Since 2023, Kate Erharde has served as Senior Program Director at the Dubai Opera, where she was responsible for planning and implementing the seasonal program, international co-productions, project budget management, and collaboration with partners. She has led and overseen collaborative projects with leading European cultural institutions such as Milan’s “Teatro alla Scala,” the Rome Opera Ballet, the Polish National Opera, and the Hungarian State Opera.
At the Dubai Opera, Erharde has been involved in the implementation of three large-scale seasons. Her professional experience also includes managing production budgets and project financial results, as well as establishing international partnerships. In 2024, Erharde received the organization’s “Budding Star Award,” or Young Talent Award.
Erharde’s professional career began in Latvia. She worked at the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra and the Great Guild, where she was responsible for venue rental processes, coordinating the team’s work, and ensuring the quality of service at the concert hall. She also worked at the “Baltic Musical Seasons” foundation, coordinating an international classical music festival featuring world-renowned artists such as Riccardo Muti, Antonio Pappano, Juan Diego Flórez, John Malkovich, Kristine Opolais, Elīna Garanča, and Joshua Bell. Erharde has also worked at the “Theatre of Digital Art” as a creative producer, developing programs that combine digital and performing arts, as well as fostering collaboration between local and international artists.
“The opportunity to return to Latvia and lead ‘Lielais Dzintars’ is a very significant professional step for me. The experience I’ve gained in the international cultural scene has allowed me to see how strong cultural institutions shape their programming, build their audiences, and develop international partnerships. “Lielais Dzintars” already has a strong identity and a significant place on Latvia’s cultural map. I see great potential for the next phase of development—expanding international collaboration, growing the audience, and strengthening the concert hall’s role in the Baltic and European cultural landscape. “I am delighted that I will be able to apply my international experience in Latvia and Liepāja,” says Kate Erharde.
Gunārs Ansiņš, mayor of Liepaja, emphasizes that with the new director taking the lead, a new phase of development is beginning for the concert hall.
“Over the past ten years, "The Great Amber" has become one of Liepāja’s most significant cultural symbols and a major cultural institution in Latvia. In the next phase of our development, it is important for us to maintain high artistic quality and the ability to attract an ever-wider audience, as well as to expand our international cooperation. Kate Erharde brings a valuable combination of experience—she is familiar with Latvia’s cultural landscape and has also gained significant professional experience on an international scale. This is particularly important as Liepāja prepares to serve as the European Capital of Culture in 2027 and the city comes under much broader European scrutiny. “We expect that the new director’s experience and vision will provide new momentum for the development of the "Great Amber" and strengthen the concert hall’s position in the Baltic and European cultural landscape,” notes G. Ansiņš.
An open competition for the position of board member at SIA “Lielais Dzintars” was announced on June 8, with a deadline for applications set for July 5. A total of nine candidates submitted applications for the position.
The candidate selection process was organized in three rounds. In the first round, after evaluating the documents submitted by the candidates, their compliance with the mandatory requirements, and their reputation, six candidates were selected to advance to the second round. The second round consisted of interviews with the candidates, during which their professional experience, knowledge, and leadership skills were evaluated. Four candidates were initially selected for the final third round, two of whom later withdrew their candidacies. In the third round, the two remaining candidates presented their vision for the future strategic development of SIA “Lielais Dzintars” during in-person interviews.
In evaluating the candidates, special attention was paid to strategic vision, a focus on development, the ability to motivate and develop employee potential, plan and organize processes, as well as make decisions and take responsibility. In addition, candidates were evaluated on their experience and knowledge in the cultural sector—particularly in the music industry—as well as in finance, strategic management, change management, and international cooperation.
Based on the overall evaluation results from the competition, the nomination committee recommended the candidate with the highest average score to the representative of the municipal shareholder for a final decision.
A competition for the position of board member at SIA “Lielais Dzintars” was announced after the previous board chairman, Timurs Tomsons, was selected through a competition to serve as chairman of the board at VSIA “Latvijas koncerti.”
Kate Erharde earned a professional bachelor’s degree in technical translation from Riga Technical University and a master’s degree in arts and culture management from the Rome Business School. In addition, she studied strategic management at Copenhagen Business School and innovation management in the arts and culture through a joint program offered by Vanderbilt University and National Arts Strategies.
Kate Erharde will assume her duties as a member of the board of SIA “Lielais Dzintars” on September 21 of this year.
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