13th (2001)

THE THIRTEENTH

During the preparation period for the 13th International Stasys Šimkus Choir Competition, a change took place in the leadership of the main organizer of the competition—the Klaipėda City Choral Association Aukuras. Following the resignation of the organization’s founder and long-time chairman, Associate Professor Robertas Varnas, the position was assumed by Prof. Algis Zaboras.

The competition was held on October 5–7, 2001. Although the number of participating ensembles was smaller than usual, the event maintained its international stature. For the first time, choirs from Slovenia and Romania took part, alongside participants from Latvia and Lithuania. The competition was organized in three categories: youth choirs, equal-voice choirs, and mixed choirs.

The performances were evaluated by a three-member jury: Vaclovas Augustinas (Lithuania) – Chair, Edgars Račevskis (Latvia), and Algis Zaboras (Lithuania). The jury secretary was lecturer Judita Kiaulakytė. First prizes were awarded as follows: in the mixed choirs category, first place went to the mixed choir Daugava from Daugavpils (conductor Jevgenijs Ustinskovs, Latvia); in the youth choirs category, the highest evaluation was given to the girls’ choir of the Klaipėda Eduardo Balsys School of Arts (conductor Zita Kariniauskienė, Lithuania); in the equal-voice choirs category, no first prize was awarded.

The GRAND AMBER Prize was awarded to the girls’ choir of the Klaipėda Eduardo Balsys School of Arts (conductor Zita Kariniauskienė).

Special prizes were awarded as follows: the traditional prize established by Stasys Šimkus’s sons Algis and Neris for the best performance of works by Stasys Šimkus – to the girls’ choir of the Klaipėda Eduardo Balsys School of Arts (conductor Zita Kariniauskienė); the prize of the Klaipėda Stasys Šimkus Conservatory for the best performance of Stasys Šimkus’s work Nakties tylumoj (“In the Stillness of the Night”) – to the mixed choir Daugava from Daugavpils (conductor Jevgenijs Ustinskovs, Latvia); the prize of the Lithuanian Folk Culture Centre for the best performance of works by composers from one’s own country – to the Tukums City Teachers’ Choir Vanema (conductor Romāns Vanags, Latvia); the prize of the Lithuanian Association of Music Teachers for the most valuable competition program – to the Maribor Academic Choir (conductor J. Furst, Slovenia); the prize of the Klaipėda City Choral Association Aukuras for the best performance of the compulsory works – to the girls’ choir of the Klaipėda Eduardo Balsys School of Arts (conductor Zita Kariniauskienė); and the prize of the Klaipėda City Municipality Department of Education for creative boldness – to the boys’ and youth mixed choir Varpelis of the Kaunas Boys’ Choral Singing School Varpelis (conductor Ksaveras Plančiūnas, Lithuania).

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