Atvars Lakstīgala is one of the greatest Latvian conductors of a young generation. He is the former chief conductor of the Liepaja Amber Sound Symphony Orchestra, as well as the artistic director of the Liepaja International Piano Stars Festival.

Recent and future engagements include opera, (Love for three Oranges, Tosca, La Traviata, Mikhail and Mikhail Play Chess) and ballet (Three Meetings) with the Latvian National Opera, Cinderella Scottish Ballet, and engagements with the Orchestra Sinfonica di Roma, Philharmonie Südwestfalen, Yasar University Chamber Orchestra, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, a tour of China with Latvian Symphony Orchestra, a concert at Sala São Paulo.

Atvars Lakstīgala was born in Riga and educated at the UdK Berlin, where he studied conducting with Prof. Lutz Koehler, and at Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, at which he in French horn with Prof. A. Klisans, and conducting with Prof. Imants Resnis.

Atvars has worked with the Orchestra Sinfonica di Bari (debut in 2013), Milli Reasürans Chamber Orchestra (debut in 2013) and Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra (debut in 2012). In November 2009, Atvars made his first international debut with Berliner Symphoniker. In April 2009, Atvars made his highly acclaimed debut as conductor at the Latvian National Opera with Verdi’s La Traviata. Since then, Atvars regularly guest conducts at the LNO, and has conducted performances of Macbeth, Un Ballo in Maschera, Il Trittico, Eugene Onegin, The Lady of the Camellia and Sleeping Beauty, as well as symphonic and gala concerts.Atvars is laureate of several international competitions. He has also received the Latvian highest state award in music: The Great Music Award for the Best Debut (2010).

From 1997-2009, as a French horn player, Atvars played in many local and international professional and youth orchestras, performing as a soloist in concertos as well as taking part in chamber music. From 2002- 2010 Atvars was a member of the Latvian National Opera Orchestra.