1st (1976)

THE FIRST

In the first Stasys Šimkus Choir Competition, held on May 22, 1976, in what was then the Klaipėda Philharmonic Hall (Rumpiškės St. 6), the participating choirs—those small streams—merged into a great river and earned respect and remembrance. These were the choirs of: the Klaipėda A. Venclova Pedagogical School, conductor J. Eivienė; Telšiai Central Hospital, conductor R. Kasparavičius; Šilutė Education Workers, conductor V. Valužienė; Klaipėda A. Kupčinskas Medical School, conductor A. Senkuvienė; Klaipėda Medical Workers, conductor P. Gelžinis; Klaipėda Accounting Technical School, conductor A. Visockienė; the Klaipėda “Trinyčiai” Factory, conductor Romaldas Misiukevičius; Tryškiai Cultural Center of Telšiai District, conductor A. Šulcas; Klaipėda Meat Processing Plant, conductor Juozas Kubilius; Rietavas Cultural Center, conductor Ona Strazdienė; Plungė Central Hospital, conductor Danguolė Ažaneckienė; Plungė District Cultural Center, conductor S. Buginienė; Klaipėda Teachers’ House (chamber choir), conductor Fabijonas Sereika; Skuodas Town, conductor D. Bernotas; Šilutė MSMV, conductor Vytautas Jovaiša; and Klaipėda Teachers’ House, conductor Lina Dumbliauskaitė.

The laureates and prize-winners of this competition were: Klaipėda Teachers’ House, conductor Lina Dumbliauskaitė; Šilutė Education Workers, conductor V. Valužienė; Šilutė MSMV, conductor Vytautas Jovaiša; Plungė Central Hospital, conductor Danguolė Ažaneckienė; and Tryškiai Cultural Center of Telšiai District, conductor A. Šulcas.

“One cannot fail to recall the final chord of the first Stasys Šimkus Competition. While the jury was deliberating, the organizers prepared the awards, and the exemplary mixed choir ‘Gintaras’ of the Kretinga District Consumers’ Cooperative—led by the young conductor Gediminas Purlis—performed a concert for the large audience of Klaipėda residents and competition participants, achieving notable success. The announcement of the results and the presentation of awards was a moving moment. The audience greeted every laureate and prize-winner with thunderous applause. The organizers and the jury rejoiced sincerely. The audience rose to their feet and resoundingly sang Ilgiausių metų (“Many Years”). Applause for the participants, the organizers, the Idea of the competition, and the Song itself continued for a long time. The small streams, having merged into a Great River, embraced all of Lithuania”.

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