With more and more light and warmth, with a rooster's step every day, we greet the coming spring with concentration, seriousness and slowly growing joy, listening to and singing Lithuanian hymns. The concert "Dawn of Spring" will intertwine the pagan and national roots of Lithuanian culture, with the Polifonija choir playing the rag and organ, performing Lithuanian folk songs arranged by the choir and paying tribute to the creators who laid the foundations of nationalism. The choir will be conducted by Professor Tadas Šumskas, a composer, long-time conductor of various song festivals.

Tas Šumskas began his studies of choral conducting at the National M. K. Čiurlionis School of Arts in the class of Antanas Jozėnas. During his studies, the conductor was already leading two ensembles and began teaching at the Choir Conducting Department of the present Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre. With the chamber choir of the then Conservatoire, which he directed, the musician won countless prizes in republican and international competitions. Another important ensemble in his life was the men's choir "Vytis", with which he also achieved everything a choir could dream of. For a large part of his career, even for twenty years, T. Šumskas devoted himself to the men's choir of the Vilnius Garrison Officers' Mess of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, "Aidas", which he still remembers fondly today. Since 2018, the professor has been directing the women's choir "Dainų sodai". Over the past five years, the conductor has grown the choir and developed an active concert activity with the ensemble: on various occasions, he has performed with renowned professional orchestras, and he has appeared at the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania to celebrate important national holidays and during ceremonial meetings.

The conductor of the choir consistently promotes the dissemination and performance of Lithuanian music, and has composed songs for the choir and arrangements of Lithuanian folk songs. We will have the opportunity to hear several of his arrangements during the concert. T. Šumskas, a theatrical and scenic professor, will not only conduct and play the drum, but also talk about the themes and content of the works.

The Šiauliai State Chamber Choir "Polifonija", which has been in existence for almost half a century, preserves traditions and opens up to new horizons. Having once resurrected old court or religious music for live performance, the choir more and more often presents surprises, proving itself to be different - modern, full of new artistic solutions, and fitting into today's choral music context. The choir's artistic director and chief conductor is Linas Balandis.

In the programme "Dawn of Spring" we will hear one of the first times since 1944. "Garbė Tau Viešpatie" by Juozas Gruodis and Bernardas Brazdžionis, "Garbė Tau Viešpatie" by Algirdas Martinaitis, "Žemaičių plentas" by Algirdas Martinaitis, a song-prayer by Alvidas Remesa, "Tėve nas nas" by Algirdas Martinaitis, a song-reflection of the January 13th events, a song by Vytautas Barkauskas, "Stabat Mater", uniting the audience and the choristers, as well as other pieces reflecting the growth of the Lithuanian nation and the Lithuanian state. The concert programme will invite not only to the spring, but also to the anticipation of the Day of the Restoration of the State of Lithuania, 16 February, which coincides with the 70th anniversary of Maestro T. Šumskas.