Andris Imants Rozukalns

HICKORY – Andris Imants Rozukalns, 65 of Hickory passed away on Saturday, August 28, 2021 to be with his Lord.

Born on November 8, 1955, in Des Moines, IA, Andris was the son of the late Augusts and Margrieta Kjuts Rozukalns. He was a first generation Latvian. Andris was an accomplished organist and collaborative pianist. His passion for music began early in life as he began piano lessons at the age of seven. During his high school years, he studied with Helen Cain who nurtured and deeply inspired his love for the piano. Upon graduating from Roosevelt High School, he was awarded a full scholarship from the Des Moines Women’s Club to pursue the Bachelor of Performance in Piano. During his music studies at Drake University, he was under the tutelage of Chiu-Ling Lin, piano and Carl Staplin, organ. While completing the Bachelor of Performance in Organ at Kansas University, he studied with James Higdon. In 1983, he was a finalist in the Diane Bish International Organ Competition. Andris performed in several masterclasses most notably with organist, Marie-Claire Alain. During the 1986 – 87 academic year, he studied at the Conservatoire National de Musique in Lyon, France under renown organist and teacher, Louis Robilliard. It was during this time that he was awarded the Prix d’Or in organ performance. Andris was a prominent artist for Latvian Organists Guild chapters throughout the US, Canada and Latvia. He was a guest artist at the Maurice Ravel Auditorium (Lyon, France), Riga Dome Cathedral (Riga, Latvia), Southeastern Ohio Symphony Orchestra Concert Series, Muskingham University (New Concord, OH), and Alumni Concert Series - Bales Recital Hall, Kansas University (Lawrence, KS). Andris had been a church musician for forty-seven years. Andy, as he was affectionately called was a regular guest artist for the Corinth United Church of Christ Lenten Series as well as the organist and pianist of First Baptist Church of Hickory.

As an accomplished pianist, Andris was awarded the Scholarship for the Artist Diploma in Collaborative Piano at the Cleveland Institute of Music where he studied with Anne Epperson. He earned the Artist Diploma in Accompanying in 1992. At CIM he performed in masterclasses given by Arleen Auger, Elly Ameling, Benjamin Luxon and Irwin Gage. He was also an accompanist for the Cleveland Institute of Music “Art Song Festival”. Andris pursued doctoral studies in collaborative piano with Eckhart Sellheim at Arizona State University. He held accompanying positions at the University of Akron, Royal Academy of Dancing Summer School (Poughkeepsie, NY), Arizona State University, and University of Mississippi. In 2001, he founded the piano, viola and flute instrumental trio, La Dolce Music with colleagues, John Kolpitcke and Gay Tatman. More recently, he was the accompanist of Alexander Central High School choral program and Catawba Valley Community Chorus.

Andy was a loving and devoted husband and father, a dearly beloved friend and outstanding musician who will be sorely missed. Left to cherish his memory is his wife of 41 years, Thelma Wilms Rozukalns; son, Ardis Rozukalns; and distant family in Ohio.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, September 11, 2021 at 10 AM at First Baptist Church of Hickory with Dr. Don Y. Gordan officiating. Receiving will be from 9:30 – 10:00. Inurnment will follow at Catawba Memorial Park.

The family would like to express their heartfelt thanks to the medical staff of Frye Regional Medical Center CVICU, Select Specialty Hospital, Greensboro, and Kindred Hospital Skilled Nursing Facility, Greensboro.

In lieu of flowers, you may donate in Andy’s memory to First Baptist Church music ministry.

Condolences may be left at www.catawbamemorialpark.com.

The Rozukalns Family is under the care of Catawba Memorial Park, Funerals & Cremations.