September is an ISNPIRed month at Kaunas University of Technology (KTU). All 6 creative societies of KTU are inviting new members to join. Come to the open rehearsals, get to know the creative part of the KTU community and join! The KTU Jaunystė Academic Choir’s open rehearsal is this Wednesday and Thursday, September 25 and 26.
This year was a year of many awards for Danguolė Beinarytė, the artistic director of the KTU Academic Choir Jaunystė. She was awarded the Honorary Medal of the Ministry of Culture and a State Award from the President of the Republic of Lithuania. This year is also the 30th year of Beinarytė’s leadership of the Jaunystė choir.
“I am blessed to have met so many wonderful people in my 30 years, people full of youthful enthusiasm. I am glad that they find themselves singing, communicating, creating families and finding friends on their musical academic choir.
Music is a way of life, not a profession
Beinarytė was born into a family of musicians, so her musical journey began early in childhood. Her father, organist, choirmaster and composer Pranciškus Beinaris, and her mother, singer Danguolė Bereckaitė-Beinarienė, lead led her to the world of music.
She continued her studies in choral music and conducting at the Lithuanian Academy of Music, Kaunas Faculty of Music, under the tutelage of Associate Professor Romaldas Misiukevičius, who was at that time the director of the KTU Jaunystė Academic Choir.
“In the autumn of 1994, I took over from him the responsible job of passing on to the younger generation all that the Academy’s teachers and family had taught me. I would say that it all started with strong and deep family traditions, which grew into the work of a choirmaster,” says KTU Jaunystė’s leader of 30 years.
At that time, the artistic director of the Jaunystė Choir was inspired by many factors, but the most important one was her great love for music and her desire to preserve and pass on cultural heritage. She is convinced that music is not a profession, but a way of life that connects people, creates a special bond and allows conveying emotions that would otherwise remain unexpressed.
“This passion, instilled since childhood, has been strong throughout my life. The sense of community that music creates and the opportunity to contribute to the preservation of a nation’s cultural identity are among the most important sources of inspiration,” she emphasises.
The award is a great responsibility
Beinarytė believes that this year’s awards for services to Lithuanian art and culture are a reflection of the hard work, effort and dedication of her peers and the KTU Jaunystė Academic Choir.
After learning about the many awards Beinarytė first thinks about responsibility – how important it is to give yourself to others, so that they believe in you, trust you and go along with you in the implementation of ideas.
“Over the years, the approach has changed, or rather evolved, to maintain a high artistic standard and to adapt the choir’s activities to changing cultural and academic requirements. Of course, technological advances in the field of music, which dictate new artistic challenges, have also had a significant impact,” says Beinarytė.
For the artistic director of the Jaunystė Academic Choir, the most important thing is that the music, with its deep meaning, conveys strong emotions and encourages the choir members and the audience to think, feel and experience the power of music.
Choral society is not only about music but also about friendships
For the choir leader, the greatest pleasure of working with the KTU Jaunystė Academic Choir is the musical creation, interpretation, and development of the choir members and the success of festivals. It is also fun to interact with the choir members and to reach other people through music.
“All of these elements add to the enjoyment and passion of the music. The best emotions come when, after long rehearsals, everyone’s voices sound in harmony. Such moments reveal the perseverance and dedication of the whole team to the music,” says Beinarytė.
On the other hand, the choir’s activities are not only about musical development. By joining the choir community, choristers learn to work as a team, where every voice and effort contributes to the overall result.
According to Beinarytė, success in music is not a quick process, it requires constant work, patience and dedication. A conductor must understand her musicians and build a strong relationship with them.
“Understanding how each member feels and what helps them to play their part better can make a big difference to the team’s performance. I wish my colleagues in this craft to have confidence in themselves, to believe in their abilities and vision,” she adds.
The KTU Jaunystė Academic Choir is not only about rehearsals and concerts but also about wonderful friendships. Beinarytė says that some of the choir members also find here their life partners. Also, one must not forget the unforgettable impressions and the opportunity to get in touch with inspiring music.
Join KTU Jaunystė Academic Choir in their open rehearsals on 25 and 26 September in the room 503 of the KTU III, Laisvės al. 13, Kaunas.
