Biography

The choir LANGAS was founded in 1990 by the conductor Rita Kraucevièiûtë. Until 1995 the choir belonged to various artistic organizations, such as the Contemporary Art Centre, the art gallery "Langas" and the Lithuanian Painters' Union.

In 1995, the choir LANGAS was invited to rehearse into a newly consecrated church of St. Francis and St. Bernardine (Bernardine). Thus, there appeared an opportunity to form a school of singing and to train children from the age of five. At present, LANGAS is also a part of St.Bernardine school of singing. At this school, much attention is paid to the development of vocal singing. Every singer has a possibility to train his or her vocal skills individually and to take part in closed vocal concerts.

The choir LANGAS sings during Sunday Mass as well as participates in all religious festivals. Also, it gives concerts in Lithuania and abroad. LANGAS has been to Germany, has given three concerts in France and has participated in international choir festivals in Sweden, Italy, Spain and Slovakia. In 1998, the choir LANGAS participated in a prestigious Vilnius Festival; in 1999, the choir LANGAS was invited to take part in the Sixteenth International Organ Festival in Leon, Spain to perform the programme of the works of Algirdas Martinaitis, a Lithuanian contemporary composer.

In 2002, autumn, the choir LANGAS participated in the international festival of sacred music "YOUNGNAK International Sacred Choir Festival" that took place in Seoul, South Korea.
On November 24, 2002, together with the orchestra of Lithuanian Music Academy, St. Bernardine church children choir and the choirs of Vilnius University LANGAS performed J. Rutter’s “Gloria” at the “Parade of Musicians” (Vilnius Philharmonic).

In 2003, autumn, the choir LANGAS took part in the international choir festival in Buenos Aires (Argentina), where it gave 10 concerts, performed in the world famous TEATRO COLON, TEATRO GRAND REX and various churches. After the festival in Buenos Aires, the choir performed successfully in other towns – Tandil and Mar del Plata.

The repertoire of the choir LANGAS is comprised of music compositions of the Renaissance epoch as well as classical ones or Romantic choir music as well as music by modern composers.


Awards:

• II place in the International Choir Festival, in Malta (1998)
• II place and a special "Montreux Casino" prize for the best performance of the obligatory music composition in the International Choir Competition, in Montreux, Switzerland (2001)
• II place at the Lithuanian Choir Competition, in Vilnius (2001)
• Bronze medal (in the category of contemporary music) at the International Choir Olympics “Choir Olympics” in Pusan, South Korea (2002)


The choir LANGAS has recorded a tape and two compact discs: