The first participants selected for the young vocalists’ programme Elīna Garanča. Young Baltic Voices are sopranos Gunta Greisle and Paula Mihailova, and mezzo-soprano Agneta Otaņķe from Latvia, as well as tenor Nojus Vytis from Lithuania.

“Professional growth, the ability to listen, learn, and develop with purpose are essential values. With this programme, we aim to create an environment where young singers can gradually strengthen their talent through practice and experience. This is possible thanks to the generous support of the family of Pēteris Rožlapa and the guidance and involvement of our wonderful Elīna Garanča, who inspires and supports young artists on their path into the professional opera world,” says Astra Irmeja-Šēfere, Member of the Board of the Latvian National Opera and Ballet.

Gunta Greisle is a second-year Master’s student in opera singing at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, Paula Mihailova is in the first year of the Master’s programme in opera singing, while Agneta Otaņķe is a fourth-year Bachelor’s student at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music. Nojus Vytis has completed his Bachelor’s studies in opera singing and is currently a member of the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre’s Opera Studio.

Special recognition was also awarded to soprano Katažina Dudareva and bass Kristaps Ivanovs. The jury highly appreciated both singers’ professional preparation and artistic maturity, expressing interest in possible collaboration already within the framework of specific artistic projects.

A total of 52 young opera singers applied for the programme.

Elīna Garanča. Young Baltic Voices is the first and only young vocalists’ programme in the Baltics. Its goal is to help young talents from Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia successfully begin their path in the international opera environment by providing practical experience, professional support, and the development of skills required in today’s opera industry. The programme’s patron and ambassador is the world-renowned opera singer Elīna Garanča, who serves as an inspiring mentor for young artists.

The programme will run for one season, from September to June, offering an intensive programme of practical training and studies at the Latvian National Opera and Ballet in close cooperation with the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music. Elīna Garanča. Young Baltic Voices is made possible thanks to a donation from the family of the distinguished scenographer and costume designer Pēteris Rožlapa (1906–1991).