Chamber choir Fortius was founded in 1985. The founder, chief conductor and the artistic leader of the choir is prof. Dr. paed. Māra Marnauza, choirmaster – Dr. paed. Andris Pundurs, pianist – Dr. paed. Laimrota Kriumane. President of the choir is Dr. paed. Sanita Madalāne. FORTIUS has gained prizes in international choir competitions in Latvia –
- 2013 – Laureate of Choir competition of The XXV Latvian Song Festival,
- 2003 – 1st prize in Mixed choir category of Choir competition of The XXIII Latvian Song Festival,
- 1998 – 3rd prize in Chamber choir Category of Choir competition of The XXII Latvian Song Festival,
- 1998 – GRAND PRIX, 1st prize in Folk music category, 1st prize in Chamber choir category of International Youth Choir Competition Rigas Zile,
- 1996 – Prize for the best performance of contemporary music of International Youth Choir Competition Rigas Zile,
- 1985 – 3rd prize in Chamber choir Category of Choir competition of The XIX Latvian Song Festival.
FORTIUS has successfully toured abroad as well as participated in numerous festivals (Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Estonia, Great Britain, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Spain, Belgium) and gained prizes in international choir competitions –
- Lithuania – 1st prize, Prize for the best performance of Renaissance music of International S. Shimkus’ Choir Competition in Klaipeda (1999),
- Austria – 3rd prize of International Fr. Schubert Choir Competition in Vienna (1998),
- Switzerland – Diploma Exccellent avec distinction, Prize for the best performance of obligatory piece of International Choir Competition in Montreux (1998),
- Lithuania – 2nd prize of International Higher Schools’ Choir Competition Juventus in Kaunas (1997),
- Switzerland – 1st level Diploma of International Choir Competition in Montreux (1995),
- Czech Republic – 4th place of International Choir Competition CORUS CAMERA Hradec Kralove (1994).
Since 1988 FORTIUS has taken part in all the Baltic Student Song and Dance Festivals GAUDEAMUS.
Chamber choir FORTIUS has participated in several master classes of the jazz singer Prof. Janet Lawson (USA), conductor Prof. Alexander Vacek (Ukraine), composer and conductor Arthur Maud (USA), prof. Ragnar Rasmussen, Iver Kleive, Jan Gunnar Hoff (Norway), composer, conductor and singer Bob Chilcott (The Great Britain). There is a regular cooperation with a composer and conductor Prof. Christoph Schönherr (Germany).
The repertoire of the choir comprises Latvian classical and contemporary music, Latvian folk music, and sacred music, music of various styles and periods, from Renaissance to Jazz.