BIOGRAPHY

About

In February 2024, Imantas Jonas Šimkus defended his doctoral thesis "Interpretaon of metro-rhythmic fable in the art of conducng". In addion to his basic studies, Imantas J. Šimkus studied humanitarian disciplines at Vilnius University (philosophy, ancient literature, Plato, philosophy of the new ages, I. Kant and St. Augustine). He also completed music pedagogy studies at LMTA, and in 2018 and 2020-2021 he studied at the Vienna University of Music and Performing Arts. By order of the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania no. ΚV-496, on April 29, 2020, Imantas J. Šimkus was granted the status of the creator of art.

Dr. Imantas J. Šimkus, a young, promising conductor who actively parcipates in cultural life. The conductor recorded a number of works by Lithuanian composers, prepared concert programs with the country's most famous ensembles: the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra, the Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra, the Kaunas City Symphony Orchestra, the Lithuanian Symphony Wind Orchestra, the Vilnius City St. Christopher's Chamber Orchestra, Klaipėda Chamber Orchestra, VDU Chamber Orchestra. He also performed with foreign ensembles: Czech Bohuslav Martinu Philharmonic Orchestra, Austrian Graz Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra, German Hamburg Camerata Orchestra.

At the invitation of the MAV Symphony Orchestra of Budapest, he recorded a CD of Italian opera arias on the Hungarian national radio, and in 2023, together with the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra, he recorded the final diploma composion works of LMTA composion specialty doctoral and master’s students. A significant part of the concert programs prepared by the conductor were broadcast by the Lithuanian National Radio, and the program dedicated to the composer S. Gubaidulina’s 90th birthday, performed in 2021 together with the Klaipėda Chamber Orchestra, was also broadcast by the BBC and the French National Radio.

Imantas J. Šimkus has been invited to conduct at the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theater since 2017 (he assisted in the producon of operas by G. Donizetti, G. Verdi, R. Šerkšnytė, G. Sodeikas and conducted more than 30 educaonal performances for children). Also invited to connue working during the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 LNOBT seasons.

Since 2014, Imantas J. Šimkus has been publishing review arcles (Muzikos barai) as well as scientific publications (Muzikos barai, Ars et praxis). For the artistic and scientific results of his studies, Imantas Jonas Šimkus was awarded a scholarship of the Lithuanian Science Council in 2020 and 2023. Meanwhile, the conductor’s artistic acvity is very often supported by the Lithuanian Council of Culture (winning projects, scholarships).

Imantas J. Šimkus acvely parcipates in public activities, from 2015 to 2022 he was the chairman of the LMTA SA council, a member of the LMTA senate, worked in the science and art commissions of the Academy Senate. 2021 – 2023 I. J. Šimkus held the position of President of LMTA SA, member of LMTA council and member of LMTA admission and certification commission. From 2020 I. J. Šimkus is also a member of the Lithuanian Musicians’ Union. The conductor is actively invited to work in higher educaon study quality evaluation committees. Dr. I. J. Šimkus is also an expert in the evaluation of contests for cultural support programs of LKT and Vilnius City Municipality.

OPERA-POEM „THRUSH – GREEN BIRD”page1image51276736

On October 27, 2023 (premieres on October 27, 29 and January 19, 21), Panevėžys Music Theater staged a full live performance of B. Kutavičius’s opera-poem „Thrush – green bird” for the first time in the history of Lithuania. At the invitaon of the theater manager K. Nekrošiūtė, I. J. Šimkus was appointed the music director and conductor of the production (the theater director of the producon is Jonas Vaitkus). I. J. Šimkaus together with the composer L. Butkus rewrite and adapt the entire manuscript of B. Kutavičius for live performance. The premiere was recorded by Lithuanian television. The show continues to run in the 2024 – 2025 theater season.

Imantas Jonas Marijus Šimkus is also known as a choir conductor. Since 2015,

Imantas J. Šimkus is also a choir conductor. In 2018 he was invited to conduct the choir during the state visit of Pope Francis to Lithuania, in 2017 – during the beaficaon of Blessed Jurgis Matulionis and the visit of the Chancellor of the Vacan State. Imantas J. Šimkus together with Vilnius sacred music choir Adoramus performed in France, Austria, Poland, Germany, and Lithuania. In 2019 choir Adoramus released the CD „Benedicta Tu”, in which one Imantas J. Šimkus makes his debut as a composer of choir music. 2019-2020 During the Adoramus concert seasons, the composions „Beatudines”, „Mass in C sharp minor”, „Praise the Lord!”, „Give me Yourself, my God” was premiered. The author’s composion „Der Weg” was performed by the Vilnius City Municipality Choir Jauna muzika, and in June 2021 I.J. Šimkus won the third prize in the young composers’ compeon organized by the Šiauliai State Choir Polifonija (composion for the choir „Exegi”). At the invitaon of the theater director I. Jackevičiūtė, I. J. Šimkus created the music for the Panevėžys drama theater Menas producon „Namai”. The show was a great success and connues to be part of the theater’s annual repertoire. Currently, Imantas Jonas Šimkas has received a state scholarship to create a cantata in honor of St. Ignaus of Loyola.

As a choir conductor, I. J. Šimkus also prepared concert programs with the Riga Chamber Choir Ave Sol, Vilnius City Municipality Choir Jauna Muzika, Šiauliai State Choir Polifonija, Panevėžys Musical Theater Choir.

COMPOSITIONS COMPETITION OF LITHUANIAN LITURGICAL MUSIC

In 2020, together with the Vilnius sacred music choir Adoramus Imantas Jonas Šimkus, in order to renew the culture of Lithuanian naonal liturgical music, iniated the First Lithuanian Liturgical Music Composions Compeon. The project aracted a lot of interest from the public and was very successful. A collecon of sheets of music and recordings of composions of the winners of the I Lithuanian Liturgical Music Composions Compeon was published, and the compeon winners were awarded with prizes. In 2023, aer receiving funding from the Lithuanian Culture Council, the Vilnius Archdiocese and the S. Karosas Charity and Support Fund, the Second Lithuanian Liturgical Music Composion Compeon was organized. The concert of the laureates composions was recorded by LRT radio, selected composions was published and the works of the winners of the second compeon was professionally recorded. Further disseminaon of the project is planned by organizing the III Lithuanian liturgical music composion compeon in 2025.

RECONSTRUCTING M. K. ČIURLIONIS

I. J. Šimkus, together with the Vilnius Sacred Music Choir Adoramus, Vilnius Momentum Choir and the pianist R. Zubovas, in 2023, in commemoraon of the 700th anniversary of Vilnius, reconstructed the M. K. Čiurlionis concert of the establishment of the Union of Lithuanian Art Society in 1908. M.K. Čiurlionis lived in Vilnius only for nine months. During that me, he organized only two concerts of his choir. One of them featured the premiere of the cantata „De profundis” and harmonized Lithuanian folk songs. It was possible to reconstruct the concert that was played at 1908 – it was found out where and when it was held, what works were played. The reconstructed concert took place at Vilnius Vaidila Theater, and the musicologist dr. Charis Ehimiou prepared specially for this concert the crical edions of the canta „De profundis” and Lithuanian folk songs harmonized by M. K. Čiurlionis.

In 2024, aer receiving funding from the Lithuanian Council of Culture, the program will be carried out in Kaunas, Druskininkai and Plungė. Also the entire program will be recorded in Vilnius in October 2024 at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theater. The program is also included in the 2025 internaonal Resurrexit fesval.

Also I. J. Šimkus on the 2nd of February 2024, at the Lithuanian National Philharmonic, together with the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra, for the first time in Lithuania performed the critical edition of M. K. Čiurlionis Miške.

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