This year we celebrate the 120th anniversary of the birth of the outstanding Lithuanian composer and pianist Vytautas Bacevičius (1905–1970). The creator, closely associated with the city of Kaunas, is one of the most prominent Lithuanian modernists of the 20th century, whose music is filled with a philosophical worldview and cosmological ideas. As the most prominent promoter of V. Bacevičius’s music, pianist Gabrielius Alekna, states, “Bacevičius was the first performer of Lithuanian instrumental music to gain international recognition. Now he is considered the most important figure in Lithuanian music of the mid-20th century. His music is still an untapped asset of Lithuania. It is very important to connect Bacevičius’s times with the present, to give meaning to and spread this Lithuanian asset with concrete works.”

As if responding to these thoughts, the Public Institution “Akantas” organized an international composers’ competition in 2024, and this year it is organizing an international pianists’ competition. The competition is dedicated to V. Bacevičius and contemporary music in general, and includes works created over the past hundred years. The international competition jury consists of well-known music professionals: Gabrielius Alekna (chairman of the jury, USA-Lithuania), Angelina Gadeliya (USA – Ukraine), Laura Mikkola (France – Finland), Lina Navickaitė-Martinelli (Lithuania), Cezary Sanecki (Poland).

In the first round of the competition, the participants virtually presented virtuoso and freely selected works to the jury members. The second round of the competition will take place on September 11 at the Kaunas Juozas Gruodis Conservatory. In it, the participants of the competition will interpret the music of V. Bacevičius, perform works by composers of their represented country, freely selected works, and compositions by the laureates of the 2024 V. Bacevičius Composers’ Competition. World premieres by composers from the United Kingdom, Singapore, and Mongolia – China will be performed.

Round III – a concert with an orchestra and the awarding of the laureates – will take place on September 14 at 5 p.m. at the Kaunas State Philharmonic. The finalists will perform with the Kaunas City Symphony Orchestra (chief conductor Constantine Orbelian), accompanied on stage by maestro Martynas Staškus. The participants chose concerts by Maurice Ravel, George Gershwin, Grażyna Bacewicz and Tomas Kutavičius for the third round. We hope that thanks to the selected participants of the third round, we will have the opportunity to hear a special piano music fiesta, accompanied by the “Steinwey” instrument, which is called the king of pianos. It can be said that on September 14, we will be only a few steps away from the birthday of the composer and pianist V. Bacevičius (September 9), which we will all celebrate together not only with the final chords of the competition, but also with a colorful, virtuoso and youthful program.

The Vytautas Bacevičius International Competition is financed by: Lithuanian Council for Culture, Kaunas City Municipality
Sponsors: Charity and Support Foundation “Kazikų Family Foundation”, Polish Institute in Vilnius, Piano Salon “Organum”
Main partners: Kaunas State Philharmonic, Kaunas Juozas Gruodis Conservatory, Kaunas City Museum

Organizer:
Public Organization “Akantas”