Female Choir of Vilnius University “Virgo”
Vilnius University Women Choir was founded in
1980. The choir unites about 50 female university students and
its graduates. The singers represent different faculties of
Vilnius University such as the Faculty of Philology, History,
Mathematics, Economics, Medicine.
In the period of 1982-1988 the choir developed its wide repertoire ranging from the Choral classics to Contemporary music. It is worth mentioning that at that time “Virgo” choir took the leading role among the Female choirs in Lithuania and won top prizes in various choir competitions and festivals. It was difficult to imagine concert touring across West Europe at that time, therefore, the concert route of “Virgo” passed by the republics of the former Soviet Union, such as Latvia, Estonia, Ukraine, Russia, Georgia.
It was 1988 when “Virgo” crossed the “iron wall” for the first time in their history and gave concerts in Poland and France. After their impressive performance at International Festival in Nancy the choir was invited to promote the Lithuanian choir singing in France, Italy and USA.
The University Choir “Virgo” has sung in over 20 countries all over the world for the past 20 years, participated in 30 International festivals, won prizes in more than 14 international contests of choir singing. “Virgo“ is the laureate of Neuchatel (Switzerland), Cantonigros (Spain), Athens (Greece), Middlesbrough (England) and S.Šimkus‘ (Lithuania) and other prestigious contests.
“Virgo” performed in such famous concert halls as “Auditorium Stravinsky” (Montreux, Switzerland), “Palau de la Musica” (Valencia, Spain), “Academia St Cecilia” (Rome, Italy), M.Glinka’s Capella (St Petersbourgh Russia), Olympic Centre (Tokyo, Japan) and others.
The choir has arranged three grand concert tours (20 -30 concerts each) in the USA and Canada, sang on the islands of Tenerife, Sardinia, also in Mexico, Japan and Argentina. The repertoire includes such grand musical pieces as “Messiah” by G.F. Haendel or “Requiem” by W.A. Mozart that were performed in cooperation with other choirs, orchestra and soloists.
“Virgo” has recorded a number of cassettes and CDs which comprise completely different repertoires: from the Lithuanian choral music to choral classics representing different epochs.
Rasa Gelgotienė has been conducting Vilnius
University choirs for nearly 24 years. She finished M.K.
Čiurlionis School of Arts, choir conducting class under N.
Kazakauskienė, then, graduated from the Lithuanian National
Conservatoire, A.Jozenas‘ class of choir conducting. She also did
a year‘s internship in the class of A.Michailov at
N.Rimskij-Korsakov Conservatoire in St Petersbourgh.
She has been the director of Vilnius University „Virgo“ choir since 1981, when she was a student. At the very same time she used to be a piano player – concertmaster at the Lithuanian National Concervatoire and choirmaster for the Lithuanian Radio and TV children‘s choir.
In 1999 she was invited to take over Vilnius University Academic Choir. Due to her future responsibilities Rasa resigned all her former duties and since then has dedicated herself to the artistic and musical education of Vilnius University students. In the year of 2004 a third choir was established at Vilnius University – a choir of mixed voices called „Pro Musica“. Rasa was invited to direct the latter choir as well.
All the three University choirs under Rasa Gelgotienė have been actively involved in concert activities in Lithuania and abroad. The choirs ė have participated in about 40 international festivals, have won 20 International contest and performed such tremendous pieces of choral music as “Messiah” by G.F. Haendel , “Requiem”, “Vesperae Solennis” by W.A. Mozart, “Requiem” by G. Faure , “Stabat Mater”, “Magnificat” by G.B. Pergolesi, “Gloria” by J.Rutter and many others.
Rasa Gelgotienė has been one of the chief conductors of the World Lithuanians’ Song Festival and Students’ Festival of the Baltic countries “Gaudeamus”. She is one of the organizers of the festivals and an expert of the repertoire committees, member of the Board of the Lithuanian Choir Union.
Rasa Gelgotienė has arranged over 20 music pieces for female and mixed voice choirs, released 6 CDs.