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On July 6, the Foundation had the opportunity to bring the sounds of live music and joy to the hearts of the residents at Social Care Center Ābeles. A selection of works by German, Italian, French, Hungarian and Latvian composers was performed for the seniors and people with disabilities by string ensemble of the Liepāja Music, Art and Design School, Amber Strings.
For the collective of 12 talented young musicians, this was a stop in their rich summer program. The day before, the ensemble held its 10-year anniversary at Liepāja Concert Hall Great Amber, and the month will continue with final preparations before they embark on a journey to a prestigious international competition in Los Angeles, USA, with the support of the Uniting History Foundation.
Amber Strings present a broad and extensive program at each concert or competition. The program prepared for Ābeles included works by composers of different generations, including Franz Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2, Antonio Vivaldi’s Summer from the Four Seasons cycle, Karl Jenkins’ Palladio, as well as arrangements of Latvian folk songs, and a number of other pieces.
The ensemble are frequent participants at various international music competitions with considerable awards. One of the most important competitions was the XI International Rising Star Competition in 2020, where they received 1st place. A performance by Amber Strings closed the Laureate Concert at the Great Guild, gaining them a ticket to the World Championships of Performing Arts in Los Angeles (USA), where they will compete against other ensembles from 73 countries. At the opening ceremony/nations parade, the young musicians will be wearing Latvian-flag-colored costumes created by students of the Clothing Design program at LMDAS and their teacher Marita Viļumsone.
‘We hope that the ensemble will be successful at the competition and move along the three stages, to gain recognition for their performances. It will not be easy, but it will be an invaluable experience for the kids,’ says leader of the ensemble Beata Zariņa-Blaščinska.
Social Care Center Ābeles is a department of the Social Services Agency of the Administration of Saldus Municipality. The social care center provides long-term social care and social rehabilitation services to retired persons and persons with disabilities. The Center is located in the Lutriņi rural territory of the Saldus municipality, and its 47 residents are currently cared for by 27 employees, who provide round-the-clock social care and social rehabilitation, four meals per day, routine healthcare, hosting them in furnished and equipped rooms with access to individual assistive devices and taking care of organizing culture events, classes and activities.
We thank the leaders of the ensemble Beata Zariņa-Blaščinska and Dita Barona for their willingness to collaborate and the head of SCC Ābeles Sarmīte Kušniruka for her dedicated work and the enthusiasm with which she cares for the residents’ physical and mental wellbeing.
We wish Amber Strings success in the competition, and great health to the residents and kind employees of the care center!
Photo by: Valters Pelns
