Elizabete Jokiranta

Elizabete Jokiranta’s musical journey began in Riga, taking her through the Emīls Dārziņš Music School, the Latvian Academy of Music, and a competition victory at the age of 17. She chose the viola over the violin, drawn to its “human” timbre and soulful depth. For 35 years, her career has remained continuous: from chamber trios and serving as Principal Viola at the Latvian National Opera to the symphonic horizons of the Tampere Philharmonic. Her vast repertoire ranges from Handel and Purcell to Arvo Pärt and Steve Reich.

She owes her musical foundation to her mother, a piano teacher, and her professional discipline to Professor Eleonora Testeleca, who taught her to master mistakes and value success. Outside the concert hall, she finds balance walking her beloved dachshund along the shores of Lake Pyhäjärvi.