OUR STORY
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Contemporary Music Ensemble Synaesthesis has a growing reputation within the contemporary music world. The team of young and ambitious musicians has taken up the mission of introducing works of experimental Lithuanian and foreign composers to the performance venues. The ensemble’s vision goes beyond the sound into space, light, movement and narrative – anything that allows for professionally performed music to become a multidimensional creation and blur the lines between genres. The musicians within the group have finished their studies in leading music colleges throughout Europe; some are still in their studies. The ensemble collaborates with artists from different genres and constantly strives to cross the lines between different arts. Synaesthesis members were mentored by musicians of Ictus, Klangforum Wien, Quatour Tana, Chordos, and FortVio ensembles. Synaesthesis is an active performer on contemporary music scene and festivals in Lithuania, such as Gaida, Music Autumn, Music of Changes, DAR (Druskininkai Artists Residence) and Residency in Kintai. Making its first, but very secure steps into the international scene, Synaethesis participated in the International Summer Academy in Austria (ISA 2016 and 2017), where both times musicians were awarded the Just Composed Prize for the best performance of the premiered piece. Recently ensemble has been presenting their programs in Estonia, Latvia, Slovakia, Austria, Netherlands, Poland, United Kingdom, Cyprus. In 2017, Synaesthesis received the Young Artist Award from Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania, in 2018 was an ensemble in residence of Lithuanian Composers Union. Since autumn 2019, Synaesthesis has been honoured as Vilnius City Ensemble, a title given by Vilnius Municipality. In 2020 Synaesthesis became recipient of Ernst von Siemens Ensemble Prize.
THE CREW
Get to know the personalities.
Arminas Bižys
Saxophone
Simonas Kaupinis
Tuba

Artūras Kažimėkas
Clarinet
Diemantė Merkevičiūtė
Violin

Simas Tankevičius
Violin

Donatas Butkevičius
Double Bass
Andrius Rekašius
Percussion
Greta Unguvaitytė
Design

Arnas Kmieliauskas
Cello


Ignė Pikalavičiūtė
Cello
Karolis Variakojis
Conductor
Marta Finkelštein
Piano, Artistic director
Dainius Peseckas
Violin
Monika Kiknadzė
Viola
Pranas Kentra
Electric Guitar
Vytenis Gurstis
Flute
"In reviewing Synaesthesis’s creative work up till now there are no doubts that this is the Lithuanian new music ensemble that is the most striking and the most engaged in the performance of contemporary music. Over the five years of its existence the collective has already attracted attention not just in Lithuania but also abroad."
Mindaugas Urbaitis, Lithuanian Music Link magazine, 2018
„We could say that it is easy to become pioneers in Lithuania, but phenomena of Synaesthesis evokes respect. They knew what they want, they found their niche and during short time became unprecedented in Lithuania high level ensemble.”
Raimonda Žiūkaitė, Literature and Art magazine, 2017