The performance of Iveta Apkalna combines deep musicality, irreproachable technique and unmistakable sense. Over the past several years she has succeeded to "wipe off the dust" from the queen of all musical instruments, the organ, and establish a new reputation for this extraordinary instrument. When Iveta interprets the most technically difficult compositions, emotionally bright accents can be heard. Ms. Apkalna has managed to become the new star of the organ; a privilege usually reserved to conductors, singers, pianists and/or violin virtuosos. This, she could achieve with her ongoing joy of living, especially serious attitude, pedantic accuracy and obstinacy and last but not least her excellent command of this beautiful instrument.

As a soloist, Iveta Apkalna appears today in concerts throughout the world, performing in numerous prestigious concert halls (Vienna, Berlin, Hamburg, Leipzig, Cologne, Dortmund, Essen, Bremen, Luxembourg, Budapest, Moscow and San Francisco), with many different orchestral ensembles such as the Berlin Philharmonic, the Hamburger Philharmoniker, the Kremerata Baltica, the Rundfunksinfonieorchester Berlin the Latvian National Orchestra under the direction of many important conductors such as Claudio Abbado, Simone Young, Marek Janowski, Roman Kofman and Andris Nelsons. A frequent guest at the leading festivals of Europe (Lockenhaus Festival, Bremen; Music Festival, Halle; Georg Friedrich Händel Festival; Ludwigsburg Castle Festival, Schwetzinger Festival and many others), she made it her mission to bring the unique splendor of the organ music beyond the borders of the church walls. During the 2011/2012 season Iveta Apkalna will make her debuts with WDR Symphony Orchestra and the Symphony Orchestra of the Bavarian Radio under the direction of Mariss Jansons as well as with the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande. In addition, the MDR Music Summer Festival has made her "Artist in Residence 2012". She is the first artist to be given this honor by the Festival.

Iveta has gained international recognition in various international competitions - in 2003 she was awarded the first prize and received four additional special prizes in the 3rd International M. Tariverdiev Organ Competition in Kaliningrad (Russia). In 2002, after winning the preliminary European rounds and advancing to the world finals of the Royal Bank Calgary International Organ Competition (Canada), she was awarded the prestigious Johann Sebastian Bach prize. In 2003 Iveta received the Latvian Great Music Award 2003 for special accomplishments in music. The title of "best performing artist of 2005" followed, given by the German Music Award ECHO Klassik, making her the first organist ever to receive this honor. In January 2008 the German/French TV network ARTE +7 broadcast an hour long documentary dedicated to Iveta Apkalna "Dancing with the Queen".

Born in Rezekne (Latvia), Iveta studied piano and organ at J. Vitols Latvian Academy of Music. After she obtained her diplomas and graduated with distinction, she furthered her studies at the London Guildhall School of Music and Drama in England. From 2000 to 2003 she was the recipient of a grant from the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) which allowed her to continue to develop her knowledge as a soloist at the Stuttgart Academy of Music and Fine Arts (Germany). Iveta currently lives in Berlin and in Riga.