In 1970, the famous Lithuanian pianist Birutė Vainiūnaitė completed her studies at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, under the guidance of Professor M. Azizbekova. At the same time, from 1970 until 1972, she interned at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow, in the class of J. Milstein, and in 1975-1976, she studied at the Paris National Conservatory, under the guidance of V. Perlemuter.
Since 1970, Birutė Vainiūnaitė has been teaching at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, where she is now a professor. She was the first Lithuanian pianist to win the M.K. Čiurlionis Piano Competition in 1965 and the Berlin International Piano Competition in 1991. In 2011, she won first place at the "Romanticism. Origins and Horizons" International Competition in Chernomorsk, Ukraine.
Birutė Vainiūnaitė is a frequent concert pianist, usually performing as either a soloist or with other instrumentalists, as well as orchestras under the direction of conductors such as J. Domarkas, G. Rinkevičius, S. Sondeckis, and P. Berman. Every year, music lovers in Lithuania have the opportunity to hear her perform a new program. She has performed in Latvia, Estonia, Ukraine, Georgia, Spain, Sweden, and the United States, as well as in many cities throughout Russia. Since 1976 and from 1990 she performs once a year in Paris. In 2011, she gave a recital in Paris at Eglise Americaine. In 1994 and 1996, she successfully toured Germany.
The pianist also led masterclasses in Lithuania and Germany and has served on the jury of several international competitions. Lithuanian radio and television often broadcast her concerts, and their archives include many recordings of Birutė Vainiūnaitė. She has released many vinyl and CD recordings, featuring a large part of her extensive solo repertoire.
Birutė Vainiūnaitė has a keen sense of different musical styles, having performed music from various periods, but she is particularly drawn to contemporary composers. She was the first Lithuanian performer to present the work of composers such as O. Messiaen, M. Ohana, G. Crumb, J. Cage, P. Vasks, and others in her home country. Her abilities in experimenting with music have helped new music (not only in Lithuania) to emerge and, as composer O. Balakauskas says, "live."
In 2009, Birutė Vainiūnaitė was awarded the Government Prize for Culture and Arts.
