Svetlana Stone - The Girl from Liepāja (2021)

BACKSTORY: Svetlana blends her classical training with the energy and expression of jazz to create a unique sound, influenced by her homeland, her adopted homeland, and love of American culture. To celebrate this newfound synergy, Svetlana Stone has recorded her DEBUT JAZZ album The Girl from Liepāja. To be released for purchase and streaming December 21, 2021

PASSION AND INTERCULTURAL EXPRESSION: Jazz has given Svetlana a new freedom to express the cultural connection through her life’s experience between Latvia and America. Her goal is to promote cross-cultural connection and artistic diplomacy between American and Latvian culture through the uniquely American art form of jazz.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Svetlana is a Latvian musician, singer, songwriter, journalist and producer of a new show, Artist’s Voices, raising awareness about the support artists need to succeed and the diverse skills needed behind the scenes.

As a classically trained singer, she recently began to immerse herself in jazz. These styles represent the two cultures that have impacted her social experience and ignited her musical passion. Svetlana is a unique artist who sings in many languages, styles and genres including opera, jazz, pop, gospel, folk and contemporary Christian music.

She received the Music Degree of Arts in Music Performance, from Emilis Melngailis Liepaja Music College in Latvia. In 2021, she also received the Graduate Certificate in Music Performance from Western Michigan University School of Music.

In 2021, she received the Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation Scholarship and worked with the New York Voices, coached by world-class musicians such as Kim Nazarian, Lauren Kinhan, Darmon Meader, Greg Jasperse, and Peter Eldridge. She was also invited to the XIV International Latvian Young Musicians Master Class, "Mūzikas interpretācija mūsdienās" and honored to work with Inga Slubovska-Kancevica, one of the leading singers of the Latvian National Opera. Svetlana is also a member of the Latvian choir in Kalamazoo. They will be performing in Summer 2022 at the first U.S. Latvian Song and Dance Festival in Minnesota.