Memorial Sculpture of Haralds Sīmanis "Dziesminieks"
Haralds Sīmanis (1951–2022) was a Latvian singer-songwriter, musician, and church restorer. Born on 12 June 1951 in Cēsis, he was a beloved artist whose creative path was closely tied to his hometown.
Sīmanis was a skilled roofer who restored many church roofs across Latvia, including that of St. John’s Church in Cēsis. This work inspired him to learn to play the organ. He later became an outstanding guitarist and organist. A true natural talent with a unique, wide-ranging voice (including falsetto), his music and poetry flowed from a deep soul.
He gained wider recognition in 1980 when his ballad “Ezers” (“The Lake”) stunned audiences at the final concert of the “Mikrofons” song contest. Its distinct sound stood apart from the popular music of the time, leaving a lasting impression.
Memorial in Cēsis
Sīmanis passed away on 1 December 2022 at the age of 71. Following his death, the Austra Association called for donations to cover funeral costs. The response was so generous that more funds were raised than needed.
This led to the idea of using the surplus donations—together with support from the Ministry of Culture, the Latvian National Centre for Culture, and Cēsis Municipality—to create a memorial sculpture. Suggested by his wife Gita Sīmane, the sculpture was created by sculptor Ģirts Burvis and named “Dziesminieks” (“The Bard”). It is made of airy, stainless steel.
The sculpture was unveiled during a ceremony on 15 June 2024 in Maija Park, Cēsis. It bears words by Ieva Akuratere:
“A legend among Latvian singer-songwriters – a musician whose expression stood guard over the moral code of humanity. His creative path began with restoring the roof of St. John’s Church in Cēsis, inspiring him to learn the organ. A natural talent. Songwriter. Singer. Guitarist. Organist. Roofer of countless Latvian churches.”
