CREATIVE ACTIVITY

The Mixed choir of Klaipėda “Aukuras” was established in 1993. Since 1996 Alfonsas Vildžiūnas has been the Art Director of the choir.

Via its extensive and diverse activities “Aukuras” breaks the stereotypes that the choir is a serious and boring thing. Spectacular performances, participation in various competitions and festivals, concert tours through Lithuania and abroad attract new people to join the choir, which has recently celebrated its 12 years anniversary. Due to its artistry and very democratic repertoire the choir has won big popularity in the public.

The choir is an active member of the music life in Klaipėda. It often performs together with Klaipėda Chamber orchestra, Klaipėda Brass Quintet, piano player Saulius Šiaučiulis and other collectives and soloists.

During twelve years of its existence “Aukuras” had performed more than 300 concerts in Lithuania and abroad and recorded two CD’s. The concerts were held in Italy (1994, 1995, 1999), Germany (1994, 1996, 1999, 2002), Switzerland (1995, 1997), Austria (1996, 2001), France (1996), Sweden (1998), Poland (1998), Great Britain (2002), Ireland (2002), Spain (2004). In 2000 "Aukuras" represented Lithuania’s choral art in the festival of Northern-Baltic countries in Norway. In 2001 the Choir had its performances in the USA and Canada. 

The repertoire of the collective includes the sacred and secular music of different times and styles, compositions of jazz, as well as arrangements of the spirituals of the black. Interpretations of the latter genre as well as specific performance manners were transferred to the choir by Ira Spaulding, a choir director from the USA. After having performed the spirituals in the church of the black in America, members of the choir have received very emotional burst of applause.

“Aukuras” maintains close creative relationship with Jonas Tamulionis, Nijolė Sinkevičiūtė, Algirdas Martinaitis, Remigijus Šileika and other Lithuanian composers.

“Aukuras” is a winner of thirteen international competitions. In 2000 the choir received “The Golden Bird” of Lithuanian Culture Center in the nomination of “A Star of International Brightness”.

Awards:

• 1994 International choir competition in Riva del Garda (Italy) – two golden diplomas and a prize for the performance of the national music.
• 1994 First prize in the category of the mixed choirs in the competition of the World Lithuanian Song Festival of (Vilnius).
• 1995 Montreux (Switzerland) – a special prize for performance of a compulsory piece.
• 1995 Klaipėda – the prize of the Big Amber in the international choir competition of St. Šimkus.
• 1996 Florilege vocal de Tours (France) – the first prize in the category of free programme.
• 1996 Vienna (Austria) – the second prize in F. Schubert choir competition.
• 1998 International choir competition Oskarshamn ’98 (Sweden) – the first prize in the category of the mixed choirs and second prize in the category of free programme; the prize of the best choir of the festival and the public prize.
• 1998 Vilnius – the first prize in the category of the mixed choirs in the competition of the World Lithuanian Song Festival.
• 1998 First prize in the International choir competition “Hora cantavi’98” (Poland).
• 1999 International C. A. Seghizzi choir competition (Gorizia, Italy) – two third premiums and the public prize.
• 1999 International choir competition in Trenčiansk Teplice (Slovak Republic) – the 2nd and the 3rd places.
• 2002 Vilnius. “Aukuras” – a winner of the Lithuanian choir competition.
• 2003 Mogiliov (Belarus) – Grand Prix in the International competition “Mahutny boža”.

Appreciations:

Ira Spaulding – choir director (conductor) from the USA:

“Aukuras” is such a good choir that it can perform pieces of all possible genres – from classical to popular music, pieces of J. S. Bach or Negro spirituals. It is so nice when within one programme the choir can reveal the variety of sounding and the spirit of music as well as demonstrate broad possibilities of the performers.”

Marija Gambor Helbekmo, David Vilkoks, Ward Swingle – members of the jury of the International choir competition “Oskarshamn’98” (Sweden):

“The choir distinguishes itself with the wonderful feature – the majority of the singers do not have special or developed voices, however, the general sound of the choir is stunning. The performance of the choir in the final has endorsed our opinion on the remarkable efforts of the choir and its director”.