Born in 1982 in Valmiera (Latvia), he studied doublebass (under Sergejs Brīnums) and composition (under Romualds Kalsons) at the Latvian Academy of Music in Riga. He obtained bachelor’s degrees with top honours from both departments; in 2007 he received his master’s degree in composition.

His composition Glenfiddich was awarded the 2008 ‘Meža sanitārs’ Award of the Mūzikas Saule music magazine. In 2010, at the prestigious International Rostrum of Composers in Paris, his piece Twilight Chants won in the under-30 category. Kristaps Pētersons has been a member of the Latvian Symphony Orchestra since 2005.

Selected works: Acoustics of the Heavens for piano and speaker (1999), Three Incantations for mezzo-soprano, two clarinets and double bass (2003), Fire Words or mezzo-soprano and ensemble (2004), Octet for mezzo-soprano and ensemble (2005), Three Latvian Winter Solstice Songs for nine performers (2005), Prologue for oboe (2006), Ground for chamber orchestra and electronics (2006), Writings in Water for four instruments (2007), Prospero Books for mezzo-soprano and ensemble (2007), Marlboro for voice and ensemble (2008), Glenfiddich for five instruments (2008), Twilight Chants for two choirs, glasses and double bass (2009), Ligeia for 12 voices and piano (2009), Beauties for choir (2010), Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra (2011), Hell for saxophone, choir and organ (2011), Money for ensemble (2012).