Jēkabpils music teacher Antra Korņejeva has worked at the same school for 48 years

Antra Korņejeva, a piano teacher at the Arvīds Žilinskis Jēkabpils Music School in Latvia, has worked at the institution for 48 years. Last year she received the Jēkabpils municipality award "Honorary Citizen of Jēkabpils Municipality" for her work in educating young musicians and her involvement in the city's cultural and public life.

From Klintaine to Cēsis

Antra grew up near the Daugava river, first in Klintaine and later in Pļaviņas. Her father was an agronomist and her mother a teacher. She ended up in music school because the children of other teachers had started attending, and her parents decided similarly. A piano was bought for her, which at the time was a major purchase. After primary school she studied at a music secondary school in Cēsis, where, as she recalls, she truly realised she wanted more from music.

After she graduated, Leone Pauniņa, then director of the Jēkabpils Music School, invited her to work there, as the school needed a teacher for young pianists. It is Antra's first and only workplace. The school is now located by the Daugava, and the classroom windows offer a view of the river.

Students and competitions

The teacher's students have taken part in competitions, including Inese Galante's young talent contest and events organised by the Andrejs Osokins foundation. Several female students have chosen music as a profession, and one is studying medicine. Pianists Daniela and Kristiāna performed at many concerts, won competition prizes and received a Ministry of Culture award.

Antra believes that when working with children it is important to find a human connection rather than simply demand results and give poor marks. She stresses that music students must practise at home too, and that not all of them later become musicians, though some become educated listeners.

Choirs and the garden

Antra is an accompanist for the Jēkabpils choirs "Atvasara" and "Unda". Last year she also played for the Jēkabpils Gymnasium choir "Ritums" at the Song Festival final.

In her free time she tends a garden near Jēkabpils, bought together with her husband Dainis. Roses are especially dear to her. Antra has a son, Klāvs, who also graduated from music school, and two granddaughters.