Famous people in Latvia Author:Viktorija Ariko Jaunpils Secondary school 12th class

Raimonds Pauls Born 12 January 1936 in Iļģuciems, Riga is a Latvian composer and piano player who is well known in Latvia, Russia post-Soviet countries and world-wide. He was the Minister of Culture at Latvia from 1988 to 1993. August 1967 – Celebrated Servant of Art. June 1976 – Artist of the People’s Theatre of LSSR. January 1985 – Artist of the People’s Theatre of USSR. 24 November 1992 - Honorary member of the Latvian Academy of Sciences. Raimonds Pauls was awarded with the Three Star Order (3rd class) on 12 April 1995 and thus he is a commander of the Three Star Order (for merits on behalf of the state of Latvia). He is also a laureate of State and Komsomol awards. A laureate of the Big Musical Award ‘1994 (for the poetic performance Visi koki dieva doti (Every Tree You See By God is Given Thee), the concert Svinga laiks (It's Time for Swing) and the CD Ziemassvētkos (In Christmas)).

Imants Ziedonis (1933 – 2013 was a Latvian poet who first rose to fame during the Soviet occupation of Latvia. Ziedonis graduated from the University of Latvia with a degree in philology in 1959 and went on to study in Moscow. As a young man, Ziedonis worked in a wide variety of jobs – he worked as a librarian, road construction worker, teacher and literary editor. Ziedoni's first significant collection of poetry Zemes un Sapņu Smilts/ Sand of Earth and Dreams was published in 1961, and the following three collections Sirds dinamīts/Heart's Dynamite, Motocikls/Motorcycle, and Es ieeju sevī/I Enter Myself sky-rocketed him to fame almost unprecedented in Latvian poetry scene. Ziedonis was awarded the Three Star Order in 1995 and the Cabinet of Ministers' Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2002, and has received several international literary prizes and awards, his works have been translated into Lithuanian, English, German, Swedish, Ukrainian, and other languages. Ziedonis has translated works by A.Pushkin, Alexander Alexandrovich Blok, Mayakovsky, Bagritsky, Lugovskoy.

Olga Dreģe Born at 1938, 1 march Sarkaņi parish. She is Latvian theater and cinema actress. She’s been an actress of the Art theater since 1961. In 1962, she graduated from the Daile theater 3rd study. Known for her role in the Riga movie studios "Vella Kalpi" and "Limuzīna Jāņu nakts krāsā". In the 1990's she also worked in politics, was a member of the 5th Saeima, was elected from the list of the Democratic Center party, but on 25 April 1995 she moved to the LNNK fraction. Aarded by The "Nightmare of the Night" prize for lifetime contribution (2016), the Madona Region's highest award - the honorary diploma and honor mark of Madona district municipality "for a bright and unforgettable contribution to the theater and cinema in Latvia, about the love and chanting of the Madona district and the native Sarkaņi parish«. The Order of the Three Stars (2003), Lilita Bērziņa's Prize (2003). The Recognition of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Latvia on the Self-Esteem and Success of the State and Peoples of Latvia (1998), the title of the People's Artist of the Latvian SSR (1988), the Merit of the Latvian SSR Honorary Title of the Rich Performing Arts (1973).

Mairis Briedis Born on January 13, 1985, he is a Latvian Boxer, from April 2017 until January 2018 World Champion WBC and current champion in the IBA. The Commander of the Three Stars Order was born on January 13, 1985 in Riga. With a boxing start at age 14, Briedis turned to kickboxing and at the age of 16 he became the champion of Latvia in kickboxing, which was from 2002 to 2010. The deer trained in the martial arts club "BUDO Center" at the coach Vasilija Chernihova. Later he returned to the box, and from 2008 to 2011, he was also a Latvian champion in the boxing. In 2007, Briedis won the 3rd place in the WAKO World Kickboxing Championship, but in 2008 he became the European Kickboxing Champion in the WAKO version. In 2014, Mairis Briedis was recognized as a European Year in Latvia by a vote of Latvians. In July 2016, Briedis became the head of the Latvian anti-cancer drug manufacturer and holding security service, but since the end of May 2017, in order to more effectively turn to the boxing, he has left this position and has worked twice as a security adviser. In addition to his professional boxing career, Mairis continued to work as an Inspector of the State Police Specialty Security Department as an unofficial leave before fighting.

Rebeka Koha Born on May 19, 1998, has a weight lift in Ventspils. 2017 World Champion Bronze medalist and 2018 European Champion in weight category up to 58 kg. She first trained at Ulvi Berzona, currently practicing with Eduards Andruškēvičs. Having made progress in the youth and junior age, R. Koha is a European champion in the youth and U-20 age group. At the 2014 World U-20 Championship, it won the 3rd place, at the 2014 Summer Olympics, the weight category up to 48 kg won the 3rd place. Starting in 2014, in adult competitions. In the 2015 World Championship, he won 10th place. Only at the age of 17 at the 2016 European Championship, adults won 3rd place in weight category up to 53 kg with a new record in Latvia [2], which was at that time the highest achievement in the history of women's weightlifting in Latvia. Participated in the 2016 Summer Olympics, which won 4th place in their weight category up to 58 kg, losing 2 kg behind the bronze medal. She won the silver medal in the European Championship in 2017, but won the bronze medal in the same year's World Championship in Anaheim and also won the World Junior Championship. In 2018, when he was only 19, R. Koha became the European champion, convincingly winning in Bucharest both in sum and in some ways. She also became the winner of the junior World Championship, which took place in Tashkent in July.

Baiba Sipeniece- Gavare Born on 21 February 1970 in Jaunpils, she is the head of the Latvian television and radio programs, the director of events, and also filmed a film. Studied at Jaunpils Secondary School and Valmiera Viestura Secondary School. She has participated in various TV projects and films. B. Sipeniece-Gavare has starred in several humorous shows, including "The Great Wonderland Show", "Adamsoni". In 2005, she played one of the main roles in the movie "I Love Your Daughter!". He also directed several TV shows, including TV3 shows "Dziesmu duelis", "Dullais desmitnieks", "Singing with the Star. Miles fight", "Dance off", "The landlord looking for a wife" and "Come and hello!". Still, B. Sipeniece-Gavare runs several radio broadcasts, such as Star FM's Zoopasta. She has repeatedly directed (usually with Valters Krauze) the Latvian Music Awards.

Intars Busulis Born on May 2, 1978 in Talsi, he is a Latvian musician, singer and trombonist. She became first-best-known in the Cafe band as well as a winner of many competitions (including the winner of the 2005 New Wave, the 2009 Eurovision winner and international Member of Eurovision Song Contest), as well as participated in the Russian television singing contest Golos ("Balss"), which was created after the concept of The Voice ("Voice"). He was a program manager for Radio SWH. Educated at Pastende Elementary School. He received musical education by completing the Trombone class of the Talsi Children's Music School and studying at the Ventspils Music College, where he played the trombone in the group "Ventspils Bigband" under Ziedonis Zaikovsky. He began his musical career, performing a song "Usainā puķe« with his sister. In the childhood he played in the children's ensemble "Talsu Sprīdīši". His singer career started in Raimond Tigul's project "Cafe", taking part in the EuroJune 2002. "Cafe" existed for four years. He has also played at the NBS Head Brass Band and the Wet Point in jazz group together with Vilnius Kundrate. In spring 2005, he participated in the Danish bassist Ēriks Mosuholms project E.Y.J.O. (European Youth Jazz Orchestra). Intars Busulis represented Latvia in the 2005 international contest "The New Wave".

References https://kulturaskanons.lv/archive/raimonds-pauls/ https://kulturaskanons.lv/archive/imants-ziedonis/ http://www.dailesteatris.lv/lv/makslinieki/aktieri/olga-drege https://lv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intars_Busulis https://lv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mairis_Briedis https://lv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baiba_Sipeniece-Gavare