Vilnius Sacred Music
Choir ADORAMUS

Vilnius Sacred Music Choir ADORAMUS was formed in September of 2015 at the monastery of The Community of St. John by conductor Imantas Šimkus. “Adoramus” unites more than 40 people who devote a large part of their heart to performing liturgical and sacral music. Currently, the choir members sing in the evening Mass, performed in the Church of St. Johns’ which is a part of Vilnius University ensemble. The main purpose of the choir “Adoramus” reflects its name – to glorify God and spread the love of one’s neighbour through music. To achieve this purpose and to improve performance skills, the choir not only sings during the Mass and Church solemnities, but also organises masterclasses, trips, and prepares concert programmes. Among the most important events are beatification of the BL Teofilijus Matulionis (2017), concert during Pope Francis’ apostolic visit to Lithuania (2018), tour in France and Austria (2019), a concert programme “Lumen” in memory of the victims of the global pandemic (2020). In 2019 the choir also made the records and released a CD “Benedicta Tu”. The “Adoramus” choir contributes to the implementation of various initiatives, collaborates with other choirs in Lithuania: on January 13, 2020, the choir “Adoramus” performed together with the Vilnius City Municipality Choir “Jauna Muzika” to commemorate the Freedom Defenders’ Day (live streamed on national television channel LRT), “Adoramus” participated in the final examination of the conducting course for organists (National Organists’ Association, 2021), closed the 14th festival of sacred music with a concert dedicated to the memory of organist Albinas Jasenauskas (2021). On September 1, the evening concert of the choir “Adoramus” ended the celebration of the beginning of the study year in Vilnius University “RENOVATIO STUDIORUM” (2021).

In order to expand the repertoire of liturgical music in Lithuanian, “Adoramus” organised a Competition of Lithuanian Liturgical Music Compositions (2020). Compositions of the finalists – five Mass cycles for mixed choir a cappella – have been published in the volume of the competition’s music score. Compositions printed in it are verified as valid pieces to be played during the liturgy (Nihil obstat, Fr. Kęstutis Palikša; Imprimatur Abp. Gintaras Grušas). In the autumn of 2021, there were few concerts held, introducing the audience with the compositions of the finalists, they were also performed at the opening concert of the festival “Betliejaus žvaigždė” in Vilnius, at St. Casimir’s Church.

Artistic directors and conductors of Vilnius sacred music choir Adoramus: Imantas Jonas Šimkus and Mantvydas Drūlia, second conductor Kęstutis Daugirdas, choirmaster Agnieška Savel.