Balys Vaitkus is one of the most active and best-known Lithuanian organists today. He studied organ 1980-1985 with L. Digrys at the Lithuanian Academy of Music, 1988-1989 with V. Rabas at the Prague Academy of Fine Arts, and 1992-1994 with M. Haselböck at the High Music School in Lübeck. In addition he studied cembalo as a relative instrument and also attended numerous organ courses at the Haarlem Summer Academy, master courses with G. Bovet, M. Radulescu, P. Kee, L.F. Tagliavini, etc.
Balys Vaitkus started his concert activities in 1983 and gave organ recitals in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany, Denmark, France, and Austria. He gave concerts at the famous music festivals such as «The New Organ Movement» in Russia, «Riga and Tallinn Organ Festivals», Rencontres Musical de Nantes in France, Wiener Festwochen in Austria, «St.Christoph Summer Music» in Vilnius and «The First Liepaja Organ Festival».
Balys Vaitkus has successfully participated in several International organ competitions. He received a special prize at the «IOC Prague Spring» (Czech Republic) in 1989; he won both the 3rd and the Audience prizes at the IOC Gelsenkirchen (Germany) in 1993, and the 2nd prize at the International «M.K. Čiurlionis Piano and Organ Competition» in Vilnius (Lithuania) in 1995.
B.Vaitkus collaborates as organist and harpsichordist with ensembles, choirs, and orchestras. Together with the Lithuanian Boys-choir Ąžuoliukas, he gave concerts in Poland and Belgium, and with the Langas choir he traveled in France and Spain. He has played Organ Concertos with the M.K. Čiurlionis Art School orchestra, the Lithuanian National Philharmonic Society, the Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra, the Honour Guard Orchestra of the Lithuanian Armed Forces and with the Neue Westfalische Philharmonie in Germany. Recently, he has often joined the ensemble, Musica Humana, as a solo-cembalist. B.Vaitkus has worked with such famous Lithuanian musicians as the flutist, A. Vizgirda, and the saxophonist, P. Vyšniauskas, etc.
Arvydas Kazlauskas is one of the leading saxophone players in Latvia. Trained as an academic musician, Arvydas doesn't limit himself to only «serious»/classical music, and he's known for his creative curiosity. Arvydas is always up for unexpected musical adventures resulting in collaborations with musicians of other genres and explorations of yet-unknown musical territories. Arvydas Kazlauskas' playing has been described as having «exceptionally high qualities in sound, articulation and emotional nuances».
Arvydas was born in Vilnius, Lithuania, where he received his basic musical education. Then he graduated from Jazeps Vitols Latvian Academy of Music in Riga, Latvia, with additional Erasmus studies at Universitat der Kunste Berlin with Johannes Ernst. Arvydas has participated in a number of masterclasses with such artists as Arno Bornkamp, Claude Delangle, Vincent David, Joel Versavaud and Daniel Gauthier. A. Kazlauskas is a prize winner of number of international saxophone competitions: The International Hillar Kareva Contest for Saxophonists and Trumpeters (2003, Tallinn; 1st prize), Jurjanu Andrejs 3d International Competition «Woodwind Instruments» (2005, Riga; Grand Prix), 3rd international saxophone competition «Alps – Adria – Danube» (2005, Nova Gorica; 2nd prize).
Arvydas has collaborated with singers Gunta Davidcuka and Baiba Berke, pianists Reinis Zarins and Agnese Eglina, Sinfonietta Riga string quartet, Dirt Nonet, DJ Kri. Arvydas was a member of Riga Saxophone Quartet from 2006-2013, during which time he gave a number of premier performances by latvian composers such as Rihards Dubra, Liga Celma, Valdis Muktupavels, Nic Gotham and others. As a soloist Arvydas has performed with the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, Latvian State chamber orchestra Sinfonietta Riga, professional Woodwind Orchestra Riga, Orchestra Sinfonia Concertante and Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra. As a chamber musician or a soloist he has performed in Poland, Lithuania, Norway, United Kingdom, Germany, Israel, Italy, Ireland, Romania, and Bulgaria. Arvydas is a docent of saxophone at Jazeps Vitols Latvian Academy of Music. He has given masterclasses in Udine (Italy), Vilnius (Lithuania), Dublin (Ireland), Jerusalem (Israel).
