Oskars Bokanovs has been the Principal Double Bass of the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra since 2017. He is a lecturer at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music and a laureate of several international competitions. During his studies, he received the JVLMA and Swedbank Annual Award for Young Musician in 2014. He has been a member of the Latvian National Opera and Ballet Orchestra. As part of the chamber orchestra Kremerata Baltica, he has performed with Gidon Kremer, Martha Argerich, Mischa Maisky, Mario Brunello, and others. He has appeared as a soloist with Sinfonia concertante and the JVLMA Symphony Orchestra. He is a member of the cross‑genre ensemble Arcandela and the founder and member of the Riga Double Bass Quartet.
He began his musical path as a cellist at the Emīls Dārziņš Music School. He initially studied double bass with Einars Upatnieks and continued his education at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music in the double bass class of Sergejs Brinums. He obtained his master’s degree at the Leoš Janáček Academy of Music and Performing Arts in Brno, studying with Miloslav Jelínek.
