to continue a particularly important Lithuanian cultural tradition – the song festival. Its spirit parallels the tradition of the ancient Greek olympic games. The Lithuanian song festival is recognized by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity and is registered in UNESCO‘s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
to foster solidarity and pride of our Lithuanian ancestry by bringing together Lithuanians of various generations, scattered throughout the United States and Canada, as well as guests from Lithuania through their shared love of Lithuanian song. It is not a coincidence that the theme of this song festival is „One family – One nation“. No matter which corner of the world we might live in, we are united by our homeland LIETUVA.
by providing an opportunity to participate in the XI North American Lithuanian Song Festival, to reawaken choirs whose activity has become dormant, to invite them back to work learning the song festival repertoire. This goal is particularly important for smaller choirs or those living in smaller Lithuanian communities, where conditions are more difficult for performing concerts. We know from previous registration data, that more than half (53%, n=634 singers) of the choirs are formed specifically to participate in the song festival. This objective is more important than ever, as the recent COVID-19 pandemic severely disrupted all choral activity in North America. Moreover, it has been 10 years since the last song festival in Chicago in 2015.
to educate our young singers in the same way our predecessors so lovingly taught us to understand, appreciate, and love our traditions, language, and Lithuanian song. From previous song festival registrations, we know that all North American youth choirs (100%, n=212 singers) are formed solely to participate in the song festival. In addition, more than half of the children‘s choirs (57%, n=201 singers) are also formed for this purpose. Children‘s choirs are formed in our Lithuanian language schools. In preparing for the upcoming song festival, it is abundantly clear that we must support the work done in our Lithuanian language schools.
to strengthen our ties to Lithuania, its choirs, and the National Cultural Center. In the most recent song festival, nine choirs (nearly 200 singers) participated from Lithuania. (This is nearly the same number of choirs and singers as participated from Canada.) For the upcoming song festival, the folk instrument orchestra and its conductor will be from Lithuania. As of this writing, ten choirs from Lithuania have indicated a desire to participate; this number is likely to increase.
to encourage collaboration between North American music professionals and their counterparts in Lithuania. The repertoire will include songs recently composed in Lithuania, and a number of conductors from Lithuania will participate in the upcoming song festival.
to expand the integration of new arrivals from Lithuania, who have settled in the United States and Canada. We welcome them all into the North American Lithuanian community by participating in the song festival, both as singers and audience members.
to present an interesting and meaningful song festival program to our audience, whether or not they are of Lithuanian heritage. The program seeks to reveal the importance of song: in Lithuania‘s history, as a part of Lithuania‘s culture, and in our individual lives.
that as a result of participating in the song festival spectacle, choir members will return home with renewed motivation and energy to continue performing with their local choirs.
The objectives of the XI North American Lithuanian Song Festival are important to both the participants and the broader community.
The objectives encompass the time of preparation leading up to as well as the actual song festival June 27-29, 2025.
2006 Song Festival's Artistic director & Senior advisor for musical affairs
(Cleveland, OH)
2010 Song Festival's Artistic director & Senior advisor for musical affairs
(Toronto, ON)
2015 Song Festival's Artistic director & Senior advisor for musical affairs
(Chicago, IL)
Song Festival Ambassador
(Cleveland, OH)
Festival Script & Staging
(Cleveland, OH)
Ballet Master
(Cleveland, OH)
Technical Show Production
(Cleveland, OH)
Folk orchestra director
(Klaipėda, LT)
Youth choir workshop & satellite choir members
(Chicago, IL)
Choir directors' seminar
(Cleveland, OH)
Repertoire Book Natographer
(Vilnius, LT)
Public relations
(Toronto, ON)
Social media
(Chicago, IL)
Radio
(Cleveland, OH)
Videographer
(Chicago, IL)
Graphics
(London, UK)
Translation
(Cleveland, OH)
Evening events
(Montréal, QC)
Evening events
(Montréal, QC)
Catholic Mass
(Cleveland, OH)
Ticketing & Event Security
(Montréal, QC)
Volunteers & VIP Guests
(Cleveland, OH)
Legal & Fundraising Advisor
(Washington, DC)
Fundraising in Canada
(Toronto, ON)
Fundraising in Canada
(Toronto, ON)
Choir director gifts
(Montréal, QC)
