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30.3.2010 An international competition to close Stasys Vainiūnas’ Centenary Celebrations
On April 1st and 2nd, the National Philharmonic Hall will celebrate the anniversary of pianist and composer Stasys Vainiūnas with the final events of the 6th International Stasys Vainiūnas Piano and Chamber Ensemble Competition. April 2nd is the actual birthday of this prominent Lithuanian post-war music figure and the closing concert of the competition at the National Philharmonic Hall will serve as a nice highlight of commemoration.
The 6th International Stasys Vainiūnas Piano and Chamber Ensemble Competition is to take place in Vilnius, between March 28th and April 2nd. The competition is organised in association with the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania, the Culture Support Foundation, public organisation International M.K. Čiurlionis Piano and Organ Competition , Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre and the Lithuanian National Philharmonic Society. The concerts will take place at the National Philharmonic Hall and the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre (LAMT).
The opening of the piano competition (March 28th, 6 pm), its 1st round (March 29th, 10 am–2 pm and 4 pm–8 pm) and the 2nd round (March 30th, 2 pm–8 pm) will take place at the Great Hall of the LAMT, while the opening of the chamber ensemble competition (March 29th, 6 pm) and the selection round (March 31st, 2 pm–9 pm) will take place at the concert hall of the LAMT 2nd Building (Congress Palace). The closing events will take place at the National Philharmonic Hall. On April 1st, 7 pm, the finalists of the piano competition will perform here accompanied by the Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra under Juozas Domarkas and on April 2nd, 11 am–5 pm the stage will be taken over by the contestants of the final round of the chamber ensemble competition. On April 2nd, the closing of the competition will take place at the National Philharmonic Hall: the awarding ceremony is scheduled at 6.30 pm and a concert with the Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra under Juozas Domarkas will start at 7 pm. Entry is free to all events except for the closing evening at the National Philharmonic Hall on April 2nd at 6.30 pm.
74 performers have registered to take part in this year’s competition. 18 performers plan to take part in the piano competition and the chamber ensemble competition will include the appearances of 9 duets, 8 piano trios and 3 piano quintets. Participants to the international competition will come from a number of countries, including Austria, Belarus, Denmark, Japan, Latvia, Poland, Russia, Taiwan and Ukraine. Lithuania will be represented by 34 performers.
The appearances of the contestants will be assessed by an international jury: professors Erik T. Tawaststjerna (Chairman, Finland), Petras Geniušas, Yury Gildiuk (Belarus), Zbignevas Ibelhauptas, Juris Kalnciems (Latvija) and Birutė Vainiūnaitė will be the members of the jury for the piano competition, while the ensemble competition will be assessed by professors Avo Kouyoumdjian (Chairman of the jury, Austria), Dalia Balsytė, Alexander Bonduriansky (Russia), Petras Kunca, Gunta Sproge (Latvia) and Audronė Vainiūnaitė.
About the Competition
The origins of the Stasys Vainiūnas Competition date back to the Soviet republics’ competitions for young performers, held biannually in Vilnius since 1965, with the Piano Department of the Lithuanian State Conservatory being the principal organiser.
Stasys Vainiūnas (1909–1982), a celebrated Lithuanian composer, a wonderful concert pianist and a piano pedagogue, was among the initiators of these competitions. He was the first Lithuanian to become a laureate of the international competition: in 1933 he won the eighth place (out of 252 pianists) at the competition in Vienna and earned an honorary diploma and the right to be called a laureate. Seeking to commemorate his name and to popularise the legacy of his works, the republic of Lithuania has named the competition for young pianists after him. The first national Stasys Vainiūnas competition for pianists from secondary and higher art schools took place in 1989; the second national competition for young performers took place in 1991.
In 1993, the competition became international and its organisation was taken over by the Ministry of Culture and Education of the Republic of Lithuania; since 1996 it has been organised by the Ministry of Culture.
In 2006, the competition became open to pianists and chamber ensembles.
SCHEDULE OF THE COMPETITION
Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, 42 Gedimino pr.
28 March, 6 pm. Opening ceremony and draw of piano competition
29 March, 10 am–2 pm and 4 pm–8 pm. 1st round audition
30 March, 4 pm–8 pm. 2nd round audition
Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, 2nd Building (Congress Palace), 16 Tilto g.
29 March, 6 pm. Opening ceremony and draw of chamber ensemble competition
30, 31 March, 2 pm–9 pm. Selection round audition (1st round)
Lithuanian National Philharmonic Hall, 5 Aušros Vartų g.
1 April, 7 pm. Final round audition of piano competition. With the participation of the Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra, conductor Juozas Domarkas
2 April, 11 am–5 pm. 2nd round of chamber ensemble competition (Final round)
*2 April, 6.30pm. Closing of the 6th International Stasys Vainiūnas Piano and Chamber Ensemble Competition. Awarding ceremony (at 6.30 pm) and the Winners’ Gala Concert (at 7 pm), with the participation of the Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra, conductor Juozas Domarkas
*Ticket prices to the closing event and the Gala concert at the National Philharmonic Hall: Lt5, Lt10, Lt20
Admission to all other events is free.
More information on the competition is available at www.muzikon.lt/vainiunas.
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