1901-1906 Petersburg Conservatory with prof. S. Gabalisi studied singing, studied music theory with A. Liadova, and composition with N. Rimsky-Korsakov. At the same time, he graduated from the adult gymnasium. While studying, he directed the Lithuanian choir, organized evening concerts, created and staged the first Lithuanian operettas. in 1905 after arriving in Vilnius, he got involved in revolutionary activities, organized choirs, staged operettas and operas. in 1906 November 6 the premiere of his opera - the first Lithuanian national opera - "Birutė" took place in the current philharmonic hall.
in 1906 at the end of the year he went to Switzerland - Geneva, where he led a choir, opened a music studio for Russian refugees and staged N. Lysenko's opera "Natalka Poltavka" (he sang in it). in 1907 went to Paris and to Ch. Widora studied composition. In the summer of the same year, Z. Skirgaila, a student at the Paris Conservatory, came to perform in Chicago, USA. 1911-1912 studied singing in Italy with A. Mezini, sang in Italian opera theater performances. in 1912 came to Vilnius in the summer, performed in many Lithuanian cities and Tilžė. in 1912 at the end he went to the USA again - New York, and in 1914 to Boston.
1920 came to Lithuania, organized concerts with his brother Kipris, and staged his opera "Birutė" with the choir and orchestra prepared by Juoz Tallat-Kelpša. in 1921 went to England, then back to Boston. 1924, 1925 and 1926 visited Lithuania in 1926 returned to the USA under the patronage of dr. Juozo Jonikaitis settled in Detroit, and in 1928 went to Baltimore, to N. Rastenis. 1930 January 22 In Detroit, a prom was organized in Lithuania - he settled in Kaunas.
M. Petrauskas has done a great job of musical education for adults and children in the USA. 1910 He founded the Lithuanian Conservatory in Chicago, which he revived again in 1912. He also founded the "Art Society", led choirs. in 1913 established its conservatory departments in Brooklyn, Newark, and Elizabeth (New Jersey). Organized concerts of his students everywhere. in 1914 moved the conservatory to Boston and until 1920 released about 20 choir directors, 6 music teachers and several conductors. He was famous everywhere as a soloist, composer and choirmaster. Organized choirs and orchestras. He staged operettas in Brooklyn. In Chicago, he organized the "Birutė" choir with 100 participants, which in 1907 November 14 held his first concert in Boston. in 1914 formed the "Gabijos" choir, which included a children's choir of 100 participants and an orchestra. He also founded a weekly theater. "Gabija" choir staged 17 operettas, in 1918 November 4 and in 1919 February 21 performed in Boston with great success. in 1915 6 plates were released, and in 1920 10 more plates.
In addition to his extensive practical musical activities, M. Petrauskas created many different works: the operas "Birutė" (1906) and "Eglė žalčių karalienė" (1920), 19 operettas, 37 solo songs, 17 vocal duets, several hymns, harmonized 143 Lithuanian folk songs, wrote several original songs for choirs. He created pieces for piano and violin. In Tilžė, he published a collection of revolutionary songs "Trumpet" (1910), wrote the book "From the field of music" (1909), "Small music dictionary" (1916), the outline "Orchestra", articles on various musical issues. His songs "Parsivedžiu margelė lepūnė" and "Vaidilutės" were played by Lithuanians in the USA and Canada in 1961. and in 1978 at song festivals in Chicago and Toronto. They were also sung by Lithuanian choirs and played at song festivals.
