Jānis Semjonovs is a laureate of several international competitions, a nominee of the Latvian Grand Music Prize for outstanding work in the ensemble, concertmaster of the bassoon group of the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra and solo bassoonist of the State Chamber Orchestra Sinfonietta Rīga, lecturer and chamber musician of Jāzeps Vītols Music Academy.
He studied bassoon at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music with lecturers J.Ranga, A.Arnicāns, Dz.Jurgelaitis and in the Berlin School of Arts (Universitat der Kunste Berlin) in the class of Professor E.Huebner. Participated in master classes with Sergio Azzolini, Martin Kuuskmann, Christian Kunert, Giorgio Mandolesi, Johannes Schwarz, Fredrik Ekdahl, David Petersen.
Active author of chamber music project ideas and chamber musician. Active in Sinfonietta Rīga baroque ensemble, Sinfonietta Rīga woodwind quintet, LNSO woodwind quintet and other ensembles.
He has collaborated musically with such conductors as Mariss Jansons, Paavo Jervi, Neeme Jervi, Jorg Widmann, Olari Elts, Vassily Sinaisky, Vladimir Fedoseyev, Karel Mark Chichon, Klaus Mäkelä, Andris Poga, Ainārs Rubiķis, Normunds Šnē and others.
He has also performed in the Amsterdam Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra ensemble CAMERATA RCO and in such musical units as Kremerata Baltica, Moscow Virtuosos, Nordic Symphony Orchestra, Riga Festival Orchestra, Riga Chamber Musicians, Liepaja Symphony Orchestra, European Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, German – Scandinavian Symphony Orchestra, Baltic Youth Symphony Orchestra.
He has performed as a soloist with the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, the State Chamber Orchestra Sinfonietta Rīga, the wind band Rīga.
Jānis Semjonovs is currently playing the bassoon of Rudolf Walter.