First International Music Education Conference ICME Held in Riga, Latvia
Riga, Latvia – On March 21, 2026, the first International Conference on Music Education (ICME) took place at Hanzas Perons in Riga, establishing a new international platform for music education in Latvia. The conference brought together over 400 music teachers, students, researchers, young music authors, and industry professionals from Latvia and across Europe, including a delegation from the Åland Islands.
A New Platform for Music Education
ICME was founded by Agnese Rakovska, a Latvian musician and the founder of the social enterprise and music education platform “Zvaigznāja komanda.” The conference aims to foster collaboration and innovation in music education, addressing the evolving needs of the creative industries in the Baltic region and beyond. According to Rakovska, the strong attendance demonstrates the current relevance of developing music education.1
Key Discussions and Participants
The conference commenced with a discussion panel titled “The Importance of Music Learning in the Educational Process.” Participants included Laima Geikina, Chairman of the Education, Culture and Sports Committee of the Riga City Council; Dace Melbārde, Minister of Education and Science; Agnese Lāce, Minister of Culture; and Ģirts Ozoliņš, founder of “Erica Synths.” Agnese Rakovska moderated the discussion, focusing on the role of music education in schools, the development of creativity, and the integration of technology in learning.1
International Collaboration and Expertise
ICME featured a diverse range of international experts from countries including the UK, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Spain, and Romania.2 Speakers included Mark Aitchison (University of Reading), Jonas Jansson and Peter Åstedt (Sweden), Ari Perälä and Anželika Krastiņa (Finland), Dr. Kadri Haljas (Estonia), Andra Vasile, Anca Lupeș, and Daniela Barbu (Romania). Latvian experts also contributed, including artificial intelligence expert Kristaps Cīrulis, architect Agnese Blaubārde, “Vantofons” author Jānis Vērzemnieks, and “Barboleta” founder Baiba Blomniece-Jurāne.
Cultural Immersion and Student Engagement
Prior to the conference, international delegates experienced Latvian culture with a tour of Kurzeme, including a visit to Jūrkalne where they sampled sklandrauši and listened to the songs of Suiti wives, a tradition recognized as part of Latvia’s intangible cultural heritage.1
A song hackathon was held concurrently with the conference, allowing students from Latvian cities to create new song ideas using digital music stations from “Zvaigznāja class.” The winning composition was created by students from Daugavpils Opportunities High School, followed by Liepāja’s Raina High School in second place, and a team from Riga 1st Primary School Development Center in third.1
Looking Ahead
Agnese Rakovska envisions ICME as a continuing, robust international platform for educators, artists, and creative industry professionals to collaborate and shape the future of music education.1 The conference was organized by SIA “Zvaigznāja komanda” with support from the “Augt” fund, AKKA/LAA, Deposit point, and the Sweden-Latvia Cooperation Fund.