Music Forum Academy in Birštonas, Lithuania June 30 – July 6, 2025
The Music Forum Academy in the famous spa town of Birštonas is one-of-a-kind cultural and artistic educational initiative taking place from June 30 to July 6. This program combines world-class musical experience, pedagogical excellence, and creative collaboration.
Music Forum Academy program invites violinists, cellists, and pianists of ages between 14–23 years old to effectively improve their technical and musical skills with renowned musicians and teachers.
Participants will be able to refine their performance skills, broaden their musical horizons, develop their creative and critical thinking, and will be provided with many public performance opportunities.
2 individual lessons, 1 masterclass and 2 chamber music coaching lessons at Birštonas Art School;
Public concerts at the Birštonas Kurhaus and Birštonas Art School;
Pre-concert discussions with Composers and Musicians.
Music teachers are welcome to participate as auditors at materclasses and individual lessons.
Registration Form for teachers – observer participation in masterclasses and individual lessons: >>
Registration due date: June 6, 2025. Registration has to include: Video Recording of Two contrasting pieces of five minutes each (pieces don’t have be played in their entirety) to be sent to: musicforumacademy@arssonoris.eu and Application Form:
Registration is confirmed upon payment of the 185 Euros participation fee.
Bank: AB „Artea“ bank
Ats. sąsk.: IBAN
LT73 7180 3000 0770 0174
Bank address: Tilžės g.149, LT-76348 Šiauliai, Lithuania
SWIFT code CBSBLT26
For information regarding accomodation and meals, please inquire via e-mail at musicforumacademy@arssonoris.eu or by phone at +370 64713055
Prof. Atis Bankas
Lithuanian born Canadian violinist, Artistic Director of the Music Forum Academy, and professor at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. Former faculty member at University of Toronto, Lawrence University in Wisconsin, Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, and Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, Maryland, prof. Bankas has trained numerous outstanding performers, including international competition winners, members in leading orchestras and chamber ensembles across Canada and the US. Atis Bankas is also the founder and artistic director of the Music Niagara Festival, now in its 27th season, a long time member of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, primarius of the Gould String Quartet, and a member of both the Potsdam Trio and CamerAtis Ensemble.
Prof. Irena Uss-Armonienė (piano)
Recipient of the Lithuanian Government Prize for Culture and Art, Head of the Collaborative Piano Department at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre. She regularly conducts masterclasses at music universities across Europe (Germany, France, Sweden, Finland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, Latvia, Belarus) and is frequently invited to teach at international Lied forums including the European Lied Forum in Germany (UDK, Berlin), Austria (Mozarteum Salzburg, University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna), Poland (F. Chopin University of Music, Warsaw), and Lithuania (LMTA, Vilnius).
Prof. Rimantas Armonas (cello)
Professor at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, recipient of the Government Prize for Culture and Art and the LMS Golden Disc Award. He is Head of the Chamber Music Department at LMTA. Prof. Armonas has led cello masterclasses in Lithuania, Belgium, Belarus, Latvia, Poland, the Netherlands, France, Finland, Sweden, and Germany.
Čiurlionis Quartet (Jonas Tankevičius (1st violin), Darius Dikšaitis (2nd violin), Gediminas Dačinskas (viola), Elena Daunytė (cello))
One of Lithuania’s most prominent chamber ensembles. In 1990, it became the first Lithuanian performing group to receive the National Prize for Culture and Arts. In 2004, the quartet won 2nd prize at the international competition in Schweinfurt (Germany). After their debut at London’s Royal Festival Hall, Musical Opinion magazine described their performance as “brilliant.” The quartet has performed worldwide at prestigious venues and festivals, with a repertoire of over 300 works, including numerous premieres by Lithuanian composers.
Kaunas Piano Trio (Lina Krėpštaitė (piano), Indrė Čepinskienė (violin), Asta Krištaponienė (cello))
Founded in 2011, the Kaunas Piano Trio is a professional chamber ensemble active in Lithuania and abroad. The trio performs in major festivals, collaborates with orchestras and choirs, and is known for its conceptual programs, creative projects, and educational focus.