The adventure began before dawn on Friday, September 26, when 50 musicians boarded a rented bus while Riga was still asleep - apart from some seagulls and early dog walkers on the streets. The long road brought them to Zambrów, where they arrived with anticipation for that very evening.
That night, the orchestra performed at the Witold Lutosławski State Music School Concert Hall in Zambrów. There was little time to rest, as the locals were not expecting that good quality orchestra and wanted to express their gratitude that grew into late night wanders.
The following day, the musicians traveled on to Warsaw, where another concert awaited - and they needed to be on their very best behaviour. The Latvian Ambassador to Poland, Raimonds Jansons, had invited them for coffee.
Saturday, September 27, was the highlight of the tour took, finishing at the Bielany Cultural Education Center in Warsaw. On stage, the musicians were warmly welcomed by Ambassador Jansons, who emphasized the unifying power of culture and music in international relations:
“The University of Latvia Wind Orchestra, conducted by Jānis Puriņš, gave a wonderful concert in Warsaw. Music once again proved that it is a bridge between our nations – warm, inspiring and unifying. As a proud alumni of the University of Latvia, I was particularly pleased to welcome the orchestra here in Poland.”
At both concerts, audiences were treated to a diverse musical program that included original compositions by the orchestra as well as arrangements of well-known works - from classical masterpieces to colorful interpretations of folk songs and beloved film melodies. A special highlight was the orchestra’s powerful rendition of Queen’s iconic “Bohemian Rhapsody”.
The concerts also featured outstanding solo performances by orchestra members Tīna Spičenoka (piccolo flute) and Samanta Rauza (alto saxophone), as well as Polish saxophonist Kacpers Adačs, whose appearance added an international flavor to the performances.
Reflecting on the tour, conductor Jānis Puriņš underlined the deeper purpose behind such cultural exchanges:
“Intercultural cooperation is essential to build and develop, because not only does it broaden our horizons, but also helps to spread the name of Latvia throughout the world, using a language that everyone understands - the language of music.”
The performances in Poland were met with great interest and warm applause, once again confirming the power of music to unite cultures, foster dialogue, and build bridges between nations.
Founded in 2008, the University of Latvia Wind Orchestra brings together more than 50 musicians from various Latvian universities and music schools. Its conductor and founder, Jānis Puriņš, is an associate professor at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music. Learn more about the orchestra here.
