Antonio Vivaldi - Concerto for Violin, Strings and Basso continuo No.4 "Winter" from the cycle "Four Seasons" in F minor, op. 8, RV 297

Jacques Offenbach - "Tears of Jacqueline" ("Les Larmes de Jacqueline"), Op. 76 No. 2

Robert Schumann - Piano Quartet in E flat major, Op. 47

The Kaunas String Quartet continues the annual meaningful series "Kaunas Quartet and the Young". We are glad to see that there is no shortage of talented and gifted young musicians in Lithuania. A large part of them is nurtured by the Juozas Naujalis Music Gymnasium in Kaunas, which for many years has been home to excellent and dedicated teachers who have been bringing up a new generation of musicians.

The Kaunas String Quartet's project, which has now become a tradition, paves the way for the young talents to experience the beauty of ensemble music, to discover the untrodden layers of the genre, to improve creatively and to go on along the path. The Quartet's mission is to ignite the spark, to ignite an even greater desire to make music and to reveal oneself. Many talented performers who have previously performed with this ensemble have sailed to the wide waters and are making the name of Lithuania famous with their achievements and high professionalism.

The loyal listeners of the Kaunas String Quartet are well aware that the ensemble, which has been in existence for more than 40 years, has always been faithful to the seriousness of music of high quality, serving the culture of Lithuania, especially Kaunas, and particularly appreciates and often performs the works of Kaunas composers.

This year's Kaunas Quartet and Young Talents concert features the students of Kaunas Juozas Naujalis Music Gymnasium, as well as two graduates of the Gymnasium who are currently studying at the Lithuanian and Estonian Academies of Music and Theatre. The quartet and the young performers will be assisted by Arminas Suchovas - a young and ambitious pianist, winner of several prizes at national and international competitions.

Pianist LIEPA KUČINSKAITĖ (10th grade, senior teacher Akvilė Brazauskienė) has played many times with Kaunas Wind Orchestra "Ąžuolynas", participated in various concerts, master classes (Prof. A. Bankas, D. Erchova, M. Švėgzda von Bekker, D. Dėdinskaitė, A. Šilalė), festivals, international and republican contests ("Kaunas Sonorum", International V. Radovičius Competition, Kęstutis Ivaškevičius String Competition, "Trofeo Musicale", "Crescendo", International Chamber Ensemble Competition "Musical Watercolour", "Obbligato", Chamber Music Festival "Fetanika", International J. Naujalis Chamber Music Courses), and was a prize-winner at many of them. Since the first grade, every summer the violinist participates in music camps (D. Mažinto, D. Katkus), where she improves her ensemble skills and performance mastery.

Violinist GABRIELĖ SANTOCKYTĖ started her musical career at Kaunas Juozas Naujalis Music Gymnasium, where she studied with expert teacher Ramuna Bandzaitytė-Kalėdienė. She is currently furthering her knowledge and performance skills at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, studying with violinist Triin Ruubel. She also spent a year studying with violinist Dalia Dėdinskaitė. Santockytė's musical experience and active concert activity is reflected in her performances in many competitions and festivals, where she has participated both as a soloist and in trios. Her musical career also includes collaborations with Lithuanian orchestras, including the Kaunas City Symphony Orchestra, Kaunas Wind Orchestra "Ąžuolynas" and the St. Christopher Chamber Orchestra. She is continuously strengthening her professionalism by taking part in masterclasses, where she improved her skills with Prof. Christian Altenburger in Germany. Her performance art has been enriched by concerts with distinguished music professionals, including pianist Darius Mažintas, cellist Glebas Pyšniakas and violinist Frank Stadler.

Violoncellist LIEPA RAZMUTĖ (10th grade, expert teacher Asta Krištaponienė) started her musical career when she was just three years old. She started playing the violin, then switched to the cello and is still very happy with her choice.

"Music is the medicine for a broken heart - so said the English poet Leigh Hunt, and for me music is a source of relaxation - it is a language that can reach not only people's ears, but also their hearts and souls. It brings people together, it brings peace, it inspires creativity, it frees them from everyday life and it helps them to see new meanings in the simplest things. Every time I am very happy to have the opportunity to perform somewhere. The whole ritual of concerts is very fascinating to me, from the long and tiring lessons with the teachers, the excitement that comes a few minutes before the performance, to the loud applause you get from your loved ones," the young cellist shares her feelings. She has performed on various stages, taken part in festivals, international and national competitions, won prizes, played solo with the Kaunas City Symphony Orchestra and the Kaunas Wind Orchestra "Ąžuolynas", and is constantly taking part in summer camps, where she is gaining knowledge and experience.

JULIJA ROCKINA , who graduated from Kaunas Juozas Naujalis Gymnasium of Music last year (teacher Birutė Kumpikienė), is currently studying at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, in the class of Prof. Zbigniew Ibelhauptas. During her musical career, the pianist has won prizes at 11 republican and 22 international competitions and has played with an orchestra 5 times. One of her most notable performances was the performance of Sergei Rachmaninov's Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 1 in F sharp minor, Op. 1, D. 1, with the Kaunas City Symphony Orchestra. J. Rockina has been awarded the Kaunas Juozas Naujalis Music Gymnasium 43 graduate Mantas Šukevičius Prize for Talent Breakthrough and the Zita Bružaitė Prize for Significant Musical Achievements.