People

Serious music is in Kris’ DNA. Her Latvian parents brought their national choral traditions to Canada. Kris stepped away from music studies in her mid-twenties for a career in Finance. Since retiring, Kris has returned to her true passion, supporting young musicians and composers. Active with several charitable boards including the Canadian Opera Company, she supports music organizations in both Canada and the United States that program contemporary repertoire. A particular focus has been the commissioning of new works, from short chamber pieces to fully staged operas. Kris created Learn English Through Song (L.E.T.S.) in 2015 for Syrian refugee women moving to Canada.