Draft:Vilnis Salaks

Vilnis Salaks (18 January 1939 – 17 May 2021) was a Latvian composer, music teacher, folklore researcher and kokle player.

Biography
Vilnis Salaks was born on January 18, 1939 in Riga into the family of teacher, choirmaster and composer Artūrs Salaks. Salaks's childhood was spent in Valmiera where he received his secondary education.

At the age of 14 Salaks moved to Riga, where he wrote his first professional composition - a lullaby for the piano. He studied at Jāzeps Mediņš Music High School and Jāzeps Vītolas State Conservatory. After his studies, he supplemented his knowledge in various courses, also outside Latvia. In 2003 he obtained a Master's degree in music.

Later, Salaks worked for 45 years at the Jāzeps Mediņš Music High School as a teacher of composition and theoretical subjects, and also at the Jāzeps Vītols Academy of Music of Latvia as an associate professor.

He became a member of the Latvian Composers' Union in 1985, and since 1964 he participated in around 1,500 concerts in Latvia and abroad, in countries such as Lithuania, Estonia, Russia, etc. He led many vocal ensembles, such as VEF Culture Palace men's vocal ensemble (since 1964), men's vocal quartet "Vecrīga" (founded in 1974), and others. He received around 30 honorary articles and diplomas in various competitions.

Salaks was the vice-president of the International music culture center "Arfa" (1991–1997), and was in charge of organizing concerts in Moscow, Kyrgyzstan, Israel, etc.

He died on May 17, 2021 at 82 years old.

Works

 * Salaks wrote 4 symphonies, 2 symphonic poems, 5 concerts, suites, music works for symphony orchestra for all instruments.
 * Works
 * Discography
 * Audios
 * Published music pieces
 * Notes