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Admission and Studies

News

Wednesday April 29th, 2026

Call for Proposals — C-Accelerate+

Join C-Accelerate+, a FilmEU alliance initiative boosting entrepreneurship and innovation across arts, culture and creative industries in higher education. We offer individual mentorship and practical support to student teams aiming to develop start‑ups, creative projects and art‑tech solutions with real market potential and institutional backing.

Who can apply?

  • Students from partner institutions — individuals or teams.
  • Open to ideas at any stage: concept, prototype or early venture.

What we offer?

  • One‑on‑one mentorship with experienced industry mentors.
  • Practical guidance on business development, prototyping, testing, and partnership building.
  • Access to international networks, workshops and targeted consultations to accelerate your project beyond the classroom.

Current project you can join:

  • Le 6: an interdisciplinary exhibition creating a slow, naturalistic sensory environment to rethink overstimulation.

Selected mentors:

  • Darius Vizbaras — cultural innovation producer, founder and MD of KOSMOS THEATRE, and Creative Director of ArtTech Forum Lithuania; experienced in interdisciplinary R&D, XR, AI and international project delivery, and active in professional education and mentorship.
  • Vytenis Buzas — aerospace engineer and entrepreneur, lead developer of Lithuania’s first nanosatellite LituanicaSAT-1, former NanoAvionics CEO and current head of Unmanned Defense Systems.
  • Mantautas Krukauskas — composer and sound artist, Associate Professor at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre and co‑founder/head of the Music Innovation Studies Centre, an academic lab focused on music technology, interactive arts and immersive media; active in composition, electronic performance and leading international research and educational programmes.  
  • Roberto Becerra — sound artist, engineer and technologist; co‑founder of Ideas Block LT and the Arttice cultural platform, and lecturer/developer at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, working across creative tech and multidisciplinary arts.
  • Edmundas Pučkorius — entrepreneur and cultural sector leader active in initiatives such as Antidote Community and SEMIHUMAN, with experience collaborating with municipal and cultural stakeholders.

How to apply?

Have questions for us? Contact matas.samulionis@lmta.lt; neringa.valuntonyte@lmta.lt

Apply to get tailored mentorship, practical support and a fast track from idea to market‑oriented development.

2026 04 29

Tuesday April 28th, 2026

Congratulations to Professor Audrius Stonys on the Occasion of His 60th Birthday

The Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre warmly congratulates Professor of the National Film School (KIMO), film director, recipient of the Lithuanian National Prize for Culture and Arts, Audrius Stonys, on the occasion of his 60th birthday.

Audrius Stonys is a distinguished figure of Lithuanian cinema whose work has earned international recognition and holds an important place in contemporary documentary filmmaking. After graduating from the Lithuanian State Conservatoire (now LMTA) in 1989, he soon became known for his unique cinematic language, sensitive human insight, and ability to reveal poetic and universal meanings through everyday reality.

His films have been screened and awarded at prestigious international festivals worldwide. In 1992, his film Earth of the Blind received the European Film Award for Best Documentary of the Year. Later works such as Flying Over Blue Fields, Raminas, Woman and the Glacier, Bridges of Time, and others further confirmed his exceptional place in European documentary cinema.

For his bold artistic vision and original approach to reality, Audrius Stonys was awarded the Lithuanian National Prize for Culture and Arts in 2002. He is also a member of the European Film Academy and the European Documentary Network, actively contributing to the international film community.

Equally significant is his pedagogical work. At the National Film School of LMTA, Professor Stonys mentors young filmmakers, sharing his extensive creative experience, professional insight, and thoughtful artistic values.

We sincerely congratulate the esteemed Professor on this special anniversary and wish him continued creative energy, inspiring ideas, meaningful new works, and joy in guiding the next generation of filmmakers.

2026 04 28
Thursday April 16th, 2026

Short film from KIMO – selected to the Cannes „Semaine de la critique“

The film “Class Photo” by LMTA National Film School master’s student Arnas Balčiūnas has been selected to participate in the Cannes Film Festival’s parallel program Critics’ Week competition. The Lithuanian director’s film will compete with nine short films from around the world; these works were selected from 2,400 submissions. Balčiūnas’s short film “Class Photo” is his final master’s project at the National Film School of the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre.

Vytautas Dambrauskas, head of the LMTA National Film School (KIMO), points out that although the Cannes Film Festival has a special program dedicated to student works, Balčiūnas’s film will not compete there—it will instead take part in a competition alongside other filmmakers who are already taking confident steps in the film industry.

“Until now, in Lithuania’s history, we have not had a student work competing in any Cannes program. Being selected for such a festival is a major achievement not only for Lithuania, but also for the LMTA National Film School.”

“Class Photo” is Arnas Balčiūnas’s sixth short film, and several of his earlier works have already gained recognition both internationally and in Lithuania. His debut film “Blausos” won the Best International Film award at the Friss Hús Short Film Festival in Hungary, his second work “Hablo dėsnis” traveled to 25 international festivals, and the film “After Passing Napoleon’s Hat” received a special mention at the Drama Festival in Greece. In Lithuania, Balčiūnas has won two Silver Crane Egg awards for Best Student Works and has been recognized at festivals such as Kino Pavasaris, Scanorama, and the Vilnius Short Film Festival.

Balčiūnas’s latest short film “Class Photo” takes viewers to an abandoned school—here, Ignas, who has returned, meets a former classmate. As they wander through corridors filled with conflicting memories, they try to capture what is about to disappear.

The film’s writer and director is Arnas Balčiūnas; cinematographer: Milda Juodvalkytė; editor: Antanas Skridaila; sound director: Fausta Pilkaitė; composer: Matas Beržinskas; production designer: Rūta Strazdaitė; producer: Morta Verbickaitė. The main roles are played by Džiugas Gvozdzinskas and Mantas Barvičius. International distribution: M-Films; production company: LMTA National Film School (KIMO).

Information provided by M-Films.
2026 04 16
Wednesday April 15th, 2026

In memoriam Osvaldas Balakauskas (1937–2026)

The community of the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre mourns a profound loss. At the age of 88, Osvaldas Balakauskas, long-time professor of the Composition Department at the LMTA Faculty of Music, former head of the department, prominent Lithuanian composer of modern music and pedagogue, and laureate of the Lithuanian National Prize for Culture and Arts, has passed away.

Composer and pedagogue. He studied at the Faculty of Music of the Vilnius Pedagogical Institute (1957–1961) and later pursued composition studies at the Kyiv Conservatory in the class of Professor Borys Lyatoshynsky (1964–1969).

Osvaldas Balakauskas was one of the few Lithuanian composers to consistently develop a distinctive musical language and an original compositional system. His artistic thinking was shaped by the avant-garde ideas of 20th-century music, including the works of Karlheinz Stockhausen, Pierre Boulez, Iannis Xenakis, Anton Webern, and Olivier Messiaen. His self-developed system of dodecatonics, based on multi-note diatonic structures, became a defining feature of his musical style.

Since 1985, he taught at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre (formerly the Lithuanian Conservatoire). He served as Head of the Composition Department in 1988–1992 and 1994–2006, and was awarded the title of Professor in 1995. Over several decades, he educated generations of composers and made a significant contribution to the development of contemporary music studies and creative practice in Lithuania.

His works have been performed at major international festivals, including Warsaw Autumn, Prague Spring, the Berlin and Zagreb Biennales, ISCM World Music Days, MaerzMusik, Wratislavia Cantans, and others. His oeuvre includes symphonic, concert, chamber, vocal-instrumental works, as well as opera and ballet.

Osvaldas Balakauskas was also active in public life. He was a member of the Sąjūdis Council (1988–1992) and served as Ambassador of Lithuania to France, Spain, and Portugal (1992–1994).

He received numerous prestigious awards, including the Lithuanian National Prize for Culture and Arts (1996), the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas (1998), and the Lithuanian Ministry of Culture Honor Award “Carry Your Light and Believe” (2012).

We have lost an outstanding personality whose creative and pedagogical legacy has left a profound mark on Lithuanian musical culture.

We express our sincere condolences to his family, colleagues, and students.

2026 04 15
Friday April 3rd, 2026

DocNomadsPlus student Astrid: „You have to be curious about life“

Astrid Felicia comes from Norway—a Northern Norwegian city that is no stranger to darkness, wind and dropping temperatures. Also Peer Gynt, trolls, Freikenstulen, and magnificent mountain views. A land now experiencing a kind of cinematic wave, led by Oscar-nominated director Joachim Trier.

But now, as a DocNomads Plus, an Erasmus Mundus joint master student, Astrid is trying to find stories in Vilnius. Together with her peers at DocNomads Plus, they are in the phase of searching for documentary characters. How she feels in Vilnius and studying in KIMO – as asked and written down by Kismar Rosin, an intern from Estonia.

The sun sets quietly on the stairs of the National Lithuanian Film School. Artsy theatre students share rolled tobacco, inspiration, youth, and potential. In Vilnius, where church bells toll, you can hear silence in the parks near Užupis. The city plays with green, brown, and reddish tones.

When Astrid tries to find a metaphor for Vilnius, she pauses, then says: pickles.

“They keep you nourished through the winter, and honestly, I’ve never had so many good pickles as I’ve had here,” she adds.

Thanks to the National Film School (KIMO), Astrid and her mates have seen many Lithuanian films. They are also taking a course on Baltic poetic cinema.

It has been a revelation for her—she hadn’t seen any Lithuanian films before. Before DocNomads, she completed an arts degree.

So how does Norwegian cinema compare to Lithuanian cinema?

“It’s quite recent that Norway has produced films reaching an international audience. In many ways, Norway has been the Scandinavian underdog in filmmaking. Historically, there hasn’t been the same level of commitment to cinema as in Lithuania.”

“There’s a kind of coded poetry in Lithuanian films. Norwegian films tend to be more direct—sometimes even a bit on the nose. Of course, that comes from a completely different historical context.”

“Less poetic—well, until recently. Now they’re actually pretty good.”

Moving countries every six months can feel unsettling, like you never quite reach beneath the surface of a culture. If you stay in one place, after two years you might reach a certain depth—but being an outsider is always limiting, she notes.

“I think you can do it a few times, but maybe you don’t want to work like this forever.”

What does she think of Lithuanians?

“I think they’re quite quirky.”

Quirky?

“In the sense that they are very in touch with their roots. As part of my research, I’ve been exploring Lithuanian paganism. I think I’ve been seeking out unusual corners of society.”

There is a strong connection to cultural history and pre-Christian faith.

Curious, she attended several events.

Astrid experienced Užgavėnės, an ancient celebration where people wear masks and burn a figure called More, marking the end of winter and the arrival of spring.

“Where I’m from, we’ve mostly lost touch with many of these pre-Christian traditions, so I’ve really appreciated taking part in them here,” she explains.

She also attended folk singing concerts and the spring equinox celebrations with Romuva.

 

But what’s fascinating is not just studying in different places—it’s that the students themselves come from all over the world, bringing diverse perspectives.

“Yeah, I think it’s great. You’re constantly challenged by your peers. The discussions are much richer, shaped by very different points of view compared to my previous degree.”

What kind of person should apply to become a documentary nomad and join DocNomadsPlus programme?

“You have to be curious about life. If you’re not curious, you won’t get much out of it.”

“Very soon after arriving, you realize you are your own driving force. The only way to find inspiration and meet people is to immerse yourself in society—without judgment and with an open heart. You have to be ready to step out of your comfort zone.”

“And I think it helps to be independent—and to have a bit of baggage.”

A bit of baggage?

“Life experience. I would recommend waiting with the course until you’ve lived a little outside educational institutions.”

What about the silence of Vilnius—what does it say?

“The silence perhaps represents resilience.”

Lithuanians have a turbulent history, yet there is a sense of strength and unity.

After answering, Astrid rushes off to her lectures. Another day begins—searching for stories. Characters. Moments. Life. Meaning. Trying to capture all of this essence on camera.

More about an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master in Documentary Filmmaking read here.

Wednesday April 1st, 2026

APRIL 2026 | LMTA EVENTS

Sorry, but this page is only available in Lithuanian.
For more information about LMTA events in English, check out the Events section on our front page (below the News section).

Friday March 20th, 2026

STARTAS Encouraged Students to Explore Entrepreneurship Through Design Thinking and Creative Collaboration

On 12–13 March, the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre (LMTA) hosted STARTAS, a two-day event dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship among LMTA students and students from partner institutions of the FilmEU Alliance. The activities formed part of the C-Accelerate Plus project, which aims, among other things, to support the formation of project-based student teams that, with the help of mentors, can develop services and products with commercialisation potential. Bringing together young creatives from different disciplines and countries, the initiative encouraged collaboration, entrepreneurial thinking, and the development of innovative ideas at the intersection of art, technology, and society.

The event began on 12 March with an informal networking and introduction session. Participants had the opportunity to get to know one another, exchange experiences, and discuss project funding opportunities within their own institutions and countries. Conversations quickly revealed that many institutions face similar challenges, particularly in relation to communication and the lack of an entrepreneurial mindset in the arts. The session created space for sharing ideas, common concerns, and possible ways forward. Participants were also introduced to the FilmEU laboratories and the possibilities they offer, while LMTA’s Spatial Sound Lab presented a demonstration of its creative and technical capabilities. The evening concluded with a joint visit to the cinema “Pasaka,” where participants attended a screening of Sentimental Value as part of the Vilnius International Film Festival Kino Pavasaris.

The main programme took place on 13 March and was structured in three parts. The day opened with a creative workshop led by mentor Darius Vizbaras, a cultural producer working at the intersection of the performing arts and technology, focusing on the theme of ArtTech. The session invited participants to reflect on how they understand the relationship between art and technology and highlighted the complexity of this intersection. Through philosophical reflection as well as practical examples, the workshop explored how artistic experimentation and technological precision often operate according to different logics, yet together can become a powerful source of innovation. The discussion demonstrated that ArtTech is not simply about digital tools in art, but about the dynamic encounter between engineering and artistic thinking, where some of today’s most original creative solutions can emerge.

This was followed by three keynote presentations addressing creativity, audience engagement, entrepreneurship, and the broader ArtTech ecosystem. In “Aimless Creativity: How to Avoid Wasting Energy Creating Things No One Wants,” Edmundas Pučkorius, CBDO and event manager at Antidote.community, invited participants to think critically about audience needs and the importance of understanding demand when developing artistic ideas or products. In “From a Creative Idea to a Startup: Broader Contexts of Creativity,” entrepreneur Vytenis Buzas, CEO of Unmanned Defense Systems, spoke about startup development, entrepreneurial challenges, and the mindset needed to transform ideas into viable ventures. The keynote “Why ArtTech Matters: From Montreal to Lithuania,” delivered by Agnesta Filatovė, CEO and co-founder of ArtTech Agency Lithuania, introduced participants to the historical development of the ArtTech movement and emphasised the role of ArtTech ecosystems in shaping new relationships between art and technology.

The final part of the event was an innovation workshop combining elements of an ideathon, problemathon, and hackathon. This intensive four-hour session focused on the question: How might we create new experiences using technology? The workshop was led by Dovilė Končak, a business strategist and mentor with experience in business development, market research, innovation, and leadership. Rather than focusing on rapid technical prototyping, this format encouraged participants to identify, define, and refine relevant challenges in the cultural and creative sectors. Working in teams and supported by mentor, students developed ideas for services and products with commercialisation potential, while strengthening their problem-solving, collaboration, and innovation skills. The format placed particular emphasis on critical thinking and problem-framing as key competences for young artists and creative professionals.

At the end of the workshop, four student teams presented their final concepts. The team “Le 6” proposed an interdisciplinary exhibition designed to help contemporary audiences reconnect with the value of art in an overstimulated society. Their concept combined artistic experience with elements of wellbeing, natural environments, and sensory practices that encourage visitors to slow down before engaging with artworks. This team received the main workshop prize – a six-month mentorship package.

“Sibelius” presented a therapeutic classical music experience in virtual reality, aimed at teenagers and focused on fostering emotional intelligence and empathy through immersive sound, AI guidance, and personalised digital environments. This team was awarded second prize, consisting of a five-hour consultation package with the workshop mentor. 

The team “5 Musketeers” introduced the concept of a multisensory exhibition combining image, sound, and future-oriented artificial intelligence technologies. Finally, the team “Houston” introduced “Spinner Festival,” an interactive music festival concept in which audiences would actively participate in the creation of live improvised music alongside jazz performers.

By bringing together students, mentors, speakers, and partner institutions, STARTAS created a space where artistic creativity met entrepreneurial thinking and interdisciplinary experimentation. As part of C-Accelerate Plus, the event contributed to the formation of project-based student teams and supported the development of ideas that could be further refined into commercially relevant services and products. It also highlighted the importance of equipping young artists not only with creative skills, but also with the ability to recognise challenges, understand audiences, and shape ideas with real potential for impact and further development.

EVENT GALLERY

2026 03 20

Tuesday March 17th, 2026

Inclusion at LMTA: Experiences That Bring Students Together

On 5 March, the Education Exchanges Support Foundation (Lithuania) organised a meeting of international relations coordinators from Lithuanian higher education institutions at Panevėžys College, focusing on the theme “Inclusion and Diversity in the Erasmus+ Programme.” During the event, Rima Rimšaitė, Head of the International Relations Office at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre (LMTA), shared the Academy’s experience.

According to Rimšaitė, while at first glance the Academy’s activities in the field of inclusion may not seem exceptional, a closer look reveals a consistent and diverse range of initiatives. One example is the intensive one-week course “Introduction to Lithuanian Culture,” offered to Erasmus and other international students at the beginning of each semester. The course introduces students to Lithuanian music, theatre, cinema, and traditional culture, and includes practical activities such as dance improvisation sessions.

A strong sense of community is also fostered through student-led initiatives. At the end of each semester, Erasmus music students present a joint concert. Throughout the semester, they collaborate on developing the programme, rehearse together, and ultimately deliver a public performance. This process not only strengthens creative collaboration but also helps build meaningful connections among students.

Inclusion-related activities are also actively organised at the National Film School (KIMO), where a variety of community events take place. These initiatives are driven by a desire to connect, to better understand one another, and to share cultural experiences. One notable example is the Shrovetide (Užgavėnės) celebration, which brought together students from different countries and featured traditional food, dancing, and a lively sense of togetherness. Students from the joint programme “DocNomads” responded very positively to this initiative and expressed interest in future activities.

Looking ahead, LMTA plans to further expand its community-building initiatives, including Easter egg-rolling events, a community gardening project, and the continuation of popular activities such as Šoblė Club meetings, quizzes, table football tournaments, and other events that foster engagement and connection.

International Relations Office
2026 03 17

Friday March 6th, 2026

LMTA Composition Student Emilė Riškevičiūtė Wins First Prize at International Composition Competition

Emilė Riškevičiūtė, a second-year bachelor’s student of Composition at the Music Faculty of the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre (LMTA), has won first prize at the International Composition Competition & Symphonic Lab “Generace 2026.” Riškevičiūtė studies composition under Prof. Dr. Mārtiņš Viļums.

This year’s competition attracted 51 composers from 20 countries, including participants from the United States, Brazil, Spain, France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Serbia, Romania, Ukraine, Singapore and Hong Kong.

Emilė Riškevičiūtė was awarded First Prize in the “Under 21” category, which focuses on chamber music compositions by young composers born after 24 January 2005. Her work was selected by the international jury as the best submission in the category, earning her a €1,000 prize.

Other laureates in the category include Dominik Klučka, who received the AHUV Award for the best composer from the Czech Republic, while Periklis Sdravopoulos and Sarina Hashemi were given honorable mentions.

The winning compositions will be performed in autumn 2026 at the contemporary music festival “Hudební současnost” in Ostrava (Czech Republic). The selected composers will have the opportunity to attend rehearsals, collaborate with performers, and participate in a composition seminar led by a member of the competition jury.

The International Composition Competition & Symphonic Lab “Generace 2026” is organized by the Janáček Philharmonic Ostrava in cooperation with the Creative Center Ostrava. This year marked the 51st edition of the competition.

The LMTA community congratulates Emilė Riškevičiūtė on this significant international achievement and wishes her continued success in her creative career.

2026 03 06
Thursday March 5th, 2026

NEW EDITION LMTA JOURNALS – NOW IN OPEN ACCESS!

The Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre invites you to get acquainted with the latest issues of its scholarly journals – “Lithuanian Musicology” No. 26 (2025) and “Ars et praxis” No. 13 (2025), whose electronic versions have already been published in open access on the LMTA journals’ website.

“Lithuanian Musicology” No. 26 (2025)
The twenty-sixth volume seeks to expand the prevailing paradigm of music research by transcending state borders and focusing on geographically and culturally diverse micro-, meso-, and macro-regions in music history. This approach stands in contrast to nationalism, that is, a concept of music history based on today’s state borders and an ethnocentric perspective. The shift in perspective encourages careful exploration and interpretation of the localization and networking of musical phenomena, as well as the cultural areas of musical genres and practices—from small homelands (microregions) to global contexts.

“Ars et praxis” No. 13 (2025)
The thirteenth issue of the journal Ars et praxis publishes eleven articles written by researchers, educators, doctoral candidates in science and the arts, and alumni of the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre (LMTA) and other Lithuanian scientific and research institutions. Traditionally, these texts are divided into theoretical and practical sections – ars and praxis. However, contemporary scholarly and artistic research is often characterized by such a creatively analytical perspective that many of the texts in this issue—both those presenting historical phenomena and those examining the newest means of expression in contemporary culture—can be viewed as fusions of theoretical and practical perspectives.

We invite you to read and share: žurnalai.lmta.lt

Research Center
2026 03 05

Wednesday March 4th, 2026

EPI.LAB: The First Forum Exploring the Future of Episodic Content and Inviting Screenwriters to Submit Ideas

March 26–29, the LMTA National Film School (KIMO) and the association AVAKA are organizing the episodic content creators’ forum EPI.LAB. Audiovisual content creators are invited to attend the forum’s open presentations and discussions, while screenwriters are invited to participate in a script development workshop.

The new initiative “EPI.LAB” aims to bring together screenwriters, dramaturgs, producers, and broadcasters and to encourage the growth of episodic content in Lithuania. During the EPI.LAB forum, organized for the first time in Lithuania, representatives of the audiovisual industry will discuss trends in episodic content, share insights, strengthen professional connections important for the future development of episodic content. The program includes discussions and presentations by Lithuanian and international experts in episodic content.

The head of the LMTA National Film School (KIMO), Vytautas Dambrauskas, emphasizes that EPI.LAB seeks to respond to the growing needs of the industry: “As new generations of creators emerge, we aim to address the needs of the entire audiovisual industry, and this is how the idea was born to create a platform that nurtures screenwriters in Lithuania by drawing on both Lithuanian and international practices. The ‘EPI.LAB’ forum and laboratory will provide screenwriters with a unique opportunity to work with renowned professionals such as Susan Stanton and Philip Shelley. We are pleased that the new spaces of the LMTA National Film School open up additional opportunities not only for students but also for the entire film industry. In this way, we become a place where new connections are formed and directions for collaboration are developed.”

During the forum, the EPI.LAB script development laboratory will also take place, during which the authors of selected series ideas will develop their projects with mentors: Susan Stanton (USA), screenwriter and producer of the HBO series “Succession,” and Philip Shelley (UK), head of the Channel 4 screenwriting course.

At the end of the forum, a presentation (“pitching”) of new series ideas will take place. Screenwriters will have the opportunity to gain visibility for their projects, receive mentors’ insights and recommendations for creating series, and gain valuable contacts in the field of episodic content creators. Registration for the laboratory selection has already begun – screenwriters are invited to submit series ideas until March 15: https://forms.gle/5JA2ZQGiu2VamMpR9

The organizers hope that the forum will become an important meeting platform for audiovisual industry professionals seeking creative impulses, partners, and new ideas:

“It is encouraging to see the partnership between the LMTA National Film School and the association AVAKA, focused on industry growth and strengthening the series creation process. Both the National Film School and AVAKA bring together and nurture film and television creators, therefore ‘EPI.LAB’ becomes an important platform that provides creators with opportunities to purposefully improve professionally,” says Darius Vaitiekūnas, director of the AVAKA association.

The event is organized by the LMTA National Film School (KIMO) together with the association AVAKA. The event partner is the Creative Europe Desk Lithuania.

More information and registration: kinas.lmta.lt/epilab.
The full forum program and registration will be announced soon.

2026 03 04

Sunday March 1st, 2026

LMTA Hosts Nordplus Intensive Course “Performance Recording”

On March 2–7, 2026, the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre (LMTA) will become an international creative laboratory, bringing together 30 young singing talents from Latvia, Estonia, Sweden, and Norway. The Nordplus program’s intensive course “Performance Recording” will take place here—a week dedicated not only to vocal mastery but also to one of the most important tools of the modern performer: a professional performance recording.

Today, when a first impression for opera houses is often formed on screen, a high-quality video recording becomes a ticket to the international stage. That is why the focus of the course is on how to create a compelling, professional performance recording suitable for auditions.

The international group of participants will receive masterclasses from experienced lecturers from Scandinavia and the Baltic countries: Ulrika Helena Tenstam Juvas (Norway), Prof. Asta Krikščiūnaitė and Prof. Algirdas Janutas from the LMTA Department of Vocal Performance, Luca De Marchi (Norway). Students will be accompanied by pianists Siim Selis (Estonia) and Artūrs Žurbins (Latvia), as well as LMTA’s Department of Vocal Performance accompanists. The intensive program will combine vocal technique, interpretation, stage expression, and work in front of the camera.

A special part of the course is a lecture on how to film a professional performance suitable for submission to opera house auditions. It will be delivered by Mantas Šatkus, a lecturer and cinematographer at LMTA’s National Film School (KIMO), who will introduce participants to the practical principles of filming, lighting, sound, and visual aesthetics that help a performer appear as compelling on screen as on a live stage.

The course is organized and implemented by an international network of partners: the Jazeps Vitols Latvian Academy of Music, the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, the Malmö Academy of Music, the Academy of Music and Drama in Gothenburg, and the Oslo Opera Academy. This collaboration strengthens ties among Baltic and Scandinavian higher arts institutions and creates a shared creative space for young performers.

The “Performance Recording” course aims not only to improve vocal skills but also to develop a modern, independent artist capable of professionally presenting themselves in the international market. It is a space where voice, camera, and creative courage meet.

The Nordplus program’s intensive courses promote the mobility of young performers, international experience, and open new professional opportunities on European opera stages.

International Relations Office
2026 03 01
Sunday March 1st, 2026

KOVAS 2026 | LMTA RENGINIAI

2026 m. KOVO mėn. LMTA renginiai
*Informacija ruošiama

 
2026 m. kovo 8 d., sekmadienį, 14 val.
LMTA Jazz ceche
SVEČIAS IŠ DANIJOS: KRESTEN OSGOOD MEISTRIŠKUMO PAMOKA
Multiinstrumentalistas, prodiuseris, radijo laidų vedėjas
Organizatorius: LMTA Džiazo katedra

2026 m. kovo 9 d., pirmadienį, 15 val.
LMTA Studijų miestelio Šokių salėje
MEISTRIŠKUMO KURSAI „BALANCHINO NEOKLASIKINĖ ESTETIKA: NUO TEORINĖS ANALIZĖS IKI MOTERIŠKOS VARIACIJOS ĮKŪNIJIMO“
Kursus vadovė – Neli Beliakaitė
Organizatorė, techninė padėjėja – Rūta Kudžmaitė-Daraškevičienė

2026 m. kovo 14 d., šeštadienį,
LMTA Didžiojoje salėje
KETVIRTASIS RESPUBLIKINIS JAUNŲJŲ DAINININKŲ KONKURSAS,
SKIRTAS VALENTINO ADAMKEVIČIAUS 100-ŲJŲ GIMIMO METINIŲ ATMINIMUI
Dalyvių registracija iki kovo 4 d.
https://lmta.lt/renginys/ketvirtasis-respublikinis-jaunuju-dainininku-konkursas-skirtas-valentino-adamkeviciaus-100-uju-gimimo-metiniu-atminimui/

2026 m. kovo 26 d., ketvirtadienį, 18 val.
LMTA Didžiojoje salėje
KONCERTUOJA LMTA PIANISTAI
https://lmta.lt/lt/renginys/koncertuoja-lmta-pianistai-2/

2026 m. kovo 30 d., pirmadienį, 12–19 val.
2026 m. kovo 31 d., antradienį, 10–17 val.
LMTA Juozo Karoso salėje
PROF. KRISTIAN ATTILA (SUOMIJA) OPEROS IR LIED INTERPRETACIJOS MEISTRIŠKUMO KURSAI§
Organizatorius: LMTA Koncertmeisterio katedra

 

 

 

SALIŲ ADRESAI:
LMTA Didžioji salė (Gedimino pr. 42, Vilnius)
LMTA Juozo Karoso salė (Gedimino pr. 42, Vilnius)
LMTA Studijų miestelis (Olandų g. 21A, Vilnius)
LMTA Jazz cechas (T. Kosciuškos g. 10, Vilnius)

Renginiai nemokami, išskyrus kitaip pažymėtus.
Lietuvos muzikos ir teatro akademija pasilieka teisę keisti renginių programą.
menas@lmta.lt 
www.facebook.com/lmtamenocentras

Friday February 27th, 2026

Take part in LMTA Career Day’s 2026 new workshop – problemathon

We invite you to take part in the LMTA Career Day STARtas 2026 on March 12–13, where one of the central program elements will be an innovation workshop in a problemathon format, hosted together with our partners ArtTech Agency.

ArtTech Agency works at the intersection of art, technology, and innovation, focusing on developing creative ideas into sustainable projects and helping creators navigate intellectual property, entrepreneurship, and new production models. Their experience in bridging the creative and innovation ecosystems will shape both the structure and mentoring approach of this workshop.

The problemathon will be preceded by three keynote/workshop sessions that will serve as an introduction and conceptual framework for the innovation workshop:

  • Edmundas Pučkorius, CBDO and event producer, Antidote.community – on the process of creating an art “product” and collaborative creative practices;
  • Agnesta Filatovė, Head of ArtTech Agency – on defining the “why” and shaping ideas for development;
  • Vytenis Buzas, entrepreneur and startup founder – on creativity and its relationship with business and entrepreneurship.

Unlike a classic hackathon, this workshop will focus on identifying, framing, and refining relevant challenges in the creative and cultural fields. Participants will work in small teams, combining rotating group phases (to cross-pollinate perspectives) with more stable team work. The process will be supported by a professional moderator and mentors.

Following the workshop, a selected number of teams will receive mentorship packages aimed at further developing their ideas toward intellectual property (IP) registration and practical implementation.

Additionally, once we know the number of visiting students, we are planning to invite them to a financing-focused workshop in the morning and a networking session on the evening before the main event, to encourage deeper exchange and collaboration.

Registration for the innovation workshop (problemathon) is available here: Registration to LMTA Career Day — STARtas 2026 – Fill in form 

We believe this format is especially valuable for students and young professionals in the arts, as it strengthens not only innovation skills, but also critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-framing competences.

We would be very happy to welcome your institution and representatives to join this initiative and meet our students during the event.

2026 02 27

Monday February 23rd, 2026

2025 Internationalization Awards Celebrated at the LMTA Senate

On February 18, the Senate of the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre (LMTA) hosted the 2025 Internationalization Awards. The ceremony honored 12 prominent members of the Academy’s community – professors, students, and staff – whose dedication has significantly strengthened the international standing of the LMTA.

Award Laureates:

  • Prof. Valentinas Masalskis (Klaipėda Faculty, Department of Theatre) – for his consistent and dedicated work with students from Ukraine under the Erasmus+ KA171 mobility program and for the longest “green” travel journey.

  • Prof. Aleksandra Žvirblytė (Music Faculty, Department of Piano and Organ) – for an Erasmus+ teaching visit to Taiwan and a performance with the Tainan Symphony Orchestra.

  • Assoc. Prof. Giedrė Kirkilė (Theatre and Dance Faculty, Department of Dance and Movement) – for the top-rated dance improvisation seminars by international students within the Introduction to Lithuanian Culture module.

  • Assoc. Prof. Laimonas Masevičius (Music Faculty, Department of Wind and Percussion Instruments) – for the successful implementation of the Erasmus+ BIP program CEAMTE.

  • Assoc. Prof. Jarūnė Barkauskaitė (Music Faculty, Department of Piano and Organ) – for the successful coordination of the international Cantatas project in collaboration with partners in Dresden.

  • Lector Francisco Roberto Becerra Bravo (Music Faculty, Department of Composition) – for organizing the Nordplus intensive courses LIVE SPACE.

  • Jurga Gluskinienė (Coordinator at the National Film School (KIMO)) – for the diligent and sincere coordination of the Nordplus NordFilm network and the Nordplus Creative Camp.

  • Vaiva Marozienė (Art Centre Concert Coordinator) – for the visual design and update of the English-language study programme catalogue.

  • Airė Kulbickaitė (3rd-year Bachelor student, Music Performance – Jazz Bass Guitar) – for exceptional activity during her Erasmus+ studies.

  • Simonas Miknius (4th-year Bachelor student, Music Performance – Piano) – for exceptional activity during his Erasmus+ studies.

  • Dmitrijus Andriušanecas (2nd-year Master student, Art of Dance) – for meaningful participation in Erasmus+ short-term mobility projects.

  • Klaudijus Zajančkauskas (2nd-year Master student, Music Performance – Singing) – for successful participation in Erasmus+ short-term mobility projects.

We extend our gratitude to the laureates for their contribution to the Academy’s global openness and hope that these achievements will inspire the entire LMTA community toward new international discoveries.

International Relations Office
2026 02 23

Thursday February 19th, 2026

ÉCOLE DES ÉCOLES Meeting in London: Key Decisions and Future Plans

On February 12–13, the annual General Assembly of the European theatre schools network ÉCOLE DES ÉCOLES (EdE) took place at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London. The association currently brings together 15 of the most renowned European theatre schools, geographically distributed across Europe. LMTA was represented by Žilvinas Vingelis, Head of the Acting and Directing Department, and Giedrė Kabašinskienė, International Relations Officer.

Having previously operated without a clear legal structure, the EdE association is now entering a new phase: it has become a registered non-profit organization in Brussels. The London meeting focused extensively on the association’s development, strengthening its governance structure, and expanding international cooperation.

The Assembly also discussed the possibility of granting formal membership to a non-EU institution — the Kyiv National I. K. Karpenko-Kary Theatre, Cinema and Television University. It was decided that this issue will be further examined at the next General Assembly.

The main objective of the EdE association is to develop educators in the performing arts (primarily drama schools), promote the exchange of pedagogical experience, organize seminars and training sessions, and create an international platform for teacher mobility.

Upcoming Events and Initiatives

From March 9–13 this year, a seminar for teachers entitled “The Citizen Chorus” will take place in Brussels at INSAS (Institut National Supérieur des Arts du Spectacle). The seminar will bring together representatives from various EdE schools, including a lecturer from the Ukrainian university, who will receive an INSAS Erasmus mobility grant.

It was also decided that the next General Assembly will be held on February 11–12, 2027, in Milan at the Scuola di Teatro Filodrammatici. The potential membership of the Kyiv university in the ÉCOLE DES ÉCOLES network will also be discussed there.

Upcoming EdE Teacher Seminars

  • November 3–7, 2026 – KHIO (Oslo National Academy of the Arts), Oslo (theme: inclusion);
  • April 5–10, 2027 – Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, Vilnius (“How to Guide Without Control? Methods of Ethical Supervision in Artistic Research…”).

The EdE network continues to strengthen international cooperation, expand partnerships, and create long-term professional development opportunities for European theatre educators.

LMTA International Relations info
2026 02 19

Wednesday February 18th, 2026

Professionals with experience in Hollywood projects will lead film set courses at LMTA

For 35 years, the National Film School (KIMO) of the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, which educates Lithuanian film professionals in bachelor’s and master’s programs, has for the second year in a row organized short professional courses as well.

These are the only practical film set training courses in Lithuania oriented toward real industry needs. The courses are intended both for those considering starting a career and for those who already have experience and are looking for opportunities to purposefully expand their professional competencies. This year, participants are invited to choose from two programs: “Introduction to the Film Set” (lecturer Lukas Kudapčenka) and “Location Manager Assistants Course” (lecturer Jonas Špokas). The courses will take place in April–May at the LMTA study campus in Vilnius, at Olandų St. 21A.

The first course, “Introduction to the Film Set,” is designed for those interested in film production but who do not yet know where to start. During the course, participants will become familiar with the structure of a film set and production processes, and will acquire the necessary skills and contacts. After completing the course, participants will be ready to start in the position of Production Assistant (PA) – the most common first step into the industry. The course is being offered for the second time – last year’s participants have already completed internships and successfully found employment in film projects. In-person training sessions will take place on April 11–12 and 18–19.

The “Location Manager Assistants Course” is intended for those with experience who want to grow purposefully in film production and try themselves in another position on a film set. The locations department is responsible for scouting, logistics, and organizing filming locations, so participants will learn not only how to find suitable places but also how to work with permits, budgets, and coordinate team work. In-person training sessions will take place on May 2, 9–10, and 16–17.

The quality of the courses is ensured by experienced practitioners: Lukas Kudapčenka, a first assistant director who has worked on more than 250 commercials, 30 films and series, including HBO’s “Chernobyl” and the BBC’s “Rise of the Nazis,” and Jonas Špokas – founder of “Baltic Locations,” who has contributed to such international projects as “Stranger Things” (Netflix), “War and Peace” (BBC), and others.

In-person training sessions will take place at the LMTA National Film School, and internship opportunities for participants will be facilitated by the “Baltic Film and Creative Cluster,” which brings together more than 120 creative industry organizations. Registration has already begun. More information and participation conditions: kinas.lmta.lt/kinokursai.

LMTA National Film School inf.
2026 02 18
Tuesday February 17th, 2026

Got an idea? Make it a reality at the C-Accelerate Summer Incubator 2026!

Do you have a creative industry business idea? Thinking about developing a film or series project? C-Accelerate Summer Incubator 2026 invites LMTA students and recent graduates to transform early-stage ideas into professionally developed projects ready for the international market.

The incubator will take place in Bratislava, Slovakia, in summer 2026 and is designed to support entrepreneurial and creative skill development in the audiovisual and creative industries. The program will be conducted in English.

Application deadline: 20 February 2026
Participation is free of charge. Travel and accommodation are covered for one representative per selected project.
Eligible applicants: BA, MA and PhD students and graduates (up to 5 years after graduation).

The program consists of two modules. Applicants must apply to one module only, depending on their project.

Film & TV Module (7 projects)

Designed for early-stage development of feature films (fiction, documentary, animation, experimental) and TV or online series (all genres and lengths).

Mentorship includes creative development, production development, financing and co-production models, international pitching, distribution and marketing.

Dates:
29 June – 3 July 2026 (online)
2 August – 21 August 2026 (on-site in Bratislava)

Application: https://tally.so/r/BzdYJK

Startup Module (7 projects)

Designed for innovative projects within the creative industries, including audiovisual tools or platforms, new approaches to media production, interactive or educational applications, games, and other creative products or services.

Mentorship includes business soft skills, pitching and sales, marketing and branding, distribution strategies, and intellectual property rights.

Dates:
29 June – 3 July 2026 (online)
13 July – 31 July 2026 (on-site in Bratislava)

Application: https://tally.so/r/q4GLpY

Participants will receive tailored mentorship, take part in workshops and masterclasses, expand their international network, and refine their project presentation. Selected projects will progress to a more advanced development stage and be presented to industry professionals.

On-site activities will take place at the Film and Television Faculty, Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava (VŠMU).
Selection results will be announced in March 2026.

More information: C-Accelerate Summer Incubator 2026 Open Call

Have questions? Don’t hesitate to contact us: daina.urbanaviciene@lmta.lt.

2026 02 17

Tuesday February 17th, 2026

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS TO THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

We invite submissions for the international conference “Women in Music: Narrating and Resounding (Auto)Biographies”.

The conference will take place on April 14–16, 2027, in Vilnius and is organized by the Performing Arts Research Center (PARC) of the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, in cooperation with the University of the Arts Helsinki, the Suoni Research Association, and the IMS Study Group “Music and Cultural Studies.” The conference is held as part of an ongoing series of symposia bringing together research groups from the Baltic countries, Northern and Central Europe.

The conference will be held in English.

Paper proposals are accepted until October 1, 2026.

Please send paper abstracts to the LMTA Research Center at mokslas@lmta.lt.

More information is available in the LMTA Research News announcements.

LMTA Research Centre
2026 02 17

Thursday February 12th, 2026

Polish Theatre Director Michał Borczuch Led an Intensive Seminar in Klaipėda

Polish theatre director and lecturer at the National Academy of Theatre Arts in Krakow, Michał Borczuch, conducted an intensive five-day seminar for directing students and actors of the Klaipėda Faculty. During the workshop, participants analyzed and freely interpreted selected episodes from Thomas Mann’s novel The Magic Mountain, approaching the text from contemporary, personal, and collective perspectives.

Introducing his working methodology, Borczuch emphasized that in such a short seminar the literary text functions not as a final goal but as a creative impulse:

“Reading and analyzing Mann’s entire novel is, of course, always useful, but within such a short seminar The Magic Mountain becomes a pretext and a provocation. Working with individual excerpts allows us to reach completely unexpected, unplanned territories.

The seminar focused on atmosphere-building, the actor’s presence on stage, the staging of inner monologue, the relationship between thought and action, and the director’s craft—from rehearsal preparation to collective creation. Students worked with selected fragments of the novel, contextualizing them through contemporary socio-political experiences, personal memory, and reflections shaped by the pandemic period.

Participants highlighted the intensity and openness of the creative process. Director Monika Steponavičiūtė noted that “each day brought new discoveries, and every piece of feedback transformed the existing miniature,” while also acknowledging the challenge posed by the scope and thematic richness of Mann’s novel. Director Jurgita Rudėnaitė emphasized the value of theoretical lectures on directing practice and rehearsal planning, as well as the freedom to experiment creatively. Actress Agnė Virkutytė stated that the workshop offered “a different approach to staging inner monologue, connecting thought and action, and activating literary material.” Actress Emilija Žuravliovaitė described the seminar as a meaningful experience:

“Although it was primarily aimed at directors, as an actress I take away an openness to not-knowing and a reminder that the most important part of the process is searching.”

While participants agreed that five days were insufficient for a comprehensive prose adaptation, the seminar was widely described as an inspiring and significant professional impulse, encouraging the development of an individual theatrical language.

Michał Borczuch (born 1979 in Kraków) is a Polish theatre director, a graduate of the Ludwik Solski Academy of Dramatic Arts. He debuted in 2005 at the Stary Theatre and assisted Krystian Lupa on The Magic Flute (Theater an der Wien, 2006). He also worked with Patrice Chéreau through the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative and was three times nominated for Paszport Polityki.

Borczuch is known for his personal, ironic theatre, focused on intimacy, weakness, and everyday life rather than grand narratives. He often collaborates with non-professional performers, including autistic people and socially excluded children (Lepiej tam nie idź, Paradiso). His notable productions include Lulu, Werther, The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Metaphysics of a Two-Headed Calf, and Apocalypse. Critics praise his unique work with actors and his ability to create surprising, emotionally exposed theatrical worlds.

2026 02 12

Friday February 6th, 2026

Congratulations to Prof. Petras Geniušas on the Occasion of His 65th Birthday

The Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre warmly congratulates Professor of the Piano and Organ Department, one of Lithuania’s most distinguished and versatile pianists, Petras Geniušas, on the occasion of his 65th birthday.

Petras Geniušas was born into a family of musicians in Vilnius, where his musical journey began. After completing his studies at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, he continued his education at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory. Soon afterwards, he gained international recognition, winning top prizes at prestigious piano competitions and performing in more than forty countries worldwide, in some of the most renowned concert halls.

Professor Geniušas is celebrated not only as a virtuoso performer of the classical repertoire, but also as a creatively minded interpreter, constantly seeking new artistic perspectives. His repertoire spans a wide range of classical, romantic, and contemporary works, while his concert activity includes solo recitals as well as performances with symphony and chamber orchestras.

Equally significant is his pedagogical work. Since 1990, Petras Geniušas has been teaching at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, where he is highly respected as an inspiring and demanding teacher. He has also given masterclasses internationally, including in Tokyo, Osaka, at the Royal Academy of Music in London, and other prominent international music forums.

For his outstanding artistic and pedagogical achievements, Professor Geniušas has received numerous prestigious awards, including the Lithuanian National Prize for Culture and Arts, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Award, the Ministry of Culture Honorary Badge “Carry Your Light and Believe”, and the Knight’s Cross of the Order of the Grand Duke Gediminas of Lithuania.

We sincerely congratulate the esteemed Professor on this remarkable anniversary and wish him continued strength, creative energy, inspiring moments, and great joy in sharing his music with audiences and future generations of musicians.

2026 02 06
Sunday February 1st, 2026

FEBRUARY 2026 | LMTA EVENTS

Sorry, but this page is only available in Lithuanian.
For more information about LMTA events in English, check out the Events section on our front page (below the News section).

Friday January 30th, 2026

LMTA announces an open call for a Research Group Leader under the programme “My First Research Team”

Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre announces an open call for a Research Group Leader to lead a research and experimental development (R&D) project funded by the Lithuanian Research Council under the programme My First Research Team.

The Academy invites early-career researchers to establish and lead an interdisciplinary research group of eight researchers at different career stages. The project will be carried out in the field of Audiovisual Media Technologies and Social Innovations and is entitled The Impact of Interactive and Immersive Media on Creativity, Performance, and Audience Experience. The preliminary project budget amounts to 374 454,89 EUR, and the project duration is up to three years.

The research will focus on the transformation of creative and performance practices in contemporary performing arts, music, theatre, and dance within the context of modern technologies. Particular attention will be given to interdisciplinary interactions enabled by digital and analog sound technologies, artificial intelligence, and interactive and immersive audiovisual media. Through artistic research, the project aims to develop new performing arts formats and to examine their impact on creativity, performance, improvisation, the performer–creator–audience relationship, and audience experience.

The Research Group Leader will be responsible for establishing and coordinating the research team, developing and implementing the project’s research agenda, ensuring the quality, dissemination, and impact of research outcomes, and fostering international collaboration and researcher mobility. The position is full-time, with a gross monthly salary of 3 805,93 EUR. The expected starting date is 1 September 2026.

Further details on eligibility criteria and application procedures are available on the Euraxess portal:

https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/405179

2026 01 30

Friday January 30th, 2026

“ContemPLAY” Returns to Vilnius: Six Days of a Contemporary and Improvisational Music Festival-Workshop

From February 2–6, Vilnius will host the international contemporary and improvisational music festival-workshop “ContemPLAY”. This event brings together concerts in various city venues, creative workshops at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, and open improvisation sessions within a single week. ContemPLAY invites audiences to view contemporary music as a living, evolving phenomenon—where not only the result on stage matters, but also the creative process itself, collaboration, and encounters. The core idea of ContemPLAY is to emphasize creativity as an alternative to the trends of superficial culture.

This year’s ContemPLAY program features both recognized works of 20th-century music and the latest contemporary creations, as well as prominent performers from the improvisational music scene. Special attention is given to works involving electronics, live sound processing practices, instrument preparation, and ensemble performance.

Opening at the LMTA Study Campus – “welcomePLAY”

The festival will open with the concert “welcomePLAY” on February 2 at 7:00 PM at the LMTA Study Campus Theatre Hall (Olandų St. 21A, Vilnius). The concert will introduce the festival organizers—LMTA lecturers and young performers from the contemporary music performance program—to festival guests:

Liudas Mockūnas (saxophone), Vykintas Baltakas (electronics), Karolina Ramonė (soprano), Julija Bagdonavičiūtė and Paula Bagotyriūtė (piano), Pranas Germanavičius (drums), Emilė Brazytė and Teodoras Butas (saxophones).

The opening program includes works by Vykintas Baltakas, John Cage, Alejandro Viñao, Andrius Šiurys, Jonas Jurkūnas, as well as free improvisation.

“Improdimensijos” Concert at the LMTA Study Campus – “improPLAY”

On February 3 at 7:00 PM, the “improPLAY” concert—an improvisational music event organized together with Improdimensija—will take place in the Theatre Hall of the LMTA Study Campus (Olandų St. 21A).

Performers:

Liudas Mockūnas (saxophones), Anto Pett (piano), Tom Blancarte (double bass), Christian Windfeld (drums), Arnas Mikalkėnas (drums, piano).

This is an evening where every sound is a decision, and music is born from listening and mutual responsiveness.

Live Electronics and Performance Practices – “LENsemblePLAY”

On February 4 at 7:00 PM, “LENsemblePLAY” will take place in the same Theatre Hall at the LMTA Study Campus. The Lithuanian Ensemble Network aims to provide a platform for young creators and performers.

In the first part of the program, prepared by Massimo Restifo Pecorella (clarinet) and Giulio Cattaneo (sound / electronics), works by Bruno Maderna, Karlheinz Stockhausen, Giulio Cattaneo, Davide Broggini, Federico Pezzatini will be performed.

The second part of the concert will feature the latest works by young composers Ethan Blackburn (USA) and Asja Kadić (Bosnia / Germany), along with free improvisation.

Performers:

Paula Bagotyriūtė (prepared piano), Deividas Skridaila (prepared guitar / electric bass), Christian Windfeld (percussion).

Electronics Evening – “electroPLAY”

On February 5 at 7:00 PM, ContemPLAY continues with the “electroPLAY” concert in the Blackbox space. At the center of the evening is the joint project “El Chico Fuendre & LMTA Electronic Music Ensemble – VariationPLAY,” bringing together electronic music and ensemble sound.

The program will also include Vykintas Baltakas’ Sandwriting for two keyboards and computer (performed by pianists Jonė Punytė-Svigarienė and Julija Bagdonavičiūtė), as well as a performance by the group RESONO (lecturer Matas Samulionis, Bruno Pereira).

Final Concerts at LMTA – “ContemPLAY I” and “ContemPLAY II”

The festival-workshop will culminate on February 6 at the central LMTA building (Gediminas Ave. 42).

At 5:00 PM, the “ContemPLAY I” concert will take place in the LMTA Grand Hall—a final performance by the joint ensemble. The program includes works by Laura Zarembaitė, Matias Norena Muriel, Marco Righetto, Phuc Nguyen, Vacca Mateo, performed by the combined contemPLAY ensemble, conducted by Vykintas Baltakas.

At 6:30 PM, the “ContemPLAY II” concert will be held in the LMTA Balcony Theatre—a final concert of improvisational music ensembles. Lecturers: Liudas Mockūnas and Arnas Mikalkėnas.

JamPLAY – Open Improvisation Sessions at “Poliklinika” Bar

On festival evenings from February 2–6, 9:00 PM to 12:30 AM, JamPLAY free improvisation sessions will take place at Poliklinika bar (Gedimino Ave. 27). Workshop participants and all interested listeners are invited to join. This informal part of the festival offers space to meet, listen, and actively engage in the musical process.

The festival is organized by the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre (LMTA), the improvisational music platform Improdimensija, and LENsemble (Lithuanian Ensemble Network). Partners include the Lithuanian Composers’ Union and Poliklinika bar. The festival is funded by the Lithuanian Council for Culture and Erasmus+.

LMTA info
2026 01 30
Thursday January 1st, 2026

JANUARY 2026 | LMTA EVENTS

Sorry, but this page is only available in Lithuanian.
For more information about LMTA events in English, check out the Events section on our front page (below the News section).

Read more

Events

2026/05/06

LECTURE BY PROF. DR. KEVIN C. KARNES (EMORY UNIVERSITY, USA)

May 6, 2026 (Wednesday), 1:00 PM
LMTA Balcony Theatre (Gedimino Ave. 42, Vilnius)

LECTURE BY PROF. DR. KEVIN C. KARNES (EMORY UNIVERSITY, USA)
“‘The Spirit of the Time, the Atmosphere of Place’: Hardijs Lediņš in (West) Berlin, 1988/92“

On May 6, 2026, Prof. Dr. Kevin C. Karnes (Emory University, USA) will visit LMTA to deliver a public lecture for doctoral students in the arts and art studies, students, the LMTA community, and alumni.

All those studying or interested in contemporary art research are invited to attend. The lecture will be held in English.

Kevin C. Karnes is Professor of Music and Divisional Dean of Arts at Emory University (Atlanta, USA), and Visiting Professor of Musicology at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music. His most recent book is Arvo Pärt and the 1970s Soviet Underground (2021). His work has been recognized by grants and awards from the American Council of Learned Societies, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Humanities. His current research focuses on DIY music cultures of the 1980s and 1990s Europe, including Latvian and German post-punk, new wave, and techno scenes, and the Riga musicians’ collective Tornis, founded in 1991.

Abstract

Perestroika and the end of the USSR radically reconfigured the landscape of possibility for artists, including by easing travel and exchange across geopolitical borders. This talk considers unexpected opportunities and insurmountable challenges presented by these transitions, as seen in a pair of Berlin residencies by the Latvian musician Hardijs Lediņš, co-founder of the legendary underground group NSRD. It examines partnerships formed between West German organizations and the Latvian Artists’ Union and KGB, how opportunities provided by Western partners could re-inscribe the stark social hierarchies of Soviet life, and how efforts to provide Soviet artists with support could not only open previously unimagined possibilities but also bolster what sometimes proved to be impossible expectations.

More information:
LMTA Research Centre
Email: mokslas@lmta.lt

2026/05/07 - 2026/05/08

INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM “POSTHUMANISM AND CONTEMPORARY ARTISTIC PRACTICES”

7-8 May 2026
LMTA Central Building (Gedimino pr. 42, Vilnius)

INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM
POSTHUMANISM AND CONTEMPORARY ARTISTIC PRACTICES

PROGRAMME

The symposium is dedicated to the entanglements between posthuman forms of knowledge and contemporary artistic practices. Posthumanism, as defined by Rosi Braidotti, is a critical methodology aiming to question both humanism and anthropocentrism (Braidotti 2013, 2018; Braidotti and Bignall 2019). First, posthumanism can be seen as a critique of the humanist model of ‘Man’, which is based on the project of the Enlightenment and expresses ‘the Eurocentric, masculinist universalism that is still operative in the most knowledge production scientific systems’ (Braidotti and Bignall 2019: 2). By contrast, posthumanism offers partial and perspectival ‘situated knowledges’, which take into account feminism, gender theory, postcolonialism, decolonial theory and emerging indigenous philosophies. Second, posthumanism can be seen as a critique of anthropocentrism and human exceptionalism, based on species hierarchy and the subjection and exclusion of nonhuman others. Posthumanism raises ‘the question of the animal’ and asks what place animals take in our all-too-human ontology (Derrida 2008; Despret 2016). It challenges the rigid boundaries between human and nonhuman animals, demonstrating that they share capacities such as sentience, affectivity, inventiveness, memory, and cognition. In this respect, posthumanism can be seen as an inclusive way of thinking that attempts to conceptualise what is ‘more-than-human’.

Such a conceptualisation is not an easy task. As Cary Wolfe suggests, ‘when we talk about posthumanism, we are not just talking about a thematics of the decentering of the human we are talking about how thinking confronts that thematics, what thought has to become in the face of those challenges’ (Wolfe 2010: xvi). This implies the need to rethink our research methodologies and the necessity to redefine human subjectivity in such a way that it would include multiple modes of existence. As Wolfe explains, “the ‘human’ can no longer be considered either the origin or the end of thought, and in at least two senses. First, the ‘human’ is not an explanans but an explanandum, not an explanation but that which needs to be explained. (…) Moreover – and more radically – not only is the line between human and nonhuman impossible to definitively draw with regard to the binding together of neurophysiology, cognitive states and symbolic behaviours, the line between ‘inside’ and ‘outside’, ‘brain’ and ‘mind’, is also impossible to draw definitively” (Wolfe 2018: 357–8).

In other words, posthumanism is a new way of thinking, oriented towards the multiplicity of connections between inorganic and organic, human and nonhuman, human and technological beings. Besides the conventional forms of knowledge, posthuman knowledge takes into account affect and affectivity (Brian Massumi, Patricia Clough), nonconscious cognition (Antonio Damasio, N. Katherine Hayles), relationality (Bruno Latour, Karen Barad), materialism (Jane Bennett), speculative fabulation (Donna Haraway), and perspectivism (Déborah Danowski, Eduardo Viveiros de Castro). These different approaches create a kind of “patchy posthumanism” which is heterogeneous, discontinuous, and provisional. It leaves us in a permanent discontent because it does not provide a unified vision of the world, and is not comforting or reassuring.

However, this “patchy posthumanism” opens the way not only for new fields of knowledge but also initiates new, non-representational ways of artistic expression. The symposium encourages examining those artistic practices which are based on experimentation, research, and collaboration. As Justyna Stępień points out, contemporary artists “apply non-representational methods that move towards relations, actions, and events (…) to apprehend the structures of change and dynamism of socio-material entities, reinventing human practices of care and concern. These artistic expressions are embodied and embedded, experimental in their nature, unsettling, rupturing, rather than reporting or representing” (Stępień 2022: 6). In other words, to entangle with posthuman or more-than-human entities, artists and theoreticians have to invent new modes of artistic practices, which would destabilise human subjectivity through hybrid, experimental, performative, or biomediated encounters.

References:

  • Braidotti, Rosi (2013), The Posthuman, Cambridge: Polity Press.
  • Braidotti, Rosi (2018) ‘A Theoretical Framework for the Critical Posthumanities’, Theory, Culture & Society, Special Issue: Transversal Posthumanities, pp. 1–31.
  • Braidotti, Rosi and Simone Bignall (eds) (2019), Posthuman Ecologies: Complexity and Process After Deleuze, New York, London: Rowman and Littlefield.
  • Derrida, Jacques (2008), The Animal That Therefore I Am, trans. David Wills, New York: Fordham University Press.
  • Despret, Vinciane (2016), What Would Animals Say If We Asked the Right Questions?, trans. Brett Buchanan, Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.
  • Stępień, Justyna (2022). Posthuman and Nonhuman Entanglements in Contemporary Art and the Body, New York and London: Routledge.
  • Wolfe, Carey (2010), What Is Posthumanism?, Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.
  • Wolfe, Carey (2018), ‘Posthumanism’, in Rosi Braidotti and Maria Hlavajova (eds), Posthuman Glossary, New York, London: Bloomsbury, pp. 356–9.

We invite submissions (20 min presentation plus 10 min Q&A) that discuss posthumanism in relation to contemporary artistic practices, including but not limited to:

  • Nonhuman Cognition: Performing with Nonhuman Others;
  • Affect theory between human and more-than-human;
  • Exploring agency in new materialism and agential realism;
  • Poshumanist anthropology and artistic practices
  • Feminist speculative science studies and artistic practices;
  • Indigenous cosmologies and artistic practices;
  • Multispecies ethnography and artistic practices.

Proposals of up to 300 words should be sent to Denis Petrina, email: denis.petrina@lmta.lt  by 31 March 2026. Please include the speaker’s name and institutional affiliation. Accepted presenters will be notified by 10 April 2026. 

The symposium is free of charge. 

Organizing committee: Julija Bagdonavičiūtė, Vytis Jankauskas, Denis Petrina, Rūta Stanevičiūtė, Audronė Žukauskaitė.
Contact for general enquiries: Denis Petrina, denis.petrina@lmta.lt

2026/10/01 - 2026/10/03

FESTIVAL “MIKROFEST VILNIUS 2026” AND SYMPOSIUM “MIKROTÖNE: SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL”

October 1-3, 2026

FESTIVAL “MIKROFEST VILNIUS 2026” AND SYMPOSIUM “MIKROTÖNE: SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL”

The Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre (LMTA), ISCM Lithuanian Section and the International Ekmelic Music Society Salzburg are pleased to announce a Call for Papers for the Symposium “Mikrotöne: Small is Beautiful” within the “Mikrofest Vilnius 2026” at the LMTA in Vilnius between October 1 and 3, 2026. “Mikrofest Vilnius 2026” will consists of lectures, workshops and concerts featuring Frank Stadler, Vytautas Germanavičius, Juhani Nuorvala, Elisa Järvi, Hossam Mahmoud and Agustin Castilla-Ávila, among others.

We invite submission of abstracts of up to 300 words. Papers may address the music of any period, concerning microtonal research issues such as tuning systems, historical aspects or new microtonal compositions. Demonstrations and lecture recitals are very welcome. Papers to be presented should be 45 minutes in length (35 min. presentation and 10 min. discussion).

Papers should be presented in person. Online papers might also be included at “Mikrotöne: Small is Beautiful” (to be decided by the commission).
Abstracts (in English) can be sent to castillaavila@hotmail.com

The language of the symposium is English.

Call for Papers deadline: May 15th, 2026

There are no congress fees. Participants are entitled to attend any presentations at the symposium.
For any questions, please contact Agustín Castilla-Ávila: castillaavila@hotmail.com

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