Ēriks Ešenvalds

The Latvian composer Ēriks Ešenvalds is at the forefront of contemporary choral composing. He has won multiple awards for his work, including the Latvian Great Music Prize, had his music performed at numerous international festivals, and has been frequently featured on recordings. Ēriks is a popular public speaker, which he often combines with leading masterclasses and conducting.

Born in Priekule, Latvia in 1977, Ēriks Ešenvalds studied at the Latvian Baptist Theological Seminary from 1995–97 before obtaining his master’s degree in composition in 2004 from the Latvian Academy of Music under the tutelage of Selga Mence. He took masterclasses with Michael Finnissy, Klaus Huber, Philippe Manoury, and Jonathan Harvey, amongst others. From 2002–11 he was a member of the acclaimed State Choir Latvija, the largest professional choir in the Baltics. From 2011–13 he was Fellow Commoner in Creative Arts at Trinity College, University of Cambridge.

At present, Ēriks heads the Department of Composition at the Latvian Academy of Music, where he has been teaching since 2004. He is a doctoral candidate in the arts.
Ēriks lives near Riga and is married with four children.
Ēriks Ešenvalds is one of the most sought-after composers working today with a busy commission schedule. Performances of his music are heard on every continent and his works are widely recorded.