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Concert of DAR residents | 45 min.
August 29th, 6 P.M.
SODAS 2123, Vitebsko str. 23, Vilnius

Composer Piotr Bednarczyk (PL), Kristupas Bubnelis (UK/LT) together with string ensemble Twenty Fingers Duo (LT) will premiere their compositions created and rehearsed during art residency in Druskininkai, August 15 - 29.

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"my ____ is your ____''
interactions between violin, cello, electronics and video.

composer : Piotr Bednarczyk
violin : Lora Kmieliauskaitė
cello : Arnas Kmieliauskas
electronics, video : Piotr Bednarczyk

WARNING: strobe lights.

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"please leave your message after the tone"
piece for violin, cello and electronics.

composer : Kristupas Bubnelis
violin : Lora Kmieliauskaitė
cello : Arnas Kmieliauskas
electronics : Elias Peter Brown (US)

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PIOTR BEDNARCZYK (PL)

In 2019, he graduated from the Academy of Music in Wrocław under Cezary Duchnowski. His activities as a composer are focused mainly on instrumental chamber music, electroacoustic music and electronic music. In his works he concentrates on searching for interesting sound structures using unconventional sound extraction techniques and live electronics. Bednarczyk’s stylistic interests revolve around noise, glitch and club music. He often incorporates performance and visuals into his acts, including stroboscopic effect and lighting control. Bednarczyk is also an active performer of his compositions. He performs his own electronic music as the one-man project LOUFR. The musician is also a member of the Sound Factory Orchestra, in which he is responsible for the production of audio and electronic music. Bednarczyk is also a member of the Wrocław-based Wkurvv collective, whose main activity is the popularisation of experimental electronic music. His works have been presented at such festivals as Warsaw Autumn, Musica Electronica Nova, Musica Polonica Nova, CROSSROADS, Słuchalnia, Muslab, New Music Week, GAIDA Festival, Idealistic Festival and SNIM. He has collaborated with NAMES Ensemble, Ensemble Adapter, Garage Ensemble, Sound Factory Orchestra, Ensemble Kompopolex, Ensemble Synaesthesis, SNIM Ensemble, Trio Layers, Ars Nova Ensemble, and Ensemble s201.

KRISTUPAS BUBNELIS (LT/UK)

Currently based in London, Kristupas Bubnelis represents the youngest generation of Lithuanian composers. He has written music for symphony orchestra, chamber ensembles and solo instruments. His composition “Hammers without a piano” earned him the first prize at the competition of new piano pieces hosted by the Lithuanian Composers’ Union (2016). His music has been performed in Austria, Denmark, Indonesia, the Netherlands, France, Germany and the United Kingdom. His academic achievements in London have been marked by the G. V. Turner-Cooke Composition Award in 2019 and the Arthur Hinton Memorial Prize in 2017. He has been a keen participant of composition seminars and master classes led by Oliver Knussen, Magnus Lindberg, Bent Sørensen, Georg Friedrich Haas, and Hans Abrahamsen. In 2017, he was invited to the Crossroads Festival of new music in Salzburg, Austria. In addition to composition, he works as an event manager. Together with other artists he organises stage performances and contributes to the popularisation of contemporary Lithuanian music abroad. In 2019 he was the key producer of The Chain of Freedom: Baltic Sounds in Focus, a string orchestra concert in London aimed at introducing the most noteworthy current composers from the three Baltic nations to the British audience.

TWENTY FINGERS DUO (LT)

Twenty Fingers Duo is a string ensemble created by brother and sister who see new experimental music as their primary target, but are also keen to take part in the projects involving other genres. Although it was quite recently that cellist Arnas Kmieliauskas started performing with his sister, violinist Lora Kmieliauskaitė, they are a “ticking” duo with a distinct creative prospect.
The ensemble has been behind the recent launch ofPerforma, the multimedia programme aimed at commissioning new works of music from composers who (de)construct new forms of performance. The initiativepoints to the duo’s resolute desire to look for new and even somewhat radical creative challenges.
Both Arnas and Lora are versatile and experienced performers and keen participants of international competitions, masterclasses and festivals held in Lithuania and abroad. They have played in a number of ensembles created for different artistic projects.
The duo has won multiple prizes both at home and internationally for their artistic initiatives and interpretation of music. (By Asta Pakarklytė)

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Free entrance.
Concert is sponsored by Lithuanian Culture Council.

Agnès M, SYNTH Porn
23 July 8 pm
Thomas Mann House (Skruzdynės st. 17, Nida)

The NAC Nightlife Event Programme is a series of collaborative events played out at local bars, clubs, and other friendly institutions in Nida, scattered throughout the summer.

The first event of the programme in July is organized by DAR. SYNTH Porn (2020) is a mixed-media performance by composer Agnė Matulevičiūtė (also known as Agnès M) together with Edvinas Kopcevas following Agnès M album of the same name which was presented online this July. The musical atmosphere of the work is created not only by modular and analog synthesizers, but also by live instruments, voice, and quotes from film characters and poets talking about relationships, love, and emptiness. SYNTH Porn explores the boundaries between mediation and publicity, which is why Thomas Mann House – a once private space turned public – was chosen for the event.

Free entrance. 

The project is co-funded by Lithuanian Council for Culture.

Two applicants will be selected. Each of them will receive a €400 one-time scholarship. In addition to that, the successful candidates will have their travel costs covered (up to €200) and receive free accommodation and workspace at the Druskininkai Artists' Residence. AiR should take care of their health insurance.

The residence will take place 15 through 29 August 2020. The two selected composers are expected to work individually during the first week, while during the following seven days they will rehearse together with the Twenty Fingers Duo. The concluding performance will take place in Cultural Centre Sodas 2123, in Vilnius.

The applicants are expected to prepare a single PDF document which must include the following:
- A curriculum vitae;
- Samples of his or her works, in the form of online links to the maximum of three audio or video pieces;
- A free-form outline of the concept of a new piece;
- A draft or complete score of the piece to be performed by the Twenty Fingers Duo; only previously unperformed pieces are eligible;
- An outline of the implementation of the proposed project, including artistic and technical requirements.

Selection guidelines:
- The piece should be either acoustic or electro-acoustic;
- The live performance of the piece should involve no more than two acoustic instruments, a violin and a cello;
- The composers are free to use electronic and other tools in preparation of the musical material; if required, a composer can become a performer;
- Duration of the piece should be approximately 20 minutes.

Applications are to be emailed by 20 July 2020 – [email protected]
Please go online for more information on the Druskininkai Artists’ Residence:
https://www.artdruskininkai.lt/en/about/

Composers from outside Lithuania should check the most recent information in regard with travel conditions and restrictions provided by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Lithuania: http://sam.lrv.lt/en/
Please make sure your country of residence allows travel to Lithuania before sending an application. We hope the borders will soon be open for everyone.

The residence is supported by Lithuanian Culture Council.

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Twenty Fingers Duo is a string ensemble created by brother and sister who see new experimental music as their primary target, but are also keen to take part in the projects involving other genres. Although it was quite recently that cellist Arnas Kmieliauskas started performing with his sister, violinist Lora Kmieliauskaitė, they are a “ticking” duo with a distinct creative prospect.
The ensemble has been behind the recent launch of Performa, the multimedia programme aimed at commissioning new works of music from composers who (de)construct new forms of performance. The initiative points to the duo’s resolute desire to look for new and even somewhat radical creative challenges.
Both Arnas and Lora are versatile and experienced performers and keen participants of international competitions, masterclasses and festivals held in Lithuania and abroad. They have played in a number of ensembles created for different artistic projects.
The duo has won multiple prizes both at home and internationally for their artistic initiatives and interpretation of music.

The duration of residency is 14 days, September 1 - 14, 2019 (Hållnäs, Sweden); residents will receive a €400 one-time scholarship and covered travel expenses (up to €200).  Composers and sound artists are invited to submit their ideas and project for the residency.

The AiR is expected to present their work in concert or other suitable format at the end of the stay. The details of this can be discussed and will be confirmed closer to the residency.

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