Latvian Academy of Music

JVLMA stands for Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music. We offer professional undergraduate and postgraduate programmes and academic postgraduate programmes in music performance, conducting, composition, music science, music pedagogy and choreography. Doctoral level studies are available in the field of history and theory of music. Scientific research and artistic creativity are the cornerstones of all professional and academic study programmes.

The main goals of the Latvian Academy of Music are to provide studies of exceptional quality in subjects of music, choreography and education sciences, humanitarian and social sciences; to conduct research projects in arts sciences; to encourage artistic creativity of the young musicians. Academy supports further education and cooperates as independent entity with foreign institutions for arts and education.

JVLMA, previously Latvian Conservatoire, was founded at the end of 1919. Its first rector till 1944 was legendary Latvian composer Jāzeps Vītols.

By the beginning of 90s together with political transformation - regaining of state independence - the scale of international contacts rapidly increased. Our students study abroad, foreign students more often can be seen at JVLMA. Mutual contacts are furthered by participation in international youth orchestras, competitions, festivals, masterclasses and joint projects. JVLMA joined Socrates/Erasmus programme in academic year 1999/2000, and today we have bilateral agreements with 92 partner institutions in almost all European countries. Since 2008 Latvia is full member in Nordic Council of Ministers education programme Nordplus.

JVLMA has 550 students, 124 full-time teachers and 148 part-time teachers in academic year 2012/2013.

Academy hosts approximately 250 events in a year (concerts, public exams, festivals, contests, auditions, intensive projects, conferences, seminars, presentations), and  around 80 masterclasses lead by foreign professors.