Donatas Zakaras

Short Curriculum Vitae 2015 03 16, Vilnius

I have graduated from E. Balsys Gymnasium of Arts in Klaipėda in 1997; earned Master Degree in Choral Conducting (2003, under Č. Radžiūnas), Bachelor Degree in Composition (2005) and Master Degree in Composition (2009, under O. Balakauskas) from the Lithuanian Academy of music and Theatre.
I took part in Europa Chor Akademie (European Choir Academy, Germany); three times was invited to Internationale Bachakademie Stuttgart (The International Bach Academy Stuttgart, Germany).
In 2003–2012 I was a member of Vilnius Municipal choir Jauna muzika.
Since 2006, I have served as a senior specialist of the Music Department of the Lithuanian Folk Culture Centre.
In 2005, I composed for the Schoolchildren Song Festival where I was also invited as a conductor. The same year on commission of the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra I have composed Štrausas prerijose (Strauss in the Prairies), which was performed at the LSSO’s season’s closing concert. In addition, I have done arrangements for the aforementioned orchestra. Jauna muzika choir and St. Christopher Chamber Orchestra have performed Gitanjali, my Bachelor final project (text by Rabindranath Tagore). Together with Zita Bružaitė and Antanas Kučinskas I have contributed to Lithuanian Songs, theatre production for Lietuva (Lithuania) Song and Dance Ensemble. In 2009, my Būtasis dažninis ruduo (The Past Frequentative Autumn) (text by J. Erlickas) was included into Schoolchildren Song Programme of the Lithuanian Millennium Song Festival. 2015 saw a release of Nors žvaigžde tu pakiltum... (Even If You Rise As a Star…), a CD of my choral works. My choral works have repeatedly been performed at the Lithuanian National Philharmonic Hall and Congress Hall, garnered prizes in various competitions. I have composed music for theatre productions, installations, advertisement, musical spectacles for children. My choral and instrumental works have been performed in international competitions (Singapore, Austria, the USA, Japan, Italy, Poland, Estonia) and festivals.