Department of Accompaniment
Head of the Department:
Prof. Irena Uss-Armonienė
E-mail: irena.armoniene@lmta.lt
Address:
Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, Building 1
Gedimino Ave. 42, 01110 Vilnius, Lithuania
Room 206
Piano Accompaniment Department comprehensively trains professional pianists as répétiteurs and performers of vocal chamber music – Lied pianists. The tradition of teaching accompaniment at the academy dates back to 1957. The department’s faculty, including distinguished Lithuanian artists such as pianists Chaimas Potašinskas, Gražina Ručytė-Landsbergienė, and Erika Dineikaitė, have made significant contributions to the development of accompaniment performance in Lithuania. Established in 1987, the department was led for many years by Prof. Ramutė Vytė Vaitkevičiūtė. Since 2010, the head of the department has been Prof. Irena Uss-Armonienė.
The department offers a specialization in Piano Accompaniment within the Music Performance master’s and Artistic Doctorate study programmes.
Master’s Studies in Piano Accompaniment and Lied (2 years)
During the master’s program, students expand their repertoire in vocal, instrumental, and Lied genres. They develop skills in orchestral accompaniment performance and analysis, focusing on style, dramaturgy, and instrumentation. The programme deepens knowledge of Lied interpretation across different historical periods, integrating theoretical learning with practice. Additionally, students learn how to independently plan concert schedules and foster creative collaboration with stage partners.
Besides the core subject of Piano Accompaniment and Lied, the master’s curriculum includes a range of essential courses for professional répétiteurs:
- Piano
- Conducting
- Phonetics of foreign languages (French, German, English, and Russian)
- Sight-reading, transposition, and stylistic analysis
- Vocal and instrumental music interpretation seminars
In the fourth semester, master’s students defend their Artistic Master’s Project and Final Thesis.
Doctoral Studies
Doctoral students undertake artistic-research projects of the highest professional standards, supervised by leading LMTA and international music experts. A successfully defended doctoral project and earned Doctor of Arts degree qualifies graduates to teach at music academies across Europe.
Other courses conducted by the Department
- Bachelor’s studies in Music Performance, Piano specialisation:
- Piano Accompaniment (8 semesters)
- Sight-Reading (4 semesters)
These courses provide students with the foundational skills required for professional répétiteurs.
- Master’s studies in Music Performance, Piano specialisation:
- Piano Accompaniment and Lied (4 semesters)
This is an elective advanced course for piano students, mastering accompaniment and Lied performance skills acquired during bachelor’s studies. The course enhances répétiteur competencies, encourages concert practice, and fosters independent artistic initiative.
International Opportunities
Students of the Piano Accompaniment Department have the opportunity to gain international experience through Erasmus+ and Nordplus exchange programs at European conservatories. They can also attend masterclasses led by renowned guest professors specializing in Lied and piano accompaniment. The department actively participates in intensive projects (BIP) related to opera performance and opera coaching, collaborating with music academies in Italy, Finland, and Bulgaria. Since 2012, faculty and students have been regular participants in European Lied Forum projects in Berlin, Vienna, and Salzburg, and have contributed to organizing these academic initiatives.
Partnerships
The department collaborates with prestigious music institutions, including:
- Germany (Stuttgart, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Hanover, Berlin higher music schools)
- Austria (Vienna mdw)
- Finland (Sibelius Academy)
- Italy (National Conservatories of Milan, Turin, Florence)
- Poland (F. Chopin University of Music in Warsaw, Music academies in Kraków, Wrocław)
Competitions and Artistic Activities
Since 1995, the department has regularly organized LMTA répétiteur competitions, including those for Vytautas Landsbergis, Erika Dineikaitė Prizes, and Rūta Apeikytė Scholarships. Additionally, it hosts national répétiteur competitions for students from Lithuanian conservatories and music schools. In 2005, the department organized an international competition for vocalists and répétiteurs, attracting performers from six European countries and Japan. The department also hosts a biennial Sight-Reading Competition for student répétiteurs, which has gained widespread interest.
Faculty includes renowned artists and educators recognized both in Lithuania and abroad: 3 professors, 1 associate professor, 3 lecturers.
Career Opportunities
Graduates of the Piano Accompaniment Department receive top-level professional training, opening doors to diverse career paths in Lithuania and internationally. They actively participate in the concert scene, collaborating with soloists in prestigious concert halls worldwide, assisting performers in competitions, and working as répétiteurs in music education institutions, orchestras, theaters, and choirs. Those who obtain additional teaching qualifications work as accompaniment instructors at music schools, conservatories, and higher education institutions.
Many department graduates have achieved success in international répétiteur and Lied duo competitions. The department has also nurtured five doctoral graduates who now teach at LMTA.
Scholarships
- Merit-based scholarships (2 BSI*/month) for high-achieving students
- Adeodatas Tauragis Scholarship (2.5 BSI/month) for outstanding academic performance
- Senate Scholarship (3.1 BSI/month) for excellence in studies, creative, and scientific activities
- Lithuanian Research Council funds doctoral scholarships (19–22 BSI/month) and academic mobility
- One-time artistic and creative scholarships (up to 7 BSI per semester)
(BSI – Basic Social Insurance unit, subject to annual government adjustments)