"Jauna dziesma" / "A new song"

From Krisīte Skare, Musical director of the XIV Latvian song and dance festival (Baltimore, 2017).

"In the social distancing and virtual conditions of the Spring of 2020, we each did everything we could to make our American Latvian youth feel that their Latvian school family was not disappearing. Using Zoom, we taught grammar, history, geography, and even folk dances, streaming live and entertaining events for our students. We've called and corresponded more than ever.

In an online conversation with the Latvian school principals and facilitated by Elisa Freimane, Director of the Office of Education for the American Latvian Association, I proposed a project that would aim to bring together in a fun and challenging way, all students who cannot be together during COVID-19 self-isolation. The principals were very happy to support this. I invited the students to film themselves singing Lolita Ritmanis and Guntars Račs composition "New Song." From all the recordings we created the first virtual choir of Latvian youth in the USA."

"JAUNA DZIESMA" / "A NEW SONG"
Music: Lolita Ritmane
Text: Guntars Račs

PROJECT PRODUCER
Krisīte Skare

VIDEO MONTAGE
Ēriks Galiņš

SOUND TECHNICIANS
Krisīte Skare
Michael Glashow

PROJECT SUPPORTERS
The American Latvian Association
The Latvian Song and Dance Festival Fund
(founded after the Song and Dance Festival in Baltimore).

PARTICIPANT SCHOOLS IN THE CITIES OF:

• Boston
• Chicago
• Los Angeles
• Minneapolis / St. Paul
• Yonkers, New York
• New Jersey
• Rochester
• San Diego
• Washington, DC
• San Francisco