I was born in Šiauliai and am a fourth-generation Šiaulian. I grew up in “Taškent,” spent a lot of time with my grandparents in Šimšė and across the Prūdelis – in “Kaukazas.” I attended Šiauliai 11th Secondary School and the 1st Music School. After my studies, I returned to teach at the former Šiauliai University. In 2018, I revived the International Šiauliai Piano Duet Festival, which I have been directing ever since. I believe my professional work has contributed to the development of cooperation between Šiauliai and its sister city, Omaha (USA). For several decades now, I have been living in London, United Kingdom, where I organized “Šiauliai Days.” I teach at the Vytautas Magnus University Music Academy and am a member of its Senate and the European Cultural Parliament. Yet my hometown always surpasses all others – simply because it is my birthplace. It doesn’t matter that the neighborhood names here have changed.

Photo by Vilmantas Dambrauskas.