LUPO University of Latvia Wind Band
We breathe together!
The University of Latvia Wind Band (LUPO) was established on the 1st of September 2008 by uniting over 50 young musicians from different universities and music schools in Latvia.
The founder and chief conductor of the orchestra is the associated professor of Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music – Jānis Puriņš, the orchestra’s assistant conductor is Māra Lemkena.
LUPO is a concert orchestra that often participates in festivals and competitions, and performs solo as well.
LUPO participated in competitions not only in Latvian, but also in Lithuania, Czech Republic, Poland.
In 2023 LUPO was awarded with the Main Award in the Finals of the Wind Band Competition of the Song and Dance Festival of Latvia (a UNESCO heritage).
In May 2024 LUPO was selected to be one of the participants of the European Championship for Wind Orchestras happening in Oslo, Norway.
In autumn 2024 the orchestra made a concert trip to Vilnius and Kaunas (Lithuania), performing in the main churches of the both cities.
The University of Latvia Wind Band is one of the orchestras that commissions pieces to Latvian composers and performs those frequently.


