Professor Eduardas Gabnys was born on March 17, 1952 in the city of Panevėžys. In 1967, he graduated from the Panevėžys Children's Music School, and later studied at the Higher Music School of Panevėžys, graduating in 1971 from J. Tallat-Kelpšos Higher Music School. In the same year, he entered the Folk Instruments Department of the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, where he graduated from doc. Dr. A. Baikos' accordion class in 1976. Between 1982 and 1986, he studied at the P. Tchaikovsky National Music Academy of Ukraine, where he trained in accordion and chamber ensemble classes. His mentors were M. Davydovas, M. Ryzolis, and I. Jaškevičius. Gabnys began his artistic career while still in school, playing in the folk instrument ensemble "Sutartinė" from 1972 to 1980. As a soloist, he actively participated in concerts organized by the National Philharmonic, Lithuanian composers' concerts, and made recordings in Lithuanian radio and record studios. Starting in 1978, he began performing as a duo with accordionist Genadijus Savkovas and they held about 700 duo concerts in Lithuania, as well as performing in 32 countries worldwide, including Europe, North and South America, Australia, and New Zealand. They also recorded vinyl and compact discs, four famous tapes, many radio and television recordings. Gabnys also played in the International Baltic Accordion Quintet "Excelsior" from 1999. He teaches accordion, chamber ensemble, and instrumentation at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre since 1977. His students have won many international competitions. Gabnys is an active promoter of Lithuanian music, being the first to perform original works for accordion duet, including compositions by J. Tamulionis, F. Bajoras, V. Ločeris, V. Bagdonas, V. Mikalauskas, A. Klova, and V. Juozapaitis, as well as works by Ukrainian composer V. Zubickis. Gabnys was the winner of international accordion competitions in Italy and Germany with his ensemble and has been awarded a special prize for the best arrangements of works by Argentine composer Astor Piazzolla. Gabnys has been a docent since 1991 and a professor since 1998. From 1994 to 2005, he was Vice-Rector of the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, and from 2005 to 2011, he was the Rector. Gabnys has also been elected for many years to the Senate and Council of the LMTA, the Board of the Lithuanian Musicians' Union, and is an accreditation expert for international higher education programs. Gabnys has also participated in the founding of the Lithuanian Accordionists Association and is one of the leaders of this organization. He is also the organizer of the traditional Vilnius Accordion Music Festivals, chairperson of Lithuanian and international accordion competitions organizing committees and the leader of Palanga Summer Seminars, lecturer.
