ARTIS SIMANIS
(1958, alto saxophone)

Graduate of the St. Petersburg Conservatoire (1986), having studied with A. Vapirov and A. Bolshianow; Concert Diploma from the Royal Danish Academy of Music with Jørgen Bove as his professor (1994); Master's Degree in Music from the J. Vitols Latvian Academy of Music (1995). He has broadened his knowledge with Jean-Pierre Baraglioli at the Ecole Nationale de Musique in Paris, with Christer Johnsson at the Stockholm Royal Music Academy, with Johannes Ernst at the Berlin Hochschule, and with Johann Van Der Linden at the Utrecht Music School in Holland.

He has performed with the Latvian Radio Jazz Orchestra and with Pete Anderson's rock group Archive, played saxophone parts with the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, the Riga Festival Orchestra and the Moscow Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra. He has been a soloist with the Latvian Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra and a guest artist with the Danish Saxophone Quartet in Italy and Norway.

At present Artis Sīmanis is Professor of Saxophone as well as
rector at the Latvian Academy of Music. He also teaches at the Jazeps Medins Riga Music School. A.Sīmanis is the founder and the Artistic Director of the International Saxophone Music Festival Saxophonia.

Recently A.Sīmanis also gives concerts in duo with organ in Latvia as well as abroad.