Informations
Facts
Born in Jelgava, Latvia
Member since 01.09.2011
Biography
As a boy Gunars Upatnieks, scion of a family of musicians, was more interested in rowing and basketball. Not until the age of 13 did he discover his instrument. His father played double bass, and Gunars was fascinated by the instrument’s myriad possibilities and sonorous timbre. He studied it at the music academies of Riga and Brno, where he was a pupil of Miloslav Jelinek. From 2005 to 2009 Upatnieks was principal bass in the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra; during the 2010/11 season he was assistant principal bass in the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra.
A prize-winner at numerous competitions, he has also appeared as a soloist and with ensembles including the Bavarian Radio Symphony and Nordic Symphony orchestras and with conductors such as Mariss Jansons, Neeme Järvi and Mstislav Rostropovich. In his free time, Upatnieks is happiest in his circle of friends and family. He likes to travel and is still keen on sport – he regularly plays basketball.
Awards
First Prize and Audience Award, 58th ARD International Music Competition (2009)
First Prize and Audition Award, 5th International Johann-Matthias-Sperger-competition for Double Bass (2008)
Ensembles of the Berliner Philharmoniker
