Vilnius Town Hall Colonnade – Music Under the Summer Sky!
AUGUST 31 at 19:00
Concert of ensembles and choir “Ąžuoliukas” from Vilnius Higher Education Institutions
Vytautas Magnus University Education Academy Song and Dance Ensemble “Šviesa”
Artistic Director – Jolanta Kisielytė-Sadauskienė
Choreographer – Loreta Putvinskaitė-Vičienė
Choirmaster – Vilius Tavoras
Folk Instrument Orchestra Leaders – Saulė Zadesenec and Algirdas Jedemskij
The word “light” likely first brings to mind the sun, warmth, or names of schools, publishers, and streets for many, but not for us, the Vytautas Magnus University Education Academy Song and Dance Ensemble “Šviesa,” which is celebrating its 70th season. For us, “Šviesa” means the cultivation of folk music and dance, diligent work, meaningful leisure time, and the nurturing of national art as well as ensemble values and traditions. Although the generations of students change over the years, the ensemble remains youthful and original, radiating vibrancy. “Šviesa” knocks on the hearts of the audience with dance, song, and music, as if with the most secret key, unlocking and warming souls with goodness and beauty.
Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (Vilnius Tech) Folk Dance Ensemble “Vingis”
Artistic Director – Rimutė Zaleckaitė
Choreographer – Donatas Šiniauskas
Folk Music Band Leader – Kęstutis Lipeika
Vocal Group Leader – Gabrielė Budrytė
“Vingis” – this is our home.
“Vingis” – these are our friends.
“Vingis” – traditions, love, and celebrations.
“Vingis” – this is a gift that we sincerely give to our audience.
Being together, Lithuanian songs and dances – this is a source of strength. After all, our ancestors had their own songs for every life situation.
“Ąžuoliukas” – a boys’ and young men’s choir founded in 1959 by Maestro Herman Perelšteinas. Today, “Ąžuoliukas” is one of the best-known names in the Lithuanian music world. It is a unique combination of several choirs – from young children to men – and a music school. It is a fertile environment where dozens of famous national musicians have matured.
However, “Ąžuoliukas” offers boys much more than just basic musical education. Perhaps that is why many members of this ensemble unhesitatingly call “Ąžuoliukas” a school of life and a second home. It is a space where a child fully matures for independent life.
Nevertheless, the core of “Ąžuoliukas” is singing and music. Today, “Ąžuoliukas” consists of eight choirs, with several hundred children, teenagers, and men singing. It is no longer surprising when a father and son go to rehearsals together and stand on stage together. Representatives of different generations, united by an indescribable common state. They are both “ąžuoliukai.” And it will be equally difficult for them to explain to an outsider what this concept encompasses. Because being a “ąžuoliukas” is much more than rehearsals and concerts, music lessons and exams. “Ąžuoliukas” has long transcended the traditional boundaries of musical education, becoming a sort of forge of personality, leaving a mark on everyone who has had the chance to be in this ensemble for any length of time.
The accumulated facts of musical activity over many years are extraordinarily numerous. The ensemble is known far beyond Lithuania’s borders. Thousands of performances, hundreds of concert halls, dozens of countries around the world. Thousands of different works performed with several orchestras, conducted by prominent Lithuanian and foreign conductors. “Ąžuoliukas” has participated in almost all possible genres of musical events, and composers write some of their works specifically for this choir.
MEET US AT THE TOWN HALL!
Festival organized by: Vilnius Town Hall
Sponsors: Vilnius City Municipality, URBO Bank
Partners: Lithuanian Armed Forces, TV3, JCDecaux Lithuania
Supporters: Vilnius Lighting, Šviesiai garsiai, Restaurant “Kristoforas”, Security Team, SMART Agency, Mineral Water “Akvilė”
