Choras Vilnius

VILNIUS is a professional choir characterised by the highest standards of performance, versatility and educational activities. Particularly responsive to current trends in art, the Choir can equally take pride in mastering best of the choral music from previous eras. A potent advocate for Lithuanian music, VILNIUS Choir annually presents several new works by Lithuanian composers, the most notable of which reach recording studios. The group has released 15 CD recordings while 300 recordings of choral works performed by VILNIUS are stored in the Lithuanian National Radio and Television sound archives.

A combination of creativity and professionalism, the ability to get through to diverse audiences and involvement in offbeat events and projects are among the Choir’s hallmarks, which have forged VILNIUS a reputation as one of Lithuania’s leading choral groups.

Artistic maturity and excellence in performance has long been the top priority of the Choir’s leaders. Its current leader, a famous Lithuanian choir conductor and educator Artūras Dambrauskas, has set the Choir on a new creative trajectory towards innovative, versatile and modern artistic activity.

VILNIUS’ endeavour to propagate the choral art consists in intense concert activity and unique programmes tailored to a diverse range of audiences. The Choir performs not only in the concert halls of major cities, but also in the most remote towns of the country. Interactive and engaging programmes are specially designed for kids to raise the audience of the future.

VILNIUS State Choir has been the organiser of the yearly International St. James Sacred Music Festival since its inception in 2011. Illuminating every autumn with the sound of sacred music, the Festival has become an indispensible part of the capital’s cultural life.

Artūras Dambrauskas

Principal conductor

A renowned Lithuanian choir conductor and educator Artūras Dambrauskas (b. 1961), an alumnus of National M. K. Čiurlionis School of Art, studied conducting at the N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov Saint Petersburg State Conservatory in 1980–85 and completed studies at a postgraduate level at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre in 1990–92.

Artūras Dambrauskas’ intense and multifaceted professional career began in 1986, when he joined the School Choir Conducting Department of the Lithuanian State Conservatory Klaipėda Campus. A faculty member there until 1998, he was also the leader of a mixed choir studio from 1989 till 1992. During his Klaipėda period, Dambrauskas was the Choirmaster/Concertmaster of GINTARĖLIS Boys’ and Youth Choir in 1992–95, Choirmaster of GILIJA Mixed Choir of Klaipėda Teachers’ House in 1990–93 and Artistic Director and Conductor of JUVENTUS Mixed Choir in 1993–96.

Having played an important part in Lithuania’s musical life as a conductor of various choirs, in 1998 Artūras Dambrauskas joined the faculty of Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre Kaunas Campus. Between 2005 and 2010, he worked at the LIEPAITĖS Choral Singing School as the conductor of the junior choir. Since 2009, Dambrauskas has held the position of Associate Professor and Head of the Music Theory and Practice Department at Vytautas Magnus University (VMU) Music Academy where he teaches conducting and other choral disciplines. Dambrauskas has conducted at the Song Festival and other music festivals in Lithuania, has worked as a member of Jury at different international and national competitions and currently holds the position of the Artistic Director of the International St. James Sacred Music Festival.

Since he took over the leadership of the Choir in 2015, Artūras Dambrauskas has introduced fresh changes in the creative strategy of the group. By combining art music and easy listening music in the repertoire, he further reinforces the multifaceted profile of the Choir.

In 2018, Artūras Dambrauskas was bestowed with Lithuania’s Cross of Knight for distinguished merits in culture.

Auftritte in der Spielzeit 2023/2024:

Fotos:
Chor · Justinas Auškelis
Artūras Dambrauskas · N.N.

Quelle: en.chorasvilnius.lt/about-us und en.chorasvilnius.lt/about-us/conductors