Krists Auznieks, Composer

Composer Krists Auznieks is celebrated for his music, hailed as exhilarating, stunning, and luminous by San Francisco Classical Voice, possessing astonishing complexity and beauty according to Broadwayworld, and showcasing old-fashioned elegance as recognized by the Herald Tribune. His quintet, "Piano," was featured in The New York Times as one of the week's best classical music moments. Auznieks holds the distinction of being the youngest composer to receive the prestigious Latvian Grand Music Award for best composition of the year. In 2021, he was named the "person of the year in culture" by Latvijas Avīze and received the main prize in the "Composers under 30" category at the International Rostrum of Composers.

As a firm believer in the spiritual power of music, Auznieks views it as a practice that invites contemplation of our place in the universe, fosters a sense of interconnectedness, and inspires awe and wonder. His compositions serve as gateways to the immaterial, the transcendent, and the yet unknown, offering audiences a space to explore what lies ahead.

Auznieks' music has been performed at prestigious venues worldwide, including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, the Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Royal Danish Theatre, and Atlanta Symphony Hall. His works have also been featured at renowned festivals such as the Prague Quadrennial, New York’s MATA, Amsterdam’s Gaudeamus Muziekweek, and Aspen Music Festival. Auznieks' compositions have been embraced by audiences at the Beijing National Arts Centre, Shanghai City Theatre, Amsterdam's Muziekgebouw, The Southbank Center (London), Théâtre Maisonneauve (Montreal), and other esteemed venues around the globe, fostering a sense of kindness, peace, and harmony through the power of music.

Driven by a passion for artistic exploration, Auznieks has received numerous commissions from prominent organizations and artists, including the Swedish Radio, Latvian National Opera, O/Modernt Festival, Atlanta Symphony, Bang on A Can, and Kremerata Baltica. He has collaborated with esteemed ensembles such as Cappella Amsterdam, the Latvian Radio Choir, and the New York-based new music ensemble Unheard-Of. His compositions have also been commissioned by the American Composer Orchestra, Aspen Music Festival, Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, Yale Percussion Group, Albany Symphony, Latvian Radio Big Band, Contemporaneous, and acclaimed pianists Melvin Chen and David Fung. Auznieks has worked with distinguished conductors including Tarmo Peltokoski, Kristiina Poska, Robert Spano, Patrick Summers, and Christopher Rountree. Noteworthy collaborations also include performances with pianist Stephen Gosling and bassist Robert Black.

Auznieks earned his Doctoral and Masters degrees from the Yale School of Music, where he was awarded The Woods Chandler Memorial Prize. He is an alumnus of The Royal Conservatory of The Hague. His dedication to artistic growth and exploration has been recognized through fellowships from the Paris Cité internationale des arts, Hermitage, and AIR Serenbe residencies, as well as invitations to the NEXT Festival of Emerging Artists (NYC), the Bennington Chamber Music Conference, and the American Academy of Fontainebleau. Auznieks has received numerous awards from the American Composer Orchestra's Earshot, The Chicago Ensemble's Discover America XI, the Association for the Promotion of New Music, and the Kaleidoscope Chamber Orchestra competitions, as well as the Jacob Druckman Prize from the Aspen Music Festival.

In addition to his musical pursuits, Auznieks has made significant contributions to music education. He has served on the faculty of the Yale School of Music and Montclair State University, sharing his expertise and nurturing aspiring musicians. Auznieks has also taught for the New York Philharmonic's Very Young Composers Program and the Sitka Fine Arts Camp in Alaska. As a sought-after guest lecturer, he has shared his insights and artistic vision at renowned institutions such as the Manhattan School of Music, SUNY Stony Brook, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, the Estonian Academy of Music, and Florida State University.

Currently serving as a Chair of the Composition Department at the Latvian Academy of Music, Auznieks continues to inspire through his compositions, performances, and teachings. A long-term Vipassana practitioner, he finds balance and inspiration in literature, bouldering, and cooking, further enriching his artistic journey.