A nation lives as long as its culture lives. The basis of the distinctiveness, recognition and future survival of the nations is encoded in the folklore culture of each nation. This has become especially relevant in this era, when global cosmopolitanism and cultural assimilation are accelerating more and more.
In 1984, a group of Lithuanian singers led by R. Klim, director of the Vilnius Forestry Production Association at the time, founded the folklore ensemble "NALŠIA" in the Vilnius Forestry Authority. Currently, the ensemble is led by professional folklorist, manager Audronė Vakarinienė. During the years of its activity, the "NALŠIOS" folklore ensemble has taken a strong position among the Lithuanian folklore ensembles and has become one of the guardians and nurturers of Lithuanian culture, for 25 years, it has been making the VĮ Vilnius forest office famous throughout Lithuania and beyond. Ensemble members of the "NALŠIOS" collective are employees of VĮ Vilniaus Forestry Authority, foresters from neighboring authorities and their family members. In the repertoire, special attention is paid to the songs, customs and folklore of the Eastern Highlands - Ažvinčių, Kazitiškis, Palūšės, Linkmeni, Ginučiai, Tauragnai region. The repertoire of the ensemble consists of various programs. These include authentic Lithuanian folk songs, dances, instrumental music, taken over from our grandparents and great-grandparents during expeditions, as well as interwar Lithuanian city folklore.The people of Nalšia are participants in many republican and foreign folklore events and cultural holidays, which are eagerly awaited in all cities and towns of Lithuania."NALŠIA" Folklore Ensemble of VĮ Vilnius Forestry Authority is the only foresters' ensemble in Lithuania. Ensembles represent Lithuanian foresters as disseminators of Lithuanian culture among the society of the city of Vilnius, throughout Lithuania, in foreign Lithuanian national communities, in various foreign countries, invited and welcomed at gatherings of Lithuanian foresters, actively participating in all Lithuanian folklore events, instilling love and respect for the Lithuanian culture of our ancestors.During the twenty-five years of its existence, the ensemble performed not only in Lithuania, but also on the stages of many foreign countries. Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Poland, Germany, Italy, Estonia, Latvia, Holland were visited during concert tours. And there is probably no town in Lithuania where the songs of the "NALŠIOS" ensemble have not been heard.The creative activities of the ensemble are immortalized in the book and audio tape with the same name "CUCKOO CUCKOO", in the CDs "RÍŤ AUKŠTAIČI DAINOS, SHOKIAI IR PASAKOJIMAI" and "VIDUJ GIRALĖS". A video film "GIRIĘU KRAŠTO MELODIJOS" has also been created, which presents the ensemble's twenty years of activity.The ensemble's participation in important European cultural events testifies to its long existence and achievements. As an ambassador of Lithuanian culture, the ensemble "NALŠIA" of the VĮ Vilnius Forestry Authority represented Lithuania in the celebration of the cultures of nations organized in Holland, dedicated to the accession of new members to the European Union. Together with the Spaniards, who stayed with the ensemble members' families for a short time, they participated in the international folklore festival of Nida 'TEK SAULUŽĖ ANT MARAČIŲU', the traditional "SKAMBA, SKAMBA KANKLIAI" and many other notable folklore events taking place in Lithuania.Longtime former and current members of the ensemble R. Klimas, E. Ryškus, M. Balkienė, J. Balkus, J. Kaziliūnas, A. Baronienė, N. Keršienė, E. Mankevičienė, T. Navsutis, S. Trakšelienė, A. Jaskeliavičienė, D. Bielousovienė, R. Dulkė and others.Not every artistic collective can boast of anniversaries of creative activity. This year, the "NALŠIA" ensemble of VĮ Vilnius Forestry Administration marked the twenty-fifth anniversary of its active activity. On that occasion, a special celebratory concert was organized and a new CD "DO YOU REMEMBER THAT MELODY" was presented.The activities of the ensemble do not end with a beautiful anniversary - having added new songs, dances, stories, instrumental music to the repertoire, and continue to be actively supported by the VĮ Vilniaus mišku úredija team, "NALŠIEČIAI" promises to continue to delight the listeners with their performances.