Events for June 2009

France

Latvian Radio Choir performs in Paris

The Latvian Radio Choir and the Choeur de Chambre Accentus perform at 20:30 hours June 2 in Cité de la musique, 221 avenue Jean Jaurès, Paris. The choirs will be directed by Laurence Equilbey. On the program are works by Emils Dārziņš, Gustav Mahler and Richard Strauss. For further information, visit www.cite-musique.fr.

France

Latvian Radio Choir performs in Rouen

The Latvian Radio Choir and the Choeur de Chambre Accentus perform at 20:00 hours June 4 in Théâtre des Arts, 111 Rue du Général Leclerc, Rouen. The choirs will be directed by Laurence Equilbey. On the program are works by Gustav Mahler and Richard Strauss. For further information, visit www.operaderouen.com.

Latvia

ELJA50 tikšanās Rīgā

Ar priekšlasījumu, “Vārdu spēles un sekas vai kādas Eiropas Ministru rezolūcijas gaitas un citi stāsti”, Andris Mellakauls piedalīsies kārtējā ELJA50 rīkotā tikšanās 5. jūnija plkst. 19.00 viesnīcā “Konventa Sētā”, Kalēju ielā 9/11, Rīgā. Sīkāka informācija atrodama mājas lapā www.elja50.lv.

Pennsylvania

Philadelphia festival to welcome the summer

Celebrate the arrival of summer with Philadelphia-area Latvians beginning at 4 p.m. June 6 on the grounds of the Philadelphia St. John Church, 301 N. Newtown Street Road, Philadelphia. See the Philadelphia Latvian folk dance troupe Dzirkstele perform and sing along with accordion music played by Jānis Students. Admission for adults is USD 20 and includes dinner; children get in free. To register contact Māra Buks at +1 (610) 383-5972.

Maryland

Poet, writer Zālīte visits community

Writer and poet Māra Zālīte will meet with the Washington, D.C.-area Latvian community following the 10 a.m. service in the Latvian Ev.-Lutheran Church of Washington, D.C., 400 Hurley Ave., Rockville. The event is organized by the congregation and Latvian Organizations in Washington, D.C.

Queensland

Meeting of the Brisbane Brīvļaudis

Join the Brisbane Brīvļaudis for tea, lunch and discussions at 10 a.m. June 9 in the Brisbane Latvian House, 24 Church Ave., Buranda. This meeting’s topic is spiritual health. The Latvian film Agrā rūsa will also be shown. Admission is AUD 15 and includes refreshments and lunch.

Belgium

Midsummer in Brussels

The European Movement-Belgium and the Embassy of Latvia are hosting a Midsummer’s event around a big bonfire at 19:00 hours June 11 at the Hof ter Musschen, Av. Emmanuel Mounier 2, Brussels (metro stops: Alma/Vandevelde, buses 42 and 79: Cliniques Universitaires St. Luc). Maïté Abram, director of the European Movement-Belgium, will say a word of welcome, followed by an introduction by Latvian Ambassador Raimonds Jansons. Latvian songs, dances, beer and cheese will follow. Admission is free for EMB members, EUR 5 for non-members. Register by e-mail, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address); by telephone, +32 (2) 231 06 22; or fax +32 (2) 280 09 65.

Queensland

June 14 commemoration in Brisbane

A commemoration of the June 14 deportations will take place at 2 p.m. June 14 at the Brisbane Latvian House, 24 Church Ave., Buranda. The event will begin with a short service on the lawn of the Latvian House and continue inside with a speech by Valdis Gertners, poetry and prose readings, and a performance by the Brisbane choir Beverīna.

Wisconsin

BALSSI 2009 at UW-Madison

The Center for Russia, East Europe, and Central Asia and the Department of Scandinavian Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison hosts the Baltic Studies Summer Institute (BALSSI) from June 15-Aug. 7. Elementary Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian language courses will be offered, as well as lectures (in English) on Baltic history and culture and a rich program of cultural events related to the Baltic countries. Information and application materials are available on the BALSSI Web site, www.creeca.wisc.edu/balssi. The deadline for applications is April 13. BALSSI is sponsored by a consortium of 12 U.S. universities and receives additional support from the Association for the Advancement of Baltic Studies. For further information about BALSSI 2009, contact Nancy Heingartner, BALSSI program coordinator, at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or +1 (608) 262-3379.

Germany

Skride sisters perform in Leipzig

Latvian violinist Baiba Skride and her sister Lauma Skride, playing the Hammerflügel, will perform at 20:00 hours June 16 with flutist Jaime Martin and Chamber Orchestra of Europe in the Leipzig Thomaskirche, Thomaskirchhof, Leipzig. On the program are works by Johann Sebastian Bach and Felix Mendelssohn. For further information, visit www.bach-leipzig.de.

New York

Dižtalka and Jāņi in the Catskills

Join the dižtalka (volunteer work party) to prepare the New York congregation’s children’s camp for the summer season on June 20 and 21 at the Latvian Lutheran Camp, Elka Park. Everyone 10 years of age and older is invited to help prepare the camp. All volunteers will receive three meals on Saturday and breakfast on Sunday. Saturday evening all are invited to join the Jāņi (Midsummer) bonfire and festivities. For more information and to reserve rooms, call Janīna Briģis at +1 (518) 589-9932. A map and directions to the camp may be viewed by visiting www.nydraudze.org and clicking on “Nometne”.

New Jersey

Midsummer at Priedaine

A Midsummer celebration will take place June 20 at the New Jersey Latvian Society Priedaine, 1017 Highway 33 E., Freehold. Celebrants will be welcomed starting at 4 p.m. After 5:30 p.m. the New York Latvian folk dance group Jumis and the ensemble Dzirkstele from Philadelphia will perform. At 7 p.m. there will be a concert by singer Liene Šomase from Latvia. Priedaine’s favorite, Bernie’s Orchestra, will play dance music after the performances and into the wee hours. At 10:30 p.m. the bonfire will be lit to the accompaniment of traditional Midsummer songs. Admission is USD 20. For more information visit www.priedaine.org.

Ontario

Jāņi celebrations at Camp Saulaine

Saulaine will celebrate the shortest night of the year beginning at 4 p.m. June 20 at Camp Saulaine, 5813 20th Side Road, Essa, Utopia. The barbeque is planned for 4 p.m. followed at 6 p.m. by a concert of popular and Midsummer songs sung by the Latvian mixed choir Dzirksts, conducted by Vizma Maksiņa. The live professional dance band The Happy Guys will play later in the evening, against a backdrop of Midsummer bonfires, a playground for children and a river venue. The Saulaine bookstore will be open all weekend. Admission is CAD 20 for adults (free parking); children younger than 13 will be admitted free. Camping for the weekend costs CAD 15 and includes free firewood. For more information contact Guntis Tannis at +1 (416) 225-8635 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or visit www.campsaulaine.com.

Queensland

Jāņi in Brisbane

Brisbane-area Latvians will celebrate Midsummer (Jāņi) beginning at 4 p.m. June 20 at the Brisbane Latvian House, 24 Church Ave., Buranda. The Sun Bar (Saules bārs) will be open for thirsty guests, the local Daugavas Vanagi women’s auxiliary will be preparing dinner, and the folk ensemble Zigrīda will provide songs and music. Admission is AUD 5, dinner costs AUD 10, and cake and coffee cost AUD 5.

Ohio

Concert of popular Latvian music

Begin summer with a concert of contemporary Latvian music at 7 p.m. June 20, at the Latvian Church Hall, 1385 Andrews Ave., Lakewood. Ieva Pļavniece, Raimonda Vazdika and Ilze Grunte will perform songs by popular composers and poets such as Raimonds Pauls, Uldis Stabulnieks, Mārtiņš Brauns, Imants Kalniņš, Raimonda Vazdika, Māra Zālīte, Māris Čaklais and others. Tickets are USD 20. For more information contact Silvija Rūtenberga at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Belgium

Jāņi in Grez-Doiceau

Latvians in Belgium are invited to celebrate Jāni beginning at 19:00 hours June 20 in a meadow near Grez-Doiceau. Advance general admission is EUR 7, but for members of the Latvian Society in Belgium (Latviešu biedrība Beļģijā) it is EUR 5. The cost increases to EUR 10 on the day of the event. Children age 12 and younger get in free. Further information about the event is available by visiting www.ligo.be.

New York

Concert features business choirs

A concert titled “Songs Cross the Oceans and Link Businesses” is scheduled at 7:30 p.m. June 25 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 122 East 88 St., New York. Organized by the Consulate of Latvia in New York, the concert will feature two “business” choirs, one from Rīga and the other from New York’s Japanese business community. The RTU Rīga Business School Choir, under Conductor Einārs Verro, brings together more than 40 successful business professionals. The majority of singers are middle and top level managers, entrepreneurs and company owners. At the same time most of the singers have significant choral experience. The New York Mens’ Choir, a successor of the NY Men’s Glee Club, is an amateur choral group consisting of Japanese businessmen working in New York. Kousuke Iwasaki conducts the choir. Both choirs will perform selections from their native repertoires. Tickets can be bought at the door and are USD 10 for adults and USD 7 for children.

Queensland

Zolīte in Brisbane

The Brisbane chapter of Daugavas Vanagi hosts a monthly gathering of zolīte players at 1 p.m. June 27 in the Brisbane Latvian House, 24 Church Ave., Buranda. All are welcome to join in the popular card game. Admission is AUD 5.

California

Gaigalava performs in San Francisco

The musical group Gaigalava from the Latgale region of Latvia performs during “Jāņi 2009,” an event scheduled from 2-6 p.m. June 27 in the Latvian Church Hall, 425 Hoffman Ave., San Francisco.

California

Gaigalava performs in Los Angeles

A Midsummer event, “No Jāņiem līdz Pēteriem,” is scheduled at 1 p.m. June 28 in Latvian Community Center, 1955 Riverside Drive, Los Angeles. The musical group Gaigalava from the Latgale region of Latvia will perform during the event. Admission is USD 20 for adults, USD 15 for students and free for children to age 12.

Latvia

3x3 camp in northern Latvia

The first 3x3 camp in Latvia this summer will take place in Naukšēni near the Estonian border from June 28-July 5. The 3x3 camp is a week-long cultural and social experience for whole families, as well as singles. Children spend the days at fun and educational activities, while adults attend seminars and workshops about various Latvian topics, such as folklore, politics, literature, silversmithing, woodworking, and weaving. The 3x3 camps in Latvia often offer more than 30 seminars for adults. Seminars, workshops and children’s activities are led by experts in their respective fields from Latvia and abroad. All generations come together during the evenings for more activities and, of course, singing and dancing. Camps draw many local participants and space is limited, so early registration is recommended. For more information and to register contact the 3x3 liaison outside of Latvia, Līga Ruperte, at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). See also the 3x3 Web site at www.3x3.lv.