Vytautas Miskinis

Vytautas Miskinis (born in 1954) is the Artistic Director of the Azuoliukas Boys’ and Men Choir, Professor of Choral conducting at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and President of the Lithuanian Choral Union. Graduated as Choral Conductor from Lithuanian Academy of Music in 1976 (conducting class of Prof.H.Perelsteinas).

He began his career in Azuoliukas at the age of seven as a vocalist, and continued as Artistic Director from the age of 25. All the achievements of the choir from 1979 have been due to Mr.Miskinis’ leadership.

For several years he conducted the Kaunas State Choir and Vocal Ensemble Museum Musicum. With the choirs he has won prestigious prizes at numerous National and International competitions – in Marktoberdorf, Gorizia, Varna, Maribor, Tampere, Mainhausen, Nantes. Currently Mr.Miskinis is an Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of the All-Lithuanian Choir Festival.

Vytautas Miskinis has led the choral performances in Austria, Byelorussia, Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Latvia, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the Ukraine and USA. A number of compositions for choir with Symphony Orchestras have been conducted by Vytautas Miskinis.

He also lectured and held seminars on subject of Musical education and conducting in Lithuania and abroad – in the Czech, Korea, Latvia, Russia, Slovenia, Spain , Ukraine,Estonia and etc. He has participated in numerous National and International choral events as composer and advisor. He also has led workshops on Europa Cantat XII in Herning, Denmark and Europa Cantat XIV in Nevers, France, Europa Cantat XV in Barcelona, Spain; Choralies XVI in Vaison la Romaine, France; in Segovia, Tolosa, Hondarribia,San-Sebastjan,Spain; in Ljubljana, Slovenia; Harelbecke, the Netherlands; Yakutsk, Republic Sakha, Russia etc. Mr.Miskinis worked as a member of Jury at International Choir and Choral Composition Competitions in Tolosa, Spain; Marktoberdorf and Bochum, Germany; Neerpelt, Kortrijk,Aalst, Belgium; Maribor,Ljubljana, Slovenia; Tallinn and Tartu, Estonia; Riga, Latvia; Budapest and Debrecen, Hungary; Arezzo, Italy; Choir Olympic Linz 2000, Austria; Choir Olympic Busan 2002 Korea; Choir Olympic Bremen 2004 Germany; Suwalki, Poland,World Choir Games Xiamen 2006,China;World Choir Games Graz,Austria 2008;Bergen,Norway; Pau,Tours,France; Neushatel, Switzerland;World Choral Symposium Copenhagen 2008,Denmark; etc.

Vytautas Miskinis has composed aprox. 300 religious motets a cappella and with Organ, 15 Masses, Magnificat ,Cantatas,2 Musicals with Orchestras and more than 350 of secular songs , which are performed by choirs throughout Lithuania and the rest of Europe. A lot of Lithuanian and foreign choirs recorded his compositions to CD. The compositions for the choirs are published in Lithuania and a number of sacred also in France, Germany, Slovenia, Italy, Spain, Japan and USA