The I International Sacred Music Festival "SILVER BELLS" took place in Daugavpils, in 2000, the year of the Daugavpils city
jubilee. About 20 choirs from Daugavpils, Riga, Olaine, Preili, Cesis (Latvia), Palanga, Kretinga (Lithuania), Radom (Poland), as well as J.Medinsh RMC
symphony orchestra participated in it. Within the framework of the Festival, the Choir Competition took place. Daugavpils Latvian Culture Centre mixed
choir “Daugava” won the First Prize at it.
took place the II International Sacred Music Festival "SILVER BELLS". Also about 20 choirs from Latvia and choirs from Lithuania,
Estonia, Russia and the Ukraine participated in it. The choirs performed in Daugavpils, Kraslava, Nicgale, Aglona. There was children choir concert
with the participation of the choirs from Vilnius, Tallinn and Daugavpils.
Guests from Lithuania, Estonia, Russia, Poland and Latvian choirs From Ventspils, Kraslava, Balvi, Lielvarde, Cesvaine,
Daugavpils took part in it. The listeners enjoyed the Daugavpils United men and boys Choir, it hundred voices performed with the professional wind
instruments orchestra “Daugava”.
The IV International Sacred Music Festival "SILVER BELLS" took place in 2003. In the Festival took part choirs from Alitus,
Vilnius, Visaginas (Lithuania), Kiev (the Ukraine), Minsk, Vitebsk (Belarus), Tallinn (Estonia), Riga, Kraslava, Aglona, Rezekne, Vecumnieki,
Daugavpils (Latvia). The girls choir “Sapnis” from Riga won the Grand Prix of the choir competition. The first night of mass for the soloists, men choir
and orchestra by J. Ustinskov performed in this Festival. The Latvian State Academic Choir took part in the Closing Ceremony of the Festival.
took place the V International Sacred Music Festival "SILVER BELLS". In this Festival took part about 40 groups from Tallinn
(Estonia), Minsk, Orsha, Mogilov (Belarus), St.-Petersburg (Russia), Kiev, Harkov (the Ukraine), Riga, Kuldiga, Birzgale, Koknese, Preili, Cesis, Liepaja,
Ventspils, Plavinas, Kraslava, Liksna, Daugavpils (Latvija).The mixed choir “Austrums” from Riga won the Grand Prix of the choir competition.
On VI the International festival of a sacred music "SILVER BELLS" has arrived already more than 2000 participants from Latvia,
Belarus, Russia, Lithuania and Estonia. For the first time within the framework of a festival the competition of the soloists - was conducted where the
winners in the subgroups become Anna Valuto (Daugavpils) and Ita (Vilnius). The main Prize in competition of choruses has got to female chorus "Ausma"
(Riga).
VII International Festival "Silver Bells". It was attended by more than 50 groups and 20 soloists from Latvia, Lithuania,
Estonia, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Germany, Denmark. The soloists contest won Baba Vingre (Kalupe, Latvia) and Teele Utt (Tartu, Estonia). The Grand
Prix and 3 other prizes took choir "Sola" (Riga) and its leader Kaspars Adamsons.
VIII International Festival of Sacred Music "Silver Bells" concert started a boys' choir of Riga Dome Choir School and the Italian
vocal ensemble "Musicaficta", the premiere of the cantata J. Ustinskovs "Glory to God in the highest”, and ended with Grand Prix competition, which was attended
by the best groups of the Festival . After lengthy meetings, the jury decided to divide the Prize between the two main groups:
The soloist contest won the Liga Miteniece (Liepaja, Latvia) and Jurgita Skeyrite (Utena, Lithuania).
35 choirs and 15 vocal ensembles from Estonia, Lithuania, Belarus, Russia, and
Latvia participated in the IX Daugavpils International sacred music festival “Silver Bells” in 2011. The Grand Prix
was gained by the choir “Juventus” from
Riga (Latvia).
The year 2013 was the year of the already X Daugavpils International sacred music
festival “Silver Bells”. It was attended
by more than 2000 participants from
Belarus, Russia, Latvia and Lithuania. 53
choirs and ensembles were competing in
various contest categories. The 1st place
of the Grand Prix competition was taken
by the mixed choir “Austrums” (Latvia),
conductor Arijs Skepasts, the 2nd place
was taken by the mixed choir “Daugava”
from the Latvian Culture Centre (Latvia),
conductor Jevgenijs Ustinskovs, the 3rd
place – by the mixed choir “Kamertonas”
(Lithuania), conductor Kestutis Jakeliunas.
The Grand Prix of the festival was awarded
to the mixed choir “Swedbank” (Latvia),
conductor Arturs Ancans.
64 groups and 99 soloists from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Russian, Belarus, Finland, Poland,
Hungary, Denmark and participated in XI International sacred music festival
“Silver Bells” in 2015. The mixed choir “Atvars” from Sigulda won the Grand Prix of the choir competition.
