The Latvian “instrumental cello rock” group Melo-M has added a performance in Minneapolis to its February tour of the United States, according to the American Latvian Youth Association.

Melo-M—the members of which include Kārlis Auzāns, Valters Pūce and Antons Trocjuks—was formed in late 2004. The group has released one album, the self-titled Melo-M, which includes cover versions of 10 Latvian pop and rock classics.

The band originally was scheduled to tour with Marts Kristiāns Kalniņš, lead singer of the pop group Autobuss debesīs, but Kalnīņš took ill and a doctor advised he not travel, according to Vija Vīksne, president of the youth association (Amerikas Latviešu Jaunatnes apvienība, or ALJA).

Auzāns, who plays guitar with Autobuss debesīs, formed Melo-M. Pūce, son of vocal group Marana leader Valts Pūce, and Kristaps Bergs became the original two other members of the trio. Last summer, Trocjuks replaced Bergs. All the band members have classical cello training and have fared well in international competitions.

Concerts are scheduled:

• In Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Feb. 4, in the Latvian Ev.-Lutheran Church of Washington, D.C., 400 Hurley Ave., Rockville, Md. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Admission is USD 25 or, for senior citizens and college students, USD 20. Children and high school studens will be admitted free. The event is sponsored by the Latvian Organizations of Washington. For further information, telephone Anita Juberte at +1 (301) 869-3127.
• In Cleveland on Saturday, Feb. 11, in the United Latvian Ev. Lutheran Church of Cleveland, 1385 Andrews Ave., Lakewood. The charity program includes champagne and refreshments beginning at 5:30 p.m., dinner at 6 p.m. and the concert at 7 p.m., followed by a ball. Admission to the entire program is USD 50. General admission to the concert and ball is USD 25, admission for senior citizens and students is USD 20. For further information, telephone Brigita Puķite at +1 (216) 577-4370 or Franz Bauer at +1 (440) 320-5959.
• In Kalamazoo on Sunday, Feb. 12, in the Union Bar & Grille, 125 Kalamazoo Mall, Kalamazoo. The concert begins at 4 p.m. In advance tickets cost USD 25 for adults, USD for youth to age 21, USD 5 for children to age 13. Tickets may be ordered by credit card by telephoning the Union Bar & Grille at +1 (269) 384-6756. Ask for the “February 12th Latvian Concert.” Tickets also may be ordered by check, payable to “Kalamazoo Latvian Association,” from Viktorija Krieva, 2526 Bach Ave., Portage, MI 49024. Further information is available by telephoning from Malda Pūtele, +1 (269) 353-8320.
• In Minneapolis on Friday, Feb. 17, in the Latvian House, 2337 Central Ave. N.E., Minneapolis. The concert begins at 7 p.m. Admission is USD 20 for adults, USD 10 for students, and free for children. Refreshments will be available.
• In Chicago on Saturday, Feb. 18, as part of a Valentine’s Day program and dance, in the Latvian House, 4146 N. Elston Ave., Chicago. A social hour is scheduled at 5 p.m., followed by the concert at 6 p.m., a broadcast of a Latvian hockey game at 7 p.m. and the dance at 9 p.m. General admission to the entire program is USD 35, but for ALJA members and supporters admission is USD 30. General admission to the concert is USD 25, but for ALJA members and supporters admission is USD 20. General admission to the hockey game broadcast and dance is USD 15, but for ALJA members and supporters admission is USD 10. Tables for eight persons may be reserved by contacting Vija Vīksne by e-mail at vijavara@aol.com or by telephone at +1 (310) 850-6940.
• In Seattle on Friday, Feb. 24, in the Latvian Center, 11710 3rd Ave. N.E., Seattle. Admission is USD 20 for adults, USD 10 for students. For further information, telephone Jānis Kramēns at +1 (425) 941-2753.
• In Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 26, in the Latvian Community Center, 1955 Riverside Drive, Los Angeles. The concert begins at 12:30 p.m. Admission is USD 20. Refreshments will be available by donation. For further information, telephone Vīja Vīksne at +1 (310) 850-6940.

The concert series is sponsored by ALJA. Further information about the concert tour is available by visiting www.alja.org.

The first two President’s Scholarships, supported by the Latvian sorority Spīdola and financed largely by donations from Latvian-Canadians in the Toronto area, have been awarded to two women in Latvia studying to be language and literature teachers.

Zane Lūse, a philology student at the University of Latvia, and Kristīne Lele, a philology student at the Rēzekne Higher Education Institution (Rēzeknes Augstskola), were presented the scholarships Feb. 1 in Rīga by President Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga, the president’s press office said.

The sorority, of which Vīķe-Freiberga is a member, initiated the scholarship last year to honor the president’s work in academics and in government. Vīķe-Freiberga retired in 1998 as a professor at the Université de Montréal, where she specialized in psychology and linguistics.

During a June benefit in the Latvian Canadian Cultural Centre attended by the president, about CAD 60,000 was raised for the scholarship, according to the cultural center’s Web site.

The scholarship is administered by the Vītolu Fonds, begun in 2002 by Vilis and Marta Vītols, who repatriated to Latvia from Venezuela and began Māras banka (now owned by Finland’s Sampo Bank).

Sandra Kalniete, Latvia’s former foreign minister and European Commissioner, has joined the conservative Jaunais laiks (New Era) party and says she is re-entering politics.

Kalniete, whose has been mentioned as a possible presidential candidate, joined the party Jan. 30, according to a Jaunais laiks press release.

“The foundation of Latvia’s future will be put in place during the next four years,” Kalniete said in a prepared statement, “and that is why I want to get involved in politics. With my experience and knowledge about the European Union and its member states, I want to further my nation’s development.”

The next parliamentary election in Latvia is scheduled Oct. 7. The parliament, or Saeima, elects the president to a four-year term. The president may not serve more than eight consecutive years. President Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga’s second term expires in 2007.

Born in 1952 in Siberia, Kalniete from 1988-1990 was involved in the Latvian Popular Front (Tautas fronte), which pushed for the renewal of Latvia’s independence. From 1993-1997 she served as Latvia’s ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, and from 1997-2002 was Latvia’s ambassador to France. From 2000-2002 she also was Latvia’s ambassador to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

Kalniete was then named foreign minister, serving in that post until March 2004.

In May 2004, chosen by Jaunais laiks leader and then Prime Minister Einars Repše, she became Latvia’s representative to the European Commission. But after Repše’s government fell, new Prime Minister Indulis Emsis in August 2004 removed Kalniete from the post, pushing fellow Green Party member Ingrīda Ūdre into the commissioner’s seat. Ūdre, however, never got to serve because Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso asked Latvia to replace the controversial nominee. Now Andris Piebalgs, Kalniete’s former deputy, is the commissioner from Latvia.

Kalniete is the author of three books: Latvju tekstilmāksla, released in 1989, about Latvian textile art; Es lauzu, tu lauzi, mēs lauzām. Viņi lūza, released in 2000, about the drive for Latvia’s renewed independence, and Ar balles kurpēm Sibīrijas sniegos, released in 2001, about her experiences as a child in Siberia.