As was recently confirmed in Malmo, Palanga is already well prepared for the hosting of the 2024 European Brass Band Championships.

Later this month it will host the 2023 Amber Wind Festival, whilst at present its Music Composition Competition for the Wind Orchestras is reaching its climax with five new works written by Lithuanian composers dedicated to the 770th anniversary of the founding of the city.

The final will be adjudicated by an international jury panel chaired by Edward Gregson alongside fellow composers Stan Nieuwenhuis and Arvydas Malcys. The main objective of the event was to help encourage a new generation of Lithuanian composers to write original wind band compositions of high artistic and educational merit.

The five works will be performed by the professional Palanga City Wind Orchestra
conducted by Artistic Director Vygantas Rekasius.

Masterclasses, projects and performances

The festival will also feature masterclasses and performances from the A4 Brass Quartet amongst others, whilst the preparations are already secured for 2023 entries.

It also involves education projects aimed at children as well as performances from other notable ensembles. The project is financed by the Lithuanian Council for Culture and Palanga City Municipality.

Great strides

Speaking about the event Edward Gregson told 4BR: "Although the brass and wind band scene in Lithuania is still in its relative infancy, great strides have been taken to enhance the quality of performers and the interest of composers.

This competition presents an opportunity for Lithuanian composers to showcase their abilities and originality of approach in writing for this thrilling genre. With the European Brass Band Championships coming to Palanga in 2024 things look set for exciting developments in the brass and wind music scene in Lithuania."

With the European Brass Band Championships coming to Palanga in 2024 things look set for exciting developments in the brass and wind music scene in LithuaniaEdward Gregson

Lithuanian talent

Meanwhile, Stan Nieuwenhuis added: "The overall ambition of the event is not the competition itself, but to stimulate composers to write for wind orchestras.

We were happy to discover exciting Lithuanian talent and want to encourage them to keep composing for wind orchestras and challenge them to find their own unique voice that is deeply rooted in the Lithuanian music tradition."

Further information

https://orkestras.pro/events/amber-wind-2023/#

Image copyright: Aldas Kazlauskas