Laima Jansone is among a virtuoso performer of the Latvian ethnographic kokle, with a talent for the art of improvisation. Presently, Laima is a student of the Jazeps Vitols Latvian Music Academy and has been further developing her skills in various master classes, such as at Nortrad Ark’09 (Finland), where she advanced her knowledge of the traditional Finnish kantele and studied improvisation with Pauliina Syrjälä. She also studied the music of Georgia with members of The Shin and studied Vargana with masters of the craft at master classes in Hungary and Austria.

Laima coaxes interpretative resonances from the kokle in a unique and personalized performance manner, which reflects an impetuosity and impulsiveness in contrast to an alternative tranquility. Improvisation is a major component of Laima’s art and is a surprise for both performer and audience. Laima performs on a personally customized electro-acoustic kokle that offers the possibility of employing additional sound effects.

Laima performs as a solo artist for diverse audiences and has been involved with national and international projects like Latvijas lepnums 2009 (Latvia’s Pride), the annual Diena cultural award Zelta kartupelis 2009 (The Gold Potato Award), the 2008 European Person of the Year awards ceremony, the 2008 - 18 November concert Put, vejini in the Great Guild concert hall; the Euroradio Folk into Classics concert at the House of the Blackheads (2008) and many others.

Laima creates and prepares her solo programs and performs in concert with various combinations of artists such as the Latvian Radio Choir, the pipe and drums group Auli, “Skyforger” and others.

Laima was music director for the 2008 – 2009 season of the musical Put, vejini and as a musician she has appeared in performances of Drakula, Demoni and Ziemassvetku baltas dzirnas of the Latvian National Theatre 2007 – 2009 seasons. She has also performed for the contemporary dance performance of Janu nakts at the Daile Theatre (2008).

Ddiscography:

Musdienu Tautas Muzikas Izlase "Sviests" III (2009)

Muzikalais Noformejums Dzejas Di…(2009)

Igo "Uguns" (2010)

Solo (2011)