Dr Didzis Kalniņš, an accomplished soloist, chamber musician, and educator, is making significant strides in his career. In 2023, he earned a Doctorate in Music Performance from the Royal Irish Academy of Music and Trinity College Dublin, elevating his expertise in the field. Originally from Latvia but now residing in Ireland, Didzis has performed in numerous prestigious venues, including the National Concert Hall, Christ Church Cathedral Dublin, The National Gallery, The Mansion House, and King House in Boyle, Co. Roscommon, among others. Moreover, Didzis has given recitals globally, including countries such as Italy, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Spain, Latvia, Estonia, and Brazil.
Didzis completed his undergraduate studies at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music under the guidance of Professor Juris Kalnciems. Subsequently, he attained a Master's degree in Piano performance from the Conservatorio di Musica di Vicenza 'Arrigo Pedrollo' in Italy under the tutelage of Professor Marco Tezza. During his time in Italy, Didzis appeared as a concerto soloist with l'Orchestra Regionale Veneta and the Symphony Orchestra of the Conservatorio di Vicenza 'Arrigo Pedrollo.' He also won the 'Premio Claudio Abbado 2015' in the vocal chamber music section, along with soprano Selena Colombera. From 2018-2023, Didzis pursued full-time doctoral studies at the Royal Irish Academy of Music with Professors Therese Fahy and Denise Neary, focusing on performance and research in music. Didzis is a member of the Society for Musicology in Ireland (SMI) and has presented lecture recitals in artistic research conferences both in Ireland and abroad. His current research focus centres around the artistic qualities and perspectives of the sostenuto pedal.
Apart from being an accomplished performer, Didzis is also a seasoned educator with extensive experience teaching students ranging from beginners to Diploma level, including the third level of conservatoire. He has been teaching at the Royal Irish Academy of Music and is a member of the European Piano Teacher's Association (EPTA) in Ireland. Since 2019, Didzis has served on the panel of Music examiners for the Royal Irish Academy of Music. His former and present students have achieved remarkable success at the Feis Ceoil, EPTA, and PianoFest competitions, as well as in their examinations with the Royal Irish Academy of Music and the ABRSM.
Some of Didzis' recent engagements include performances of Brahms' Piano Quintet in F minor with the ConTempo Quartet and the World Premiere of a new commissioned piece, Surfacing, for the sostenuto pedal by Rhona Clarke, held on June 23, 2023, at the National Concert Hall. The Fingal County Council and the Wicklow County Arts Office supported the commission and performance of Surfacing.