Founded in 2011, the International St. James Music Festival brings together professional, mostly choral groups from all over Lithuania and abroad. Every autumn the warmth of sacred music fills the Festival’s home, the Church of St. Apostles Philip and James Vilnius, and other venues. Within the framework of the Festival, concerts are annually held in Kaunas, too. In 2017, the map of the Festival came to encompass Alytus, and in 2018, even more towns on the St. James Lithuanian route including Panevėžys, Šiauliai and Šiluva, which are expected to become regular venues for the Festival concerts. St. James Festival has made professional quality music accessible for small town communities of Trakai, Šalčininkai, Vievis and Videniškiai. 

The Festival resulted from the common initiative of VILNIUS Choir and Dominican brothers, whose aim was to get closer to people through choral music and at the same time serve society by setting up Vilnius carillon and reviving Lukiškės Square as a cultural hub. The Festival is still organised by VILNIUS Choir in cooperation with the Dominicans; the many colours of sacred music can be enjoyed by anyone who wants to as all concerts are free. By introducing a wide range of Lithuanian and modern/contemporary music, the Festival broadens its patrons’ horizons and knowledge of sacred music.