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Janis Kalniņš
Kalnins, Janis. Conductor, composer, organist-choirmaster, Pärnu, Estonia, of Latvian parents, 3 Nov 1904, naturalized Canadian 1954, Fredericton 30 Nov 2000; honorary D MUS (Mount Allison) 1981. His father, Alfreds Kalnins, an organist, conductor, and composer, was one of Latvia's most prominent musicians of his time. After early studies 1920-4 in composition with J. Vitols and conducting at the Latvian State Conservatory in Riga, Janis Kalnins studied with Erich Kleiber in Salzburg and with Hermann Abendroth and Leo Blech in Berlin. He conducted 1923-33 at the Latvian National Theatre and 1933-44 at the Latvian National Opera and was a guest conductor in Sweden (Royal Opera House, Stockholm), Germany, and Poland.
He moved to Canada in 1948 to become organist-choirmaster at St Paul's United Church in Fredericton, NB, and retained the position for over 40 years, becoming organist emeritus in 1991. In 1951 he was appointed conductor of the Fredericton Civic Orchestra and instructor in music education at the provincial teachers' college, holding the latter position until 1971. He was the sole conductor of the New Brunswick Symphony Orchestra (1962-8) and also conducted orchestras in Latvian festivals throughout North America. In 1978 he conducted the Windsor Symphony Orchestra in his own Third Symphony and New Brunswick Rhapsody.
He moved to Canada in 1948 to become organist-
From the Encylopedia of Music in Canada
