VOX MARIS
Registration form to the competition: https://forms.gle/JzRLJxBfoNhH91oQ7
The International Festival of Women's Choirs and Vocal Ensembles "VOX MARIS" is an event organized every two years, initiated by the ŽVEJŲ RŪMAI culture center and the Women's Choir "Dangė" (artistic director – LMTA Klaipėda Faculty Associate Professor Judita Kiaulakytė). It is expected that "Vox Maris" will find an exclusive niche in the panorama of choral music events in the city and the country, will significantly contribute to the cultivation of choral art traditions, encourage vocal professionals or people who like to sing, academic youth to actively participate in artistic activities, and the creation of new vocal collectives.
The organization of the festival has been encouraged since 2014. International gatherings of women's choirs-concerts began to be held, in which girls' and women's choirs and vocal ensembles from Austria, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania participated. Joint concerts were held in various cities of these countries, joint programs were prepared, in which large-scale works were performed. Based on the experience and success of these gatherings, it was decided to organize the international festival-competition of women's choirs and vocal ensembles "Vox Maris".
In September 25-26, 2021 festival concerts took place in Palanga St. In the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and in the Concert Hall of the LMTA Klaipėda faculty, where the women's choir of the Vilnius Cultural Center "Liepos", the girls' choir of Vilnius University "Virgo" and the women's choir "Dangė" sang. A seminar was organized for leaders of women's choirs and vocal ensembles "Formation of choral vocals". Theoretical and practical classes were conducted by lecturers from Poland, the Russian Federation and Lithuania.
Concerts in Palanga and Klaipėda, October 25-26, 2021:
In November 27, 2021 the first competition of choirs and ensembles of the "Vox Maris" festival took place. Due to the pandemic, the competition had to be held virtually. After announcing the international selection, fifteen choir groups from Austria, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova and Ukraine were invited to participate in the competition program. Each team performed three pieces. The contestants' performances were evaluated by an authoritative international commission, which watched the festival-competition on a large video screen installed in the Klaipėda Community House.
The Winners of the "Vox Maris 2021" festival-competition: (>>>)
In October 22, 2022 a seminar for leaders of Lithuanian women's choirs and vocal ensembles was organized at the LMTA Klaipėda faculty. Three main themes have been chosen for his programme. The methodology and practice of working with a women's choir, an overview of new works by Lithuanian composers for women's choirs was presented by LMTA docent, president of the Lithuanian Choir Union, art director of Vilnius University choirs "Gaudeamus", "Pro Musica" and "Virgo" Rasa Gelgotienė. Composer Vilija Mažintaitė, artistic director of the Vilnius Women's Choir "Viva" spoke about her author's work for women's choirs.
Judita Kiaulakytė, artistic director of the "Dangė" women's choir of the Fishermen's Chamber, docent of the LMTA Klaipėda faculty, presented the program of the "Vox Maris 2023" festival. The seminar attracted a large group of choral music enthusiasts not only from the Klaipėda region, but also from Vilnius, Radviliškis, Varėna, Plungė, Žagarė, etc.
After the theoretical part of the seminar, creative workshops took place - practical sessions. With the support of the performers of the “Dangė” women's choir, the participants of the seminar learned new works and studied scores: "Four Views of Solomon" by Vytautas Miškinis, "Aqua Maris" by Giedrius Svilainis.
Organizer Klaipėdos miesto savivaldybės kultūros centras Žvejų rūmai
The festival is supported by the Lithuanian Culture Council and Klaipėda City Municipality
Partners – The Klaipėda Faculty of the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theater and the choir society "Aukuras"
