre Mixed Choir Reverberācija, conductor Andris Mockus;
3rd place – Riga Technical College Youth Choir Mīts, conductors Artūrs Švarcbahs and Irīna Švarcbaha.

Group B:

1st place – Riga State Gymnasium No. 2 Mixed Choir, conductor Edgars Vītols;
2nd place – Riga State Gymnasium No. 1 Mixed Choir Frekvence, conductor Kaspars Vēvers;
3rd place – Riga Āgenskalns State Gymnasium Mixed Choir, conductor Līga Gaiķe.

About AKROPOLE Rīga

AKROPOLE Rīga is the most modern shopping and entertainment centre in Latvia, housing a wide range of tenants for various needs and shopping tastes. The only multi-brand store in Latvia, Van Graaf, is located here, as well as the sports and lifestyle stores USC and Adidas Originals, but Ballzy Ice surprises with its unique store concept and range of products. Here you can also find a newcomer to the Latvian market and the world-famous JD Sports store, as well as the largest brand stores in Latvia, such as Zara, Reserved, Deichmann, Oysho and KidzOne. The wide range of stores is complemented by restaurants and cafés to suit all tastes – CHI Asian Food, Grill London, Burger King, Vairāk Saules, GanBei, McDonald’s and many others, as well as the spacious and elegant Maxima XXX supermarket and the modern LemonGym fitness gym. Entertainment enthusiasts will enjoy the Apollo Kino cinema with nine auditoriums (including the only IMAX cinema in Latvia), the O’Learys entertainment centre with bowling, pool tables and virtual reality simulators, the MaryMaris indoor sports and entertainment club for children, and an all-season ice skating rink.

About AKROPOLE Alfa

AKROPOLE Alfa is the largest shopping centre in Latvia, offering a wide and varied range of fashion and services, among which are H&M, Lindex, ZARA, Reserved, Sportland, NS King, Salamander, HalfPrice and others, including the only Zara Home store in Latvia, the only DAN JOHN store in Riga, the first eapavi.lv store and a newcomer to the Latvian market – the store JD Sports. The 3rd floor of the shopping centre hosts an extensive catering area with restaurants and cafés such as Lido, GanBei, Čili Pizza, and 9 Drakoni, while the 1st floor also offers fast food restaurants such as McDonald’s, KFC and Hesburger. AKROPOLE Alfa is home to the modern and spacious MyFitness sports club and the indoor children’s playground Adventures’ Zone. Cinema lovers have access to eight Cinamon cinema halls. Parking spaces for up to 1750 cars are available for AKROPOLE Alfa visitors.