Jazz Singer Santa Schiller: The voice is more than just singing

Santa Šillere is a jazz singer, composer and voice teacher from Latvia. She graduated from the choir conducting department at the Jelgava Music High School, but currently holds a master’s degree in jazz singing from the Latvian Academy of Music. She studied at the Katowice Academy of Music in the class of jazz vocalist Anna Gadta, and added to her knowledge in master classes of super professionals.

“My history in jazz began with a big band,” said Santa Schiller, and she is grateful to Jelgava big band director Raitis Ashmanis for this school and opportunity.

“Even if I had not followed the professional path as a solo musician, I think that the voice is the only instrument that is built into a person. All the beautiful bouquet that we can achieve with our voice and our musical vision, that’s one thing, but that we can talk to someone with our voice, comfort, healing We have so many sounds,” says Santa Schiller.

“I think the voice is something more than just singing. It is a life event for all of us,” says Santa Schiller.

She also believes that vocal hygiene is important and that everyone who works with the voice should think about it. The voice must be taken care of and the choice of food is also important.

“It would not be desirable to be carried away with spicy food, or it is better to simply mix it with drinking water, because the acids released from the stomach irritate the vocal cords, ”said Santa Schiller, reminding that she is not a doctor. and speaking based on her experience and what she has learned.

“Voice hygiene is very essential if we want to be not only healthy and beautiful in the long term, but also for our professional instrument to last for a long time,” admitted Santa Schiller.

Santa Šillera has participated in festivals such as “Saulkrasti Jazz”, “Rigas Ritmi”, “Birštonas Jazz”, “Voicingers”, “Girls Power In Jazz”. She is also a finalist of the international competition of jazz artists “Riga Jazz Stage 2019”. Last year, the singer’s first album “Other Ways” was released, which was recognized in the annual LSM award “Kilograms kulturas 2023”, the singer receiving a nomination in the “Starts” category. The album “Other Ways” is described as an eclectic mix of rich jazz traditions and modern influences.

The program reads:

1. Santa Siller. “No clouds”
2. Stevie Wonder. “Soft Summer”
3. Choir “Latvija”. “Trees” (J. Jančevskis/ I. Zandere)
4. Samara Joy. “You stepped out of a dream”