Musicians’ Standoff season IV
Venue: Hanzas Perons
Dates: June 16, July 7 and September 8
The musician fights began at the Sansusī festival in 2015, then gradually started “coming out” beyond the festival as part of the evenings organized by Sansusī. In 2022, however, a fighting tournament took place! The fights gained new “rules” and a much more vivid dynamic.
This unique format, where musicians alternately “battle” each other, allows them to do so alone or with a support team. During breaks, poetry readings take place, and avant-garde performances of academic chamber music enrich the cultural offering, granting participants absolute freedom of expression. Each battle usually lasts up to an hour.
Visitors are provided with unprecedented experiences of musical instrument sounds, alongside surprises brought by the artists’ personas or created atmospheres. The Sansusī musician battle format stipulates that the instrument played by the musician is not of crucial importance, as professional musicians are selected during the competition, and the main requirement is to “compete” in attractiveness, musical wit, and verbal sharpness. This format promotes the growth of professional musicians, fosters creativity, and enhances public performance skills in atypical performance settings.
The winner of each battle is determined by five votes – a jury represented by two arts professionals, one randomly selected audience member before each pair, the Sansusī team, and the audience’s vote at the end of the battle.
The battles have their own regulations. To apply for a battle, a call is announced, requiring participants to submit a video application and description, after which they can check its compliance with the battle format. Pair variations for the battles will be created based on the recommendations of the artistic director, Armanda Siliņa-Bergmanis, to form the most interesting and harmonious combinations of participants.
The Sansusī team, while organizing battle tournaments, examines each time its strengths and weaknesses to make it appealing to more musicians and showcase their professional skills and personal charisma, as well as attract an ever-growing audience.
The Sansusī musician battles and tournaments are a unique phenomenon in the landscape of Latvian performing arts. Sansusī also ensures the preservation of good practices – the battles are documented in high quality (video, photo, audio), which is later used for creating and preserving concert video content for the future.
Season 4 members
Faster than a tricycle in a 100-meter dash. Gained his musical education by playing Guitar Hero 2. Learned combat sports and basic coordination through Mortal Kombat 1.
A musical traveler and chameleon. She strongly dislikes aggression and real fights in human life, but a musical sparring match without lasting injuries is exactly her kind of thing.
Lives in music almost 24 hours a day. He is still studying and building experience, but has a strong desire to grow and prove himself just as well as the others.
His pockets are full of tricks of the trade. Actively performs in a wide range of chamber music ensembles and continues to popularize classical double bass solo playing.
Cellist and composer who creatively collaborates with artists from many different fields — film and theatre makers, actors, storytellers, poets, dancers, DJs, painters, sculptors, photographers, glassblowers, inventors, athletes, and even horses.
A pianist with expressive playing and a vivid stage presence. She brings a fresh and personal sound to both well-known classical works and lesser-performed pieces. Alongside solo concerts, Darya enjoys collaborating with other musicians and artists from different fields in search of new creative ideas.
A soprano from Finland, who moved to Vienna in the middle of the pandemic to pursue her dream of singing on one of the great opera stages, after being selected for the Young Artist Program at the Vienna State Opera
An Argentinian electric guitarist, composer, and improviser. His work spans contemporary music, experimental jazz, and electroacoustic composition, exploring the relationships between sound, texture, space, and spontaneous musical dialogue.
First standoff 16.06.2026
Musicians’ Standoff Rules/Regulations
The project was created with the financial support of the Riga City Municipality.
Accessibility and attendance rules apply to the event and attendance. Visually impaired friendly content. Accessible for people with mobility impairments
Children under 2 years of age (inclusive) are admitted free of charge if they do not occupy a separate seat.
Children aged 3 to 14 years old require a valid ticket. Proof of age must be presented when entering the event.
Discounted tickets are valid upon presentation of an appropriate supporting document. A discounted ticket is also available for an accompanying person with a disability.