Lithuania

Miškinis is the Artistic Director of the Ažuoliukas Boys’ and Men’s Choir, Professor of Choral Conducting at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and President of the Lithuanian Choral Union (for 20 years ) and renowned composer. He graduated in Choral Conducting from the Lithuanian Academy of Music in 1976 (Prof. H. Perelšteinas’s class). He began his career in Ažuoliukas at the age of seven as a chorister and continued as Artistic Director from the age of 25. Since 1979 all results of the choir have been achieved under Mr. Miškinis’ leadership.
For several years he conducted the Kaunas State Choir and Vocal Ensemble Museum Musicum. With these choirs he won prestigious prizes at numerous national and international competitions – in Marktoberdorf, Gorizia, Varna, Maribor, Tampere, Mainhausen, Nantes. Currently Mr. Miškinis is Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of the All-Lithuanian Choir Festival. Vytautas Miškinis has led choral performances in Europe, Canada, Japan, Russia, South Africa, Singapore, USA etc. A number of compositions for choir with Symphonic Orchestras have been conducted by Vytautas Miskinis. He has also lectured and held seminars on Music Education, composing and conducting in Lithuania and abroad – in Czech Republic, Korea, Latvia, Russia, Slovenia, Spain, Singapore, Italy, Poland, Japan, Singapore, Estonia, Ukraine etc.
A considerable amount of works won composition competitions in Lithuania and abroad.
Every year he receives numerous orders to write works for prestigious foreign choruses, international contests and festivals.
He has participated in numerous national and international choral events as composer and advisor.
He has led workshops and has been a Member of the Jury at International Choir and Choral Composition Competitions worldwide. Vytautas Miškinis has composed about 400 religious motets a cappella, 20 Masses, Magnificat, Cantatas, St.John Passion, Musicals and about 400 secular songs, which are performed by choirs throughout Lithuania and the rest of Europe. Lithuanian and foreign choirs have recorded his compositions on CD. Many compositions for children’s and adult’s choirs are published in Lithuania and also in France, Germany, Slovenia, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Japan, Latvia, USA, Singapore, Austria, etc.
V. Miškinis has been awarded several times prestigious State and Government Prizes such as Honoured Artist of Lithuania (1986), the Prize for Culture and Art (2009), awarded to the Cross of Officer of the Grand Duke Gediminas‘ Order (2005), Medal of Duke Žygimantas Augustas – for the Merits of the city Vilnius ( 2006), for the merits of Lithuanian music – Radiocentras’ Awards ( 2005), nominated for the name of Lithuanian Bride – LRT Award (2006), awarded by the Ministry of Culture Honor  – Get Your Light and Believe (2014), award of the Lithuanian non-governmental organizations – For Merits to Vilnius and Nation (2014).Ažuoliukas choir has twice been nominated for the Golden Bird nominations: The Star of International Spark (2003) and The Briliant Star of Lithuania (2005). Ažuoliukas  nominated for National Value in the Republic’ daily newspaper ( 2010).
In 2002 as a composer he was nominated Author of the Year.
In 2010 Carus Verlag Publishing House, Germany, recorded the CD “V. Miškinis Portrait“ (Consonare Choir). In the United Kingdom Hyperion record company published the CD “The Time is Endless” (choir of Royal Holloway University).