Reine Ilze

Ilze Reine is a versatile organist whose repertoire places special emphasis on Baroque and Romantic organ music. A significant aspect of her artistic work is devoted to the music of Latvian composers. She has extensive experience in premiering contemporary Latvian music, performing works for solo organ, organ duet, and various chamber ensembles, most notably combinations of organ and trumpet. In recent years, she has released four CDs featuring music by Latvian composers, including recordings of works by Pēteris Vasks, Rihards Dubra, Imants Zemzaris, Alfrēds Kalējs, and others.

The artist regularly collaborates with Latvia’s leading soloists and professional ensembles, including the Latvian Radio Choir and the State Academic Choir “Latvija.” She also performs Baroque music with the chamber orchestra Sinfonietta Rīga and the ensemble Bach d’Amour.

Ilze Reine studied organ performance at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music under Associate Professor Larisa Bulava, earning a Master’s degree in 1999. She also studied at the Church Music College in Herford, Germany (1993–1995). She further refined her professional skills at the organ academies of Stuttgart and Haarlem, and in masterclasses with distinguished European organists Jon Laukvik, Ludger Lohmann, Ewald Kooiman, and Olivier Latry. Her improvisation skills were developed through studies with Jürgen Essl and Pēteris Plakidis.

Since 1996, Ilze Reine has served as organist and choir director at St. John’s Church in Riga. She has taught improvisation at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music and currently teaches at the Ventspils Secondary School of Music and the Jāzeps Mediņš Riga Music Secondary School.

Ilze Reine has performed in the Baltic States, France, Germany, Hungary, Sweden, Spain, and Israel, earning recognition for her musical excellence, stylistic versatility, and her contribution to promoting Latvian organ music internationally.