Vilnius University (VU) Orchestra "Oktava" was founded in 1951 and has existed for more than 70 years. For more than 25 years maestro Albinas Kučinskas has been the conductor of the orchestra and his ability to ignite love for music and gather young musicians from all around Lithuania fascinates the music community of the country. Through all these years, as one generation of the orchestra replaced another, "Oktava" has managed to survive and has reached the highest notes in many concerts in Lithuania and abroad.
The members of the orchestra share love for various musical genres and performing live. The band’s repertoire includes such genres as jazz, classical, soul, funk, rock, pop and march music. Playing in the orchestra allows young musicians to introduce themselves to both the songs that have garnered worldwide acclaim and with modern, lesser known contemporary pieces. Among the foreign composers that are included in the repertoire are the music by George Gershwin, John Miles, Benny Goodman, Igor Stravinsky, Irving Berlin, John Williams, Philip Sparke, Randy Newman, Sammy Nestico, Maynard Ferguson and John Barry, as well as pieces by Lithuanian composers, such as Kazys Daugėla, Valdas Stanaitis, Linas Rupšlaukis and others.
The versatility and wide repertoire are one of the strengths of "Oktava" since it allows the orchestra to perform in different kinds of events, popularize various musical genres, provide activities for the youth and introduce the colourful and diverse culture of wind instruments to musicians themselves.
In 1984 a choreographical group (leader T. Gritėnienė) was established and until now it participates with the orchestra and livens the performances in grand concerts, marching events and celebrations. Today the choreographical group specializes in Lindyhop dancing.
The backbone of the orchestra consists of Vilnius University students: future medics, physicists, psychologists, journalists, chemists, geneticists, biologists, economists, programmers and others. Alumni of the university, children who attend music schools, exchange students - all willingly join the music community of more than 60 members, and every one of them finds like-minded people and friends for life, some even find their significant other.
Traditional concerts
Each year the orchestra holds concerts which have already become a tradition. The playful concert "Oktalėdos" (OKTAVA (octave) + KALĖDOS (Christmas) = OKTALĖDOS), meant to celebrate the festive season, surprises the audience with charming jazz melodies, numerous pieces and performances by soloists. The repertoire of "Orkestral Fantasy: Ode to the Spring" is often full of grand and sacred music. This concert roars in St. John’s Church predicting the revival of spring after the winter. In the end of the spring the orchestra performs its third large concert - a colourful journey through the musical treasuries of various countries and cultures, soundtracks of movies and musicals. The concert focuses on the performances by soloists together with the orchestra.
Also, each year multiple smaller, but nevertheless equally important concerts take place where "Oktava" plays an important part. The orchestra performs in many annual Vilnius University events, such as: "Renovatio Studiorum" - the celebration ceremony of the new study year, raising of the Vilnius University flag on September 1, the procession, where the members of the orchestra march in front of the whole VU community, leading them to the citadel of science – Vilnius University. The orchestra also participates in Vilnius University’s solemn Diploma Award Ceremonies and "Finis Anni Academici" event, which marks the end of the study year and many other events.
"Oktava" is also a part of the larger cultural scene in Vilnius: the orchestra performs annually in the city’s festivals "Capital Days" and "Culture Night"; to commemorate the St. Casimir’s Day, "Oktava", together with Order of Saint Casimir (Ordi Sancti Casimiri), presents the residents and guests of the city with the concert "Laudate Sancti Casimiri".
Musicians pass a significant part of their summers preparing for and participating in Song Festival, various wind band festivals, such as "Atataria vamzdžiai" in Trakai or "Dūdų vasara" in Panevėžys. The orchestra has also participated in the Lithuanian National Radio and Television Project "Vario audra" ("Brass Storm") and reached its final stage. The band not only showcased superb musicianship, but, together with vocalists Česlovas Gabalis and Edgaras Lubys, dazzled the audiences with great dance moves, showmanship and live performances
The players of Oktava spend their days rehearsing and learning new pieces, performing in concerts, and, of course, interacting with friends, who are similarly crazy about music.
"Oktava" is often invited to play in other countries as well. One of the most memorable concert took place in Luxembourg Cathedral where the orchestra played solo compositions and accompanied for two Vilnius university choirs "Gaudeamus" and “Pro Musica“ performing sacral music. In September, 2014 "Oktava" received a prize for "The best artistic performance" in the "International Youth Orchestra Festival", Poland. The orchestra organized concert tours to Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Germany, Czech Republic and is preparing for new trips around Europe.
Awards
2014 – "Oktava" received a prize for "The best artistic performance" in the "International Youth Orchestra Festival", Poland.
2016 – "Oktava" won the 1st place at the festival "Veju Ritmi" in Liepoja, Latvia.
2017 – "Oktava" won the 1st place at the festival in Pulawy, Poland, and Maestro Albinas Kučinskas was awarded the Best Conductor award.
2022 – Maestro Albinas Kučinskas was awarded the Badge of Honour by the Republic of Lithuania Ministry of Education, Science and Sport for his pedagogical work.
2023 – "Oktava" and its band leader Albinas Kučinskas were granted Lithuanian National Culture Centre award "Aukso paukštė" for the best amateur wind orchestra ant its band leader of 2022.
Releases
"Oktava“ has released two full lenght albums in the recent years: "Music That Unites Us" (2020) and "Solo su Oktava" (2022).
Join us!
Vilnius University students are welcome to join us as are Erasmus students. We always appreciate talented musicians who love music and play one of these instruments: saxophone, flute, clarinet, trombone, euphonium, trumpet, tuba, drums, electric guitar, bass, percussion or keyboard. Singers are welcome as well. Auditions take place throughout the Academic year.
For more information, please contact concertmaster Donatas Viaževičius:
Contacts and social media
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For more information:
Artistic director and conductor Albinas Kučinskas:
Concertmaster Donatas Viaževičius:
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