Juris Žvikovs and Sanita Glazenburga

Juris Žvikovs and Sanita Glazenburga are a distinguished piano duo hailing from Latvia. The duo gave their inaugural performance over two decades ago and have sustained their collaboration through a shared aesthetic and musical values. With a penchant for adventurous exploration, they have delved into compositions spanning from the baroque period to the avant-garde, continually seeking innovative ways to interpret and present their music. Driven by artistic fervour and a constant quest for fresh concepts, Žvikovs and Glazenburga have devised unique concert experiences that blend various forms of art.

Currently, both Žvikovs and Glazenburga serve on the faculty of the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music.

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Juris Žvikovs

Juris Žvikovs commenced his piano studies at seven years of age. His education journey includes the Jelgava School of Music, the Emīls Dārziņš Special College of Music in Riga, the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, the Conservatoire de Musique de la Ville de Luxembourg, and the Peabody Conservatory at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, USA. He was tutored by Zigrīda Šillere, Jānis Lielmanis, Arnis Zandmanis, Teofils Biķis, Marko Krauss and Robert McDonald.

Žvikovs has achieved recognition in several international piano contests, securing awards at the M. K. Čiurlionis international piano competition in Vilnius, Lithuania (diploma), the Kishinev international piano competition in Moldova (second prize), and the second Jāzeps Vītols international piano competition in Riga (Grand Prix).

He has received multiple music awards, including Latvia’s Great Music Award (akin to the Latvia’s Grammy) and various scholarships, notably the Fulbright Scholarship, across roles as a student, scholar and researcher.

Žvikovs is renowned for his performances with top Latvian orchestras, solo recitals, and chamber music engagements. He has participated in numerous music festivals such as Gidon Kremer’s Lockenhauser Kammermusikfest in Austria, Festival de Radio France et Montpellier and the French Music Festival in Bailu, China.

Currently, Žvikovs holds the position of Associate Professor at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, where he has also served as Dean of Student Affairs from 2002 to 2005. He has conducted master classes at prestigious conservatories and music academies across Europe and the United States, including the Universität der Künste Berlin, Rotterdam Conservatoire, ArtEZ School of Music in the Netherlands, Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Musikhögskolan Ingesund in Arvika and Kungliga Musikhögskolan in Stockholm, Sweden, Conservatorio di Udine and Conservatorio di Musica G.Tartini di Trieste in Italy, Conservatorio Superior de Música "Rafael Orozco" in Córdoba, Spain and both the California State University at Long Beach and the California Institute of the Arts.

Žvikovs has benefited from the Fulbright Scholar Exchange Grant, conducting work and research at the California Institute of the Arts during the academic years 2009/2010 and 2018/2019.

In 2006, he released a double CD, Anthology of Latvian Piano Music. He was nominated for Latvia’s Great Music Award in the category of Outstanding Performance in an Ensemble in 2012 and for Outstanding Interpretation in 2015.

Sanita Glazenburga

Sanita Glazenburga is an alumna of the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, where she was under the tutelage of Professor Teofils Biķis, and the Jāzeps Mediņš Riga Music High School where she was a pupil of Gunta Bože.

As a distinguished pianist, Glazenburga has garnered acclaim at international competitions, notably achieving first place at the International Jāzeps Vītols Piano Competition in 1997 and third at Israel's Ada Kaspi International Piano Competition that same year, among other accolades. Her musicianship has been further refined through master classes with esteemed artists such as Lazar Berman, Håkon Ribera, Mikhail Boguslavsky, Pavel Genushas, Halldór Pálsson and Jonas Vagman.

Glazenburga is a prominent figure in the Latvian and international music communities, having performed with leading ensembles including the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonietta Riga, Latvian National Opera Orchestra, Riga Festival Orchestra and the symphony orchestra of the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music.

Renowned for her work in chamber music and as an accompanist, she has contributed to numerous chamber music festivals and has been instrumental in guiding many young musicians to success in various competitions.

Sanita Glazenburga currently holds teaching positions at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music and the Jāzeps Mediņš Riga Music High School.