{"id":13,"date":"2024-05-06T15:15:32","date_gmt":"2024-05-06T12:15:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/f4.ecl.lt\/chorasvilniusdev\/?page_id=13"},"modified":"2026-09-03T11:19:28","modified_gmt":"2026-09-03T08:19:28","slug":"istorija","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/chorasvilnius.lt\/en\/apie-mus\/istorija\/","title":{"rendered":"History"},"content":{"rendered":"
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History<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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1970 -1992<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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In September 1970, the Chamber Mixed Choir of the Lithuanian Society of the Blind was founded\u2014the 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 Zdanavi\u010dius. From 1976 to 1992, it was directed by Prof. Antanas Joz\u0117nas.\n\nThe 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, \u010ceslovas Sasnauskas, and Jeronymas Ka\u010dinskas.\n\nIn 1990, at the International Competition for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Minsk, \u201cVilnius\u201d won first place in the professional performers\u2019 category.<\/p>

On the occasion of the choir\u2019s 10th anniversary, the conductor Jonas Aleksa wrote: \u201cI have always been impressed by the special, extraordinary sensitivity of your ensemble.\u201d\n\nMusicologist Edmundas Gedgaudas observed about the choir \u201cVilnius\u201d: \u201cIt seems that Baroque and Renaissance music serve as a school that develops this choir\u2019s mastery, encouraging an understanding of the unity between vocal and instrumental music.\u201d\n\nMusicologist Jonas Bruveris noted: \u201cvisible, audible, and truly necessary.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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1992 - 2001\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Since 1992, the choir has been led by Prof. Jurijus Kalcas, a pupil of Prof. Antanas Joz\u0117nas. 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 \u0160iauliai, and in the 1996 \u201cBaroque Path\u201d festival in Pa\u017eaislis.\n\nIn 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.\n\nThe 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 \u017digaitis noted: \u201c\u2019Vilnius\u2019 performs not only works by world-renowned classical composers but also encourages Lithuanian composers to create.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Repertuaro kaita<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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By motivating and inspiring Lithuanian composers, the choir \u201cVilnius\u201d actively participates in performing premieres of works by Lithuanian creators. In recent years, notable premieres have included the oratorio \u201cMetai\u201d by Bronius Kutavi\u010dius and the oratorio \u201cMa\u017evydas\u201d by Juozas Juozapai\u010dio.\n\nThe choir\u2019s repertoire spans compositions from the founders of Lithuanian professional music\u2014M. K. \u010ciurlionis, Juozas Naujalys, and \u010ceslovas Sasnauskas, including their religious works\u2014up to contemporary composers such as Bronius Kutavi\u010dius, Juozas Juozapai\u010dio, Algirdas Martinaitis (\u201cMissa misirecordia\u201d), and Vytautas Mi\u0161kinis (\u201cMissa de Angelis\u201d and others).\n\nThe choir has also prepared programs dedicated to composers\u2019 anniversaries, such as the birth anniversaries of M. K. \u010ciurlionis and Antanas Belazaras, as well as jubilee celebrations like that of Vytautas Barkauskas.\n\nRecently, \u201cVilnius\u201d has broadened its repertoire with lighter colors, preparing a program of songs by Liudas Vilkon\u010dius entitled \u201cNereg\u0117tas Vilkon\u010dius\u201d and a jazz-folk synthesis project, \u201cJazz-Folk,\u201d in collaboration with Veronika Povilionien\u0117 and Lithuanian jazz musicians.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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2001 - 2015\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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For fifteen years (2001\u20132015), the choir\u2019s 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.\n\nThe choir \u201cVilnius\u201d 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 (\u201cRequiem\u201d), Joseph Haydn, Orlando di Lasso, Carl Jenkins, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, Gioachino Rossini, Franz Schubert (\u201cStabat Mater\u201d), among many other composers\u2019 oratorios and masses, while also performing smaller-scale works.\n\nThe choir\u2019s concert activity and engagement in cultural initiatives reflect its professional and artistic maturity, refined musical sensitivity, and the development of choral culture.<\/p>

Through focused and purposeful work, the choir \u201cVilnius\u201d was granted state choir status in 2010.<\/p>

In the autumn of 2011, on the initiative of the Vilnius Dominicans and the choir \u201cVilnius,\u201d the first International St. James Sacred Music Festival took place.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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2015 - Today<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Since 2015, the choir\u2019s artistic director and chief conductor has been Prof. Art\u016bras Dambrauskas, who has brought youthful changes fostering the choir\u2019s 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.\n\nThe ensemble performs extensively, introducing audiences in major cities, towns, and villages to choral art. Cultivating future audiences\u2014children and youth\u2014is especially important for the choir. Special joint choir programs are prepared for them, allowing participation through singing or educational projects, including: \u201cChore dainuoti smagu,\u201d \u201cSniego senis,\u201d \u201cDievo vabalo kelion\u0117,\u201d \u201cDainos t\u016bkstantme\u010dio kartai,\u201d \u201cNepriklausomyb\u0117s siuita,\u201d \u201cVis\u0173 m\u016bs\u0173 daina,\u201d \u201cLietuvi\u0161kos vaik\u0173 mi\u0161ios,\u201d and \u201cKas yra choras.\u201d<\/p>

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\u201461 bells installed in Vilnius.<\/p>

In 2024, a Sound Recording Laboratory was established.<\/p>

In 2024, Dr. Laima Andrikien\u0117, 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 Bru\u017eait\u0117 for her composition \u201cBuen Camino!\u201d, created for the 14th International St. James Festival.<\/p>

2025 m. \u0161i premija skirta kompozitoriui Vaclovui Augustinui u\u017e k\u016brin\u012f mi\u0161riam chorui ir vargonams “Mi\u0161ios u\u017e mirusius (Requiem)”<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Educational Activities\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\u0160alia koncert\u0173, choras \u201eVilnius\u201d \u012fprasmina savo b\u016bv\u012f edukacine veikla. Ji i\u0161ties daugiabriaun\u0117: kolektyvas populiarina chorin\u0119 muzik\u0105 ne tik Lietuvos didmies\u010diuose, bet ir provincijos miesteliuose, reprezentuoja lietuvi\u0161k\u0105 choro men\u0105 gastroliuodamas u\u017esienyje. Kolektyvui r\u016bpi ir u\u017esiauginti b\u016bsimuosius klausytojus \u2013 choras rengia vaikams skirtus edukacinius projektus: \u201eChore dainuoti smagu\u201d, \u201eSniego senis\u201d, \u201eDievo vabalo kelion\u0117\u201d. Svarbus patrioti\u0161kas \u201eVilniaus\u201d choro veiklos baras \u2013 nuo 2001 m. rengiamas koncert\u0173 ciklas \u201eLietuvos choro meno k\u016br\u0117jai\u201d, prikeliantis u\u017emir\u0161tus k\u016brinius ir k\u016br\u0117jus, pristatantis re\u010diau girdimas kompozicijas; projekto metu parengos keliasde\u0161imties lietuvi\u0173 autori\u0173 k\u016brini\u0173 programos. Visuomeni\u0161kai aktyvus kolektyvas, siekdamas prisid\u0117ti prie iniciatyvos \u0160v. apa\u0161tal\u0173 Pilypo ir Jok\u016bbo ba\u017eny\u010dios bok\u0161te \u012frengti karilion\u0105, nuo 2011 m. organizuoja tarptautin\u012f \u0160v. Jok\u016bbo festival\u012f. Palaipsniui jis tapo ry\u0161kiu chorin\u0117s muzikos \u012fvykiu, publikai kasmet ruden\u012f pristatan\u010diu lietuvi\u0173 ir u\u017esienio k\u016br\u0117j\u0173 sakralin\u0119 chorin\u0119 muzik\u0105.\u00a0<\/p>

Projektas “Jaunieji maestro” profesin\u0119 scen\u0105 atveria jaunajai dirigent\u0173 kartai.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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1970 -1992 1970 m. rugs\u0117jo m\u0117nes\u012f buvo \u012fkurtas Lietuvos akl\u0173j\u0173 draugijos kamerinis mi\u0161rus choras – pirmasis toks buvusioje Soviet\u0173 s\u0105jungoje ir vienas pirm\u0173j\u0173 Europoje. Iki 1976 m. jam vadovavo choro dirigentas Rimantas Zdanavi\u010dius. 1976-1992 m. vadovavo prof. Antanas Joz\u0117nas.\u00a0 Choras atliko J. S. Bacho, J. Haydno, G. Verdi, G. Rossini, F. Schubert, V. Bellini, \u010c. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":11,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"sv-jokubas":[],"class_list":["post-13","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chorasvilnius.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chorasvilnius.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chorasvilnius.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chorasvilnius.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chorasvilnius.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13"}],"version-history":[{"count":43,"href":"https:\/\/chorasvilnius.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4784,"href":"https:\/\/chorasvilnius.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13\/revisions\/4784"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chorasvilnius.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/11"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chorasvilnius.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"sv-jokubas","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chorasvilnius.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/sv-jokubas?post=13"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}