History
1970 -1992
In September 1970, the Chamber Mixed Choir of the Lithuanian Society of the Blind was founded—the first of its kind in the former Soviet Union and one of the first in Europe. Until 1976, it was led by the choral conductor Rimantas Zdanavičius. From 1976 to 1992, it was directed by Prof. Antanas Jozėnas. The choir performed Masses and other large-scale works by composers such as Johann Sebastian Bach, Joseph Haydn, Giuseppe Verdi, Gioachino Rossini, Franz Schubert, Vincenzo Bellini, Česlovas Sasnauskas, and Jeronymas Kačinskas. In 1990, at the International Competition for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Minsk, “Vilnius” won first place in the professional performers’ category.
On the occasion of the choir’s 10th anniversary, the conductor Jonas Aleksa wrote: “I have always been impressed by the special, extraordinary sensitivity of your ensemble.” Musicologist Edmundas Gedgaudas observed about the choir “Vilnius”: “It seems that Baroque and Renaissance music serve as a school that develops this choir’s mastery, encouraging an understanding of the unity between vocal and instrumental music.” Musicologist Jonas Bruveris noted: “visible, audible, and truly necessary.”
1992 - 2001
Since 1992, the choir has been led by Prof. Jurijus Kalcas, a pupil of Prof. Antanas Jozėnas. The choir participated in the First Lithuanian World Song Celebration in 1994 and the Second in 1998 in Vilnius, in traditional sacred music festivals in Šiauliai, and in the 1996 “Baroque Path” festival in Pažaislis. In 1996, at an international choir festival in Spain (Cantonigros), the choir won one first prize and two second prizes. That same year, the ensemble was granted the status of a professional concert institution. The choir refined two distinctive repertoire directions: one focuses on academic works by Lithuanian and foreign composers, and the other embraces lighter popular music genres. Composer Rimvydas Žigaitis noted: “’Vilnius’ performs not only works by world-renowned classical composers but also encourages Lithuanian composers to create.”
Repertuaro kaita
By motivating and inspiring Lithuanian composers, the choir “Vilnius” actively participates in performing premieres of works by Lithuanian creators. In recent years, notable premieres have included the oratorio “Metai” by Bronius Kutavičius and the oratorio “Mažvydas” by Juozas Juozapaičio. The choir’s repertoire spans compositions from the founders of Lithuanian professional music—M. K. Čiurlionis, Juozas Naujalys, and Česlovas Sasnauskas, including their religious works—up to contemporary composers such as Bronius Kutavičius, Juozas Juozapaičio, Algirdas Martinaitis (“Missa misirecordia”), and Vytautas Miškinis (“Missa de Angelis” and others). The choir has also prepared programs dedicated to composers’ anniversaries, such as the birth anniversaries of M. K. Čiurlionis and Antanas Belazaras, as well as jubilee celebrations like that of Vytautas Barkauskas. Recently, “Vilnius” has broadened its repertoire with lighter colors, preparing a program of songs by Liudas Vilkončius entitled “Neregėtas Vilkončius” and a jazz-folk synthesis project, “Jazz-Folk,” in collaboration with Veronika Povilionienė and Lithuanian jazz musicians.
2001 - 2015
For fifteen years (2001–2015), the choir’s artistic director and chief conductor was Prof. Povilas Gylys. Under his leadership, the choir prepared over 50 large-scale works and around 500 choral compositions; approximately 100 recorded pieces are preserved in the LRT archives, and the most significant and valuable programs were released on eight CDs. Each year, the repertoire was expanded with the latest works by Lithuanian and foreign composers, and more than ten new hour-long concert programs were prepared annually. The choir “Vilnius” performed the richness of Western choral music across various eras, including canonical works by Johann Sebastian Bach, Ludwig van Beethoven, and major works by composers such as Johannes Brahms, Luigi Cherubini, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Giuseppe Verdi (“Requiem”), Joseph Haydn, Orlando di Lasso, Carl Jenkins, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, Gioachino Rossini, Franz Schubert (“Stabat Mater”), among many other composers’ oratorios and masses, while also performing smaller-scale works. The choir’s concert activity and engagement in cultural initiatives reflect its professional and artistic maturity, refined musical sensitivity, and the development of choral culture.
Through focused and purposeful work, the choir “Vilnius” was granted state choir status in 2010.
In the autumn of 2011, on the initiative of the Vilnius Dominicans and the choir “Vilnius,” the first International St. James Sacred Music Festival took place.
2015 - Today
Since 2015, the choir’s artistic director and chief conductor has been Prof. Artūras Dambrauskas, who has brought youthful changes fostering the choir’s creative growth and artistic multidimensionality, combining academic and entertainment genres. The choir has become a laboratory for creative exploration, leading to innovative, diverse, and contemporary work. The ensemble performs extensively, introducing audiences in major cities, towns, and villages to choral art. Cultivating future audiences—children and youth—is especially important for the choir. Special joint choir programs are prepared for them, allowing participation through singing or educational projects, including: “Chore dainuoti smagu,” “Sniego senis,” “Dievo vabalo kelionė,” “Dainos tūkstantmečio kartai,” “Nepriklausomybės siuita,” “Visų mūsų daina,” “Lietuviškos vaikų mišios,” and “Kas yra choras.”
In the autumn of 2015, the sound of the International St. James Festival was enriched by a new, largest, and most modern carillon in Northeastern Europe—61 bells installed in Vilnius.
In 2024, a Sound Recording Laboratory was established.
In 2024, Dr. Laima Andrikienė, Lithuanian delegate to the European Court of Auditors and signatory of the Act of Independence (March 11), established an eponymous prize, awarded annually to a composer for a new choral work. The inaugural prize was awarded to composer Zita Bružaitė for her composition “Buen Camino!”, created for the 14th International St. James Festival.
Educational Activities
Šalia koncertų, choras „Vilnius” įprasmina savo būvį edukacine veikla. Ji išties daugiabriaunė: kolektyvas populiarina chorinę muziką ne tik Lietuvos didmiesčiuose, bet ir provincijos miesteliuose, reprezentuoja lietuvišką choro meną gastroliuodamas užsienyje. Kolektyvui rūpi ir užsiauginti būsimuosius klausytojus – choras rengia vaikams skirtus edukacinius projektus: „Chore dainuoti smagu”, „Sniego senis”, „Dievo vabalo kelionė”. Svarbus patriotiškas „Vilniaus” choro veiklos baras – nuo 2001 m. rengiamas koncertų ciklas „Lietuvos choro meno kūrėjai”, prikeliantis užmirštus kūrinius ir kūrėjus, pristatantis rečiau girdimas kompozicijas; projekto metu parengos keliasdešimties lietuvių autorių kūrinių programos. Visuomeniškai aktyvus kolektyvas, siekdamas prisidėti prie iniciatyvos Šv. apaštalų Pilypo ir Jokūbo bažnyčios bokšte įrengti karilioną, nuo 2011 m. organizuoja tarptautinį Šv. Jokūbo festivalį. Palaipsniui jis tapo ryškiu chorinės muzikos įvykiu, publikai kasmet rudenį pristatančiu lietuvių ir užsienio kūrėjų sakralinę chorinę muziką.
