Vilnius Municipal Choir Jauna Muzika, led by conductor and composer Vaclovas Augustinas, is regarded as one of the most prominent and most capable vocal groups in Lithuania, winner of fifteen international choir competitions, holding over 30 concerts locally and internationally every year. During the time span of more than 30 years, Jauna Muzika has accumulated a diverse and valuable repertoire that includes scores from a cappella, vocal-instrumental music masterpieces to important premieres. The contemporary works of foreign and Lithuanian composers play an important role in Jauna Muzika’s choral programmes.
Thanks to its high professional excellence, the Choir has earned wide international recognition, toured Europe, China, Israel and Japan. The Choir collaborates with young artists, such as the band Merope, neo-classical composer Fume, performs with famous baton masters and world-famous ensembles, as well as initiates music interpretation and conducting courses, and choral music competition for young composers „Vox Juventutis“.
Jauna Muzika Choir was founded in 1989 by the conductor and composer Remigijus Merkelys and long-time director Algimantas Gurevičius. Since 1992 Jauna Muzika has been led by the conductor and composer Vaclovas Augustinas. In 1994 Jauna Muzika became the choir of Vilnius Municipality, and it is now under the supervision of Ingrida Alonderė, choir’s Director. The Choir won 16 international choir competitions.
Alongside a cappella works, the choir performs with Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra and Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra, as well as foreign orchestras, such as the Tel Aviv Symphony Orchestra, the Israel Camerata, the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, the Ludwigsburger Schloßfestspiele Orchestra, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, the Berlin Soloists, the Moscow Virtuosi, the St. Petersburg Camerata, the Novosibirsk Camerata and Novosibirsk Chamber Orchestra.
Jauna Muzika is a member of the International Federation of Choral Music. In 1999 in Rotterdam the choir represented Lithuanian choral art at the World Symposium on Choral Music, which takes place once every five years in different countries. In 2003 the choir received the Vilniaus garsas award for representing Lithuania and its capital Vilnius globally.
Besides concert activities, Jauna Muzika has originated several significant projects in Lithuania. Every year since 1995 the Choir has held masterclasses for the most promising young choir leaders on choir conducting and interpretation led by the world’s leading choir conductors. From 2008, Jauna Muzika organises a yearly choral music competition for young composers Vox Juventutis.
Choir’s artistic director, conductor, and composer Vaclovas Augustinas was awarded the Lithuanian National Culture and Art Prize for the development of choral excellence and the modernity of sacral music.
The choir has performed with many celebrities of the music world: cellist Mark Drobinsky, singers Robin Blaze, Eva Ben-Zvi, Benno Schollum, Adam Zdunikovski, Anatoli Safiulin, cantor Joseph Malovany. Famous Lithuanian singers include Virgilijus Noreika, Vladimiras Prudnikovas, Sigutė Stonytė, Judita Leitaitė, and Algirdas Janutas.
The Choir gladly collaborates with young artists creating alternative music: folk-ambient band Merope (2 joint album releases: SALOS and NAKTĖS), neo-classical music composer Fume – Maksimilianas Opriška (joint album release MASS).
Vilnius Municipal Choir Jauna Muzika, in cooperation with the Lithuanian National Cultural Centre, almost annually organises choral music conducting and interpretation masterclasses. It is one of the most important events not only for Jauna Muzika, but also for the entire Lithuanian choral art scene.
The Lithuanian Composers’ Union and the Choir Jauna Muzika annually invite high school students, music students, and doctoral candidates to participate in the Vox Juventutis competition for young composers writing choral music.
The discography of the Choir Jauna Muzika is a testament to its artistic development and importance, featuring numerous choral music recordings in digital and physical formats, both in collaboration with other collectives and as standalone projects by the choir. These include works by Lithuanian composers and pieces from global choral music tradition.
