ZBIGNIEVAS IBELGAUPTAS (Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre)
18 February @11.00–14.00 in the Great hall
AIDAS PUODŽIUKAS (Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre)
18 February @11.00-14.00 C-405
A graduate of the National M. K. Čiurlionis School of Art (Vilnius, Lithuania), Zbignevas Ibelgauptas earned his degree at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre where later he successfully completed postgraduate studies (1987).
The aspiring pianist was a laureate of several competitions: at the National Competition for Young Pianists in1979, he was awarded the 1st prize; at the International M. K. Čiurlionis Piano Competition of 1982 he also took the 1st place, and in 1991 was announced the winner of the International Competition of Piano Duos in Rome (Italy).
In 1988, Zbignevas Ibelgauptas joined the staff of the LMTA Piano Department, and from 2009 to 2011 acted as Head of the Department and Chair of the LMTA Doctoral Committee. From 2011 to 2021 he was the LMTA Rector.
Pianist Zbignevas Ibelgauptas is a frequent participant of numerous musical events in Lithuania and abroad such as, among others, international festivals in Germany (Usedomer musik festival), Canada (Music Niagara), Poland ( Warszawska Jesień (Warsaw Autumn), Denmark (Musikhost), Ljubljana Summer Festival in Slovenia, festivals in Belarus, Russia, Ukraine as well as international events taking place in Lithuania (Vilnius Festival, Pažaislis Music Festival, the Thomas Mann Festival, Gaida Contemporary Music Festival).
The performer has given concerts with the Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra, the State Chamber Orchestra of the Republic of Belarus, the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra, the Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra, and the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra and performed under the baton of Arturo Tamayo, David Geringas, Olivier Grangean, José Serebrier, Pavel Berman, Juozas Domarkas, Saulius Sondeckis, and others.
Since 1989, Zbignevas Ibelgauptas has been performing in a piano duo with Rūta Rikterė. The duo has given recitals in Japan, Switzerland, Italy, France, Germany, Slovenia, Ireland, Latvia, and Russia. In 2013, the musicians were invited to perform at important events of the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The concerts by the duo have been broadcast on the Lithuanian and European radio stations and the Lithuanian TV. The piano duo has also released several CDs.
The concert repertoire of pianist Zbignevas Ibelgauptas is impressive and mostly contains compositions ranging from the Baroque to the contemporary music and written for two pianos. It is the performer’s openness to innovation, flexibility of his musical interpretation, and the precision of his performance that have helped pianist Zbignevas Ibelgauptas earn an outstanding reputation in the world of contemporary music performance: the performer pays a lot of attention to promoting and advocating the music of the 20th- and 21st centuries and is the initiator and first performer of works by many Lithuanian composers.
Zbignevas Ibelgauptas is frequently involved in the work of organising and judging committees at various international and national competitions: he was a member of the jury at the International M. K. Čiurlionis Competitions, the International Young Virtuoso Competitions in Riga, Tallinn international Piano Competition, and many other events.
In 1997, Zbignevas Ibelgauptas was awarded the National Culture and Arts Award. In 2016, for his artistic endeavour and excellence, Zbignevas Ibelgauptas was awarded the title of Commander of the Royal Order of the Polar Star of the Kingdom of Sweden.
Aidas Puodžiukas was born in Vilnius, Lithuania, into a family of musicians. He began playing piano at the age of six. After receiving a Bachelor`s degree from the Lithuanian Academy of Music, he studied at the Juilliard School of Music in New York, under Professor Jerome Lowenthal. Later on, he received an Artist Diploma from Boston University’s College of Fine Arts as well as his Master’s Degree, under Professor Anthony di Bonaventura. Aidas perfected his mastery of playing under world famous pianists: Emanuel Krasovsky, Lev Natocheny, Igor Laszko, Lazar Berman and Peter Eicher. He also studied chamber music with a member of the Juilliard String Quartet, Professor Raphael Hillyer, and with members of the Muir String Quartet.
Aidas is the winner of 14 international piano competitions, including competitions in Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Spain, and the United States. These include prizes in the “Maria Canals International Piano Competition” (Barcelona), the Antonin Dvorak Piano Competition (Vilnius), the “Yamaha Foundation of Europe Piano Competition”, and the Richmond Piano Competition (USA).
Aidas Puodžiukas is a well recognized solo pianist as well as a member of various chamber ensembles in Lithuania. He has given numerous performances across his native country Lithuania, and also performed in many USA States, Asia and European concert halls. As a soloist, Mr. Puodziukas attended many famous international festivals, including Music Academy of the West (Santa Barbara, USA), Sarasota Music Festival (Florida, USA), Piano Institute at Colby (Maine, USA), Brandywine Piano Institute at West Chester (Pennsylvania, USA), Piestany Music Festival (Slovakia), Hanoi New Music Festival (Vietnam).
In 1999, Mr. Puodžiukas was asked to give his debut with the piano concerto composed by the Lithuanian composer Vytautas Bacevičius. This performance was given at the main hall of the Lithuanian Philharmonic, with the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Robertas Šervenikas. In 2005, Mr. Puodžiukas recorded this concerto with the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra conducted by Martynas Staškus.
Currently Mr. Puodžiukas is a head of piano and organ department at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, faculty member of M. K. Čiurlionis School of Arts as well as Neris Music School in Vilnius. The pianist regularly gives piano masterclasses in Lithuania, Latvia, Denmark, Italy, Serbia, USA. He has also been invited to serve as jury member in various piano competitions in Lithuania, Latvia and Poland.
