ILGA PITKEVICA-BALDWIN, MA Mus. had an extensive professional training in Latvia, at the Latvian Music Academy (LMA) in Riga, from which she graduated with honours and Master’s degrees in Solo Piano Performance, Piano Teaching, Accompaniment and Chamber Music.
In Latvia Ilga taught solo piano, accompaniment and chamber music at the LMA, Jelgava Music College and at the LMA’s Emils Darzins Special Music School for Gifted Children. During this time, Ilga performed at many concerts and as accompanist at international competitions in the Baltic States, Austria, Poland, Czech Republic, Russia, Germany, Israel, France and UK.
Following her marriage in 2002, Ilga moved to Cambridge in the UK where she continues to perform solo and chamber music in the UK and abroad, and work as accompanist for the Lucy Cavendish Singers in Cambridge and RCM in London. She also teaches pupils at her private Piano Studio near Cambridge. Among her pupils are EPTA UK Piano Competition winners and other competition and festival prize holders. Many of Ilga’s existing and former pupils hold music scholarships at Eton College, Westminster School in London and King’s College School and Perse Schools in Cambridge. Some of her students continue to study music at universities in Oxford and Durham.
Since 2014 Ilga has taught as a Principal Tutor at the internationally-acclaimed Piano Teachers’ Course UK. She lectures in the UK and in Latvia on piano teaching, and on the history and teaching methods of the Russian Piano School. Ilga also collaborates with Trinity Exam Board in publicizing and lecturing on their piano syllabuses.
Since 2006 Ilga has been the Cambridgeshire Regional Organiser for European Piano Teachers’ Association UK. She also served nine years on the Management Committee of EPTA UK from 2009 to 2018.