Pēteris Plakidis

Pēteris Plakidis (4 March 1947 – 8 August 2017) was a Latvian composer and pianist. Early life Plakidis was born on 4 March 1947 in Riga, Latvia. He was educated at the Emīls Dārziņš College of Music before studying as an undergraduate in the Composition Department at the Jāzeps Vītols State Conservatory (now the Latvian Academy of Music). He graduated in 1970, having been taught by composers Jānis Ivanovs and Valentīns Utkins. Plakidis undertook further postgraduate study at the conservatory, which he completed in 1975. Career From 1969 to 1974, before he had graduated, Plakidis held the post of musical director for the Latvian National Theatre. From 1975, he was a tutor in the composition department at the Latvian Academy of Music, and in 1991 he became professor of composition. Plakidis has received much recognition as a composer. In 1969 he received a diploma at the All-Union Young Composers’ Competition, for his composition “Music for Piano, String Orchestra and Timpani” and in 1982 was awarded the title of Honoured Artist. He was the recipient of the Jānis Ivanovs Prize in 1987 and in 1990 he was awarded the title of “People’s Artist”. In 1996, Plakidis won the Latvian Grand