About Me
Vytautas Kiminius is an opera and symphony orchestra conductor, one of the most prominent birbynė player in Lithuania.
From 2022 conductor of Alytus Youth Symphony Orchestra “Svajonė”.
In 2018 Graduated performance art in the class of the oboist professor Robertas Beinaris, in Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre. Also graduated in the class of the oboist Alessandro Baccini in Conservatiorio di Verona Evaristo Felice Dall‘abaco, in Italy.
In 2016, Vytautas graduated as Master of Opera and Symphony Orchestra Conducting in the class of professor Juozas Domarkas.
Vytautas Kiminius graduated from Bachelor of Birbyne Performance Art in Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre in 2014, in the class of assist. Kęstutis Lipeika. During his study years, Vytautas won Grand Prix in the international performers’ contest “Renaissance” in Armenia; is a three-time laureate of Jonas Švedas performers’ contest and has won the first place in the contest of the international association “Menas ir švietimas XXI amžiuje”.
In 2013 was awarded by the President of the Republic of Lithuania with a diploma for international appraisal.
In the same year, he received a diploma from the Minister of Education of Lithuania for creative ideas and their implementation in organization of Lithuanian song festival “You Are One for Us” (Tu mums viena), and for fostering cultural values while working with Lithuanian youth.
His musical path has started in Šilutė Art School, in the birbyne class of Vytautas Vaičionis. In 2010 he finished Stasys Šimkus Conservatory in Klaipėda, in the class of Vytautas Zelenis.
Vytautas participated in the project “Traveling Youth Orchestra” (participants from Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, France), where he performed as part of the orchestra and as a soloist throughout Europe.
As a conductor and soloist, he has performed with the Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra, Klaipėda Chamber Orchestra. St. Christopher's Chamber Orchestra, National Philharmonic Ensemble "Musica Humana", Glasperlenspiel Festival Chamber Orchestra, Estonian Kammerorkester Me105 Chamber Orchestra, Dutch Youth Symphony Orchestra. "Art vio" String Quartet, Kaunas String Quartet, Čiurlionis String Quartet, Lithuanian Opera and Ballet Theater "Archi String Quartet", song and dance ensemble "Lietuva" Orchestra.
As a conductor, he has appeared with such soloists - David Geringas (cello, Lithuania-Germany), Robertas Beinaris (oboe), Olev Ainomäe (oboe, Estonia), The American virtuoso - The Borowsky family. Emmanuel Borowsky (violin), Elizabth Borowsky (piano), Frances Borowsky (cello), Anna-Liisa Eller (cannelles, Estonia).
As a soloist of the birbyne, he played with conductors - Adrija Čepaitė, Martynas Staškus, Modestas Pitrėnas, Modestas Barkauskas, Tomas Ambrazas, Adres Mustoneni, Carl Wittrock (Netherlands), Mauricio Arancibia (France).
in 2016 was the conductor of the Lithuanian schoolchildren's song festival "Ensemble Evening".
Soloist in 2015 presented the Lithuanian national instrument Birbynė for the whole world. In the project "The sound of Europe" during the live broadcast in "Deustche Welle" channel. During the same trip, Vytautas presented Lithuanian culture at the Ministry of Finance in Berlin, performing a solo program.
Vytautas represents Lithuanian culture all over the world with an instrument. By performing world-class classical pieces, also written specifically concertos for Birbyne, he presents the instrument birbyne, her possibilities, and details of Lithuanian culture.
The latest works written by Birbyne, which Vytautas as a performer inspired the composers.
Algirdas Klova "Concerto for Birbyne and symphony orchestra", 2017
Peeter Vähi "Concerto for Birbyne, chamber orchestra and percussion", 2020. The premiere of the concerto was performed in "Vilnius Festival". The concerto was broadcast live by the European Broadcasting Union.
Algirdas Klova "Ramus rytas" quintet for Birbyne and string quartet, 2022.
The soloist actively take part in musical and pedagogical activities. He develops the possibilities and teaching methodologies of the national instrument birbyne. Using complex techniques, promotes innovative professional art performance with this instrument.
From 2021 Artistic director of the Veliuona International Music Festival