The community of the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre mourns a profound loss. Composer, pedagogue, and laureate of the Lithuanian National Prize for Culture and Arts Feliksas Romualdas Bajoras has passed away – one of the most prominent figures of Lithuanian modern music.

The composer was born on 7 October 1934 in Alytus. He began his musical studies with Vincas Bacevičius in Kaunas. At the Lithuanian State Conservatoire he graduated from Aleksandras Livontas’ violin class (1957) and Julius Juzeliūnas’ composition class (1963).

From 1963 to 1965, he taught at the Šiauliai Music School, and from 1965 to 1989 he served as Head of the Music Department at the Youth Theatre. Between 1991 and 2000, he taught at the Lithuanian Academy of Music (now the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre), where he was awarded the title of Associate Professor in 1994. From 1991 to 1994, he also worked as Music Director at the Lithuanian National Drama Theatre.

Feliksas Bajoras was a modern, consistent, and spontaneous representative of the so-called “new folklorism.” His music was distinguished by an authentic relationship with Lithuanian folk music and a unique combination of folk tradition with contemporary means of musical expression. Folklore was rarely quoted directly in his works – instead, his musical language emerged from the intonations of Lithuanian speech, folk performance practices, and a deep connection with ethnic tradition.

One of his most significant works is considered to be Suite of Legends (Sakmių siuita) for voice and piano (1968), which became a distinctive example of Lithuanian musical thinking. Other important compositions include the diptych Vilnius Quartets, the Sonata for Violin and Piano The Years Gone By (Prabėgę metai), the oratorio Raising of the Bell (Varpo kėlimas), the opera Lamb of God (Dievo avinėlis), Missa in musica, Exodus I and II for symphony orchestra, and many other works.

His music was performed at important international festivals in Lithuania and abroad, including Warsaw Autumn, the Berlin Music Biennale, Berliner Festwochen, Wratislavia Cantans, Gaida, Jauna muzika, Europa Musicale, and others.

F. R. Bajoras received numerous significant awards. In 1970, he won Second Prize at the Alfredo Casella International Composers’ Competition in Naples. He was awarded the Lithuanian State Prize in 1981, the Lithuanian Government Prize for Culture and Arts in 1998, the Lithuanian National Prize for Culture and Arts in 2001, and the Officer’s Cross of the Order of Gediminas in 2007.

The Lithuanian National Prize for Culture and Arts was awarded to the composer for his Concerto for Violin and Symphony Orchestra, the string quartet Suokos, the work for chamber orchestra Sun Path (Saulės takas), and the trio Momenti sacri.

We have lost an exceptional figure of Lithuanian musical culture, a pedagogue and creator whose works left a profound mark on Lithuanian contemporary music.

We extend our sincere condolences to the composer’s family, colleagues, students, and the entire musical community.

2026 05 19

On the night of June 12, 2026, Vilnius will stay awake — the city will pulse with music, art, and live encounters. One of the highlights of the “Culture Night” festival will take place in Lukiškės Square, where from 8:00 PM until 1:00 AM audiences will experience the piano music marathon Black and White. The event will feature performances by the most talented pianists of the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre (LMTA), while at midnight one of Lithuania’s most renowned pianists, Petras Geniušas, will present a special recital.

For the third consecutive year, Black and White is expanding beyond the capital and inviting the whole of Lithuania to experience music together. Alongside Vilnius, seven Lithuanian cities and towns — Dusetos, Jurbarkas, Marijampolė, Babtai, Smalininkai, Šilalė, Varėna, and the Kaunas district — will stay awake on the evening of June 12. Residents will gather in town squares, cultural centres, public spaces, and community venues to watch a live broadcast of the piano marathon from Lukiškės Square.

This initiative has become not only a musical event, but also a symbolic cultural bridge between the capital and the regions, uniting different parts of Lithuania. For one summer night, the same music will resonate across the country, creating an atmosphere of togetherness and living culture.

“We are delighted that this year as many as seven Lithuanian cities and towns are opening their public spaces to Culture Night. The initiative, launched two years ago, attracted significant interest, so this year we will broadcast the piano music marathon from Lukiškės Square not to six, but to seven Lithuanian locations. We are eagerly awaiting this special night, preparing for it intensively, and are very happy that Culture Night together with the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre is becoming a beautiful tradition,” says Eglė Kasteckaitė, Head of the LMTA Arts Centre.

The piano music concert Black and White has existed since 2009, when LMTA professor Petras Geniušas gave a memorable recital dedicated to the music of Ludwig van Beethoven during the Culture Night festival in Lukiškės Square. Since 2011, young pianists — the most talented LMTA students and graduates — have joined the project, and their performances continue to form the core of the marathon programme.

Over more than fifteen years, Black and White has become one of the most anticipated events of Culture Night — an open stage for emerging talents and a unique experience for audiences. Every year, the project gathers crowds of music lovers in Lukiškės Square, while the sound of the piano on a summer night has become an inseparable part of Vilnius’ cultural landscape.

This year, the experience expands even further — Black and White invites not only Vilnius, but the whole of Lithuania to come together:

BABTAI / Town Square / Kauno St. 6
DUSETOS / Courtyard by the Kazimieras Būga Library / Vytauto St. 56
JURBARKAS / Cultural Centre / Dariaus ir Girėno St. 94
KAUNAS DISTRICT / Ilgakiemis Leisure Hall of Garliava Cultural Centre / Pajiesio St. 1, Ilgakiemis
MARIJAMPOLĖ / Square near “Spindulys” Cinema / Kauno St. 13
SMALININKAI / City Square / Nemuno St. 41
ŠILALĖ / Cultural Centre / J. Basanavičiaus St. 12
VARĖNA / Cinema and Exhibition Hall of the Cultural Centre / J. Basanavičiaus St. 17

PROGRAMME

20:00–23:30 – Piano Music Night Black and White
Performances by LMTA pianists
00:00–01:00 – Recital by pianist Petras Geniušas

Event hosts: students of the LMTA Department of Acting and Directing, actors Dita Klinkaitė and Gustas Vičkačka.

© Photo by Gabija Matkutė
© Design by Vaiva Šatkutė-Marozienė

LMTA Art Centre info
2026 05 19

From April 29 to May 4, 2026, a delegation of lecturers and staff from the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre (LMTA) visited Senegal as part of the Erasmus+ KA171 programme, which promotes academic exchange and cooperation with partner countries outside the European Union.

During the first days of the visit, meetings were held at École Nationale des Arts et Métiers de la Culture (ENAMC), the National School of Arts and Culture. LMTA and ENAMC have already established cooperation agreements and discussed further opportunities for collaboration. Plans are currently underway for lecturer and student exchange mobilities to Lithuania later this year.

At ENAMC, LMTA lecturer Assoc. Prof. Dr. Simas Gabrielius Sapiega delivered a lecture on the development of listening skills within the context of the European music tradition, while also taking into account students’ strong sense of rhythm rooted in African musical practices. The lecture attracted considerable interest among students and faculty members.

The delegation also visited Université Gaston Berger in the city of Saint-Louis, where meetings were held with lecturers and administrators from the Civilisations, Religions, Arts et Communication (CRAC) department. Participants were introduced to local music and audiovisual study programmes and discussed possibilities for future academic cooperation.

A meeting was also held with Professor Mamadou Abdoul Diop, Vice-Rector responsible for Research, Student Integration, Community Services, and Partnerships. During the discussions, both institutions agreed to prepare and sign an interinstitutional bilateral agreement in the near future, with the first exchange visits expected to take place in Lithuania soon.

The programme additionally included visits to École des Sables, a renowned contemporary dance institution with which LMTA is considering future cooperation projects. These include the development of a joint master’s study programme and participation in African contemporary dance biennale initiatives organised by École des Sables.

The lecturers and representatives of the Lithuanian music and theatre community returned with valuable professional experience, inspiration, and new perspectives that will enrich future teaching practices and strengthen mutual understanding between lecturers and students from different continents and cultural backgrounds.

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

The Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre has signed a cooperation agreement with the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music in Singapore. This is a prestigious music conservatory belonging to the National University of Singapore, where world-class professionals teach, including Nobuko Imai, Paul Lewis, Shlomo Mintz, Jorma Panula, András Schiff, Masaaki Suzuki, and Gábor Takács-Nagy.

Next semester, two LMTA students will go to this higher music school for Erasmus studies: Vakarė Taločkaitė (clarinet) and Vasarė Vaičiulytė (piano).

In the future, it is also planned that music students from Singapore will come to study in Vilnius.

International Relations Office
2026 04 27

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

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

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

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

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