CONCERT PROGRAMME
The program will feature music by M. K. Čiurlionis, F. Poulenc, C. Saint-Saëns, E. Séjourné, and other composers, as well as an oratorio specially composed by Laimis Vilkončius to mark the school’s anniversary.
This year, the National Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis School of Arts celebrates its prestigious 80th anniversary. Over the decades, the school’s classrooms and halls have been the birthplace of ideas that have shaped — and continue to shape — Lithuanian culture. Hundreds of artists have begun their creative journeys here. This year also marks the 60th anniversary of the school being named after M. K. Čiurlionis — a name that continues to inspire each member of the community to develop their talent with passion. The students are affectionately known as Čiurlioniukai — those marked and inspired by Lithuania’s genius, whose 150th birth anniversary coincides with the jubilee of the school bearing his name. The Čiurlioniukai have more than enough reason to celebrate — and for these young artists, there is no better way to do so than on stage, delighting audiences with their vibrant talent.
The school was founded as a music education institution, so it is no surprise that today its Music Department is the largest. It is home to 140 teachers who purposefully train future music professionals, many of whom go on to perform on prestigious stages around the world.
A key part of the school is its symphony orchestra, established in 2002. It is led by artistic director and conductor Maestro Martynas Staškus, with Juozas Mantas Jauniškis serving as associate conductor. The orchestra not only performs a complex repertoire but also actively gives concerts and promotes the school’s name throughout Lithuania. It regularly takes part in major national cultural events, such as the Dainų dainelė finals, performances at the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre, and the National Student Song Celebrations. Each year, the orchestra delights audiences with its New Year’s concerts titled Musical Fireworks, and gathers for creative camps at the Arts Education Center in Palanga during the summer. A beloved tradition is the school year's opening concert, Called by the Arts: A New Beginning, held in the school courtyard and broadcast live by LRT. Through the orchestra, students develop not only musicality, but also a sense of responsibility, cohesion, and collective spirit.
Equally significant is the school’s choir, established in 1948. It is currently led by artistic director Romualdas Gražinis, with Gitana Trimirkaitė as choirmaster. R. Gražinis’s long-standing experience and deep musical insight have shaped the choir’s distinctive sound, recognized both in Lithuania and abroad. This year, assistant conductor Jaunius Šakalys joined the choir’s team.
The anniversary concert will feature performances by the National M. K. Čiurlionis School of Arts Symphony Orchestra (cond. Martynas Staškus), the 6th–12th grade choir (cond. Romualdas Gražinis), the 3rd–5th grade choir (cond. Saulė Kriščiūnaitė), the 5th–7th grade violin ensemble (led by Artūras Šilalė), and soloists. The chamber choir Aidija (cond. Romualdas Gražinis) will also perform. The program includes works by M. K. Čiurlionis, F. Poulenc, C. Saint-Saëns, E. Séjourné, and others, as well as the oratorio by Laimis Vilkončius, composed especially for the school’s jubilee.