Since 1997, he has served as Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of the State Choir Latvija, under whose leadership the ensemble has become one of Europe’s most internationally acclaimed professional choirs. From 1990 to 2012, he was the founder and Artistic Director of the renowned Youth Chamber Choir Kamēr..., leading the ensemble to more than 60 prizes at international competitions and playing a pivotal role in promoting Latvian choral music worldwide.
Sirmais graduated from the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, earning his bachelor’s degree in choral conducting under Professor Ludmila Pismennaja and his master’s degree under Professor Imants Kokars. He later continued his studies in orchestral conducting at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz in Austria. He is Professor and Head of the Choral Conducting Department at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music and has served since 1998 as Chairman of the Artistic Council of the Latvian Song and Dance Celebration, one of the world’s largest amateur choral festivals and a UNESCO-recognised cultural tradition.
Alongside his work with the State Choir Latvija, Sirmais regularly conducts leading orchestras in Latvia and abroad, including the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, Kremerata Baltica, Sinfonietta Rīga, the Helsinki Strings, and the Umeå Symphony Orchestra. His repertoire ranges from the great choral and vocal symphonic masterpieces to contemporary music, with a particular commitment to premiering new works by Latvian composers. He has made more than 25 recordings released on international labels.
A ten-time recipient of the Grand Latvian Music Award, Māris Sirmais has also been honoured with the Order of the Three Stars, the Cabinet of Ministers Award of Latvia, several newspaper Diena Culture Awards, and elected as an Honorary Member of the Latvian Academy of Sciences. Through his artistic achievements, educational work, and decades-long contribution to the Latvian Song and Dance Celebration tradition, he has become one of the defining figures of Latvia’s musical life and continues to enjoy an active international conducting career.