Helena Gintere

Helena Gintere began her musical training at the age of five in a specialized music school and at 16 she made her piano debut with the Latvian Conservatory Symphony Orchestra. She later graduated from the Riga Conservatory (Latvia) with a Masters Degree in piano performance, specializing as a teacher and soloist with chamber ensembles and as an accompanist for voice and instruments. Before Helena immigrated to Canada she worked for 20 years at the Latvian State Conservatory, a post secondary music academy, now the Music Academy (Riga), and at the Emils Darzins preparatory school for professional musicians. There she was known as an experienced classical piano teacher and accompanist. In Toronto she has performed with various choirs and soloists in such Toronto venues as the Glenn Gould Studio, George Weston Hall, North York Concert Hall, Metropolitan United Church and at Casa Loma. As well she has accompanied artists in several American cities. Some of her recent solo performances are now available on You Tube. In Toronto she has taught students from the beginner to the university level at her private piano studio. She is a member of the Ontario Registered Music Teacher’s Association (ORMTA) and over the years her students have achieved very positive recognition at ORMTA’s auditions and recitals. Her students also been very successful in the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) exams and various Toronto area competitions. During Covid she has been teaching lessons on-line and will offer both these and in studio lessons. Helena strongly believes that music opens a child’s mind to beauty as well as strengthening their discipline and thinking skills. She nurtures these qualities in all her students and is very pleased by the growth she has witnessed in them.