Erasmus+ project “Rohkeutta kansainvälisyyteen”: when young string players from Lithuania and Finland perform in one orchestra
As part of the Mikkeli Music Institute’s Erasmus+ project “Rohkeutta kansainvälisyyteen” (“Courage for Internationalisation”, project No. 2025-1-FI01-KA122-SCH-
The activities held in Kaunas within this Erasmus+ short-term mobility project in the field of school education became an important experience of cooperation between young musicians from Lithuania and Finland. The students rehearsed together, prepared a joint concert programme, communicated in English, became acquainted with different traditions of music education, and on 8 May 2026 performed together at an international string music concert in the Conference Hall of the Kaunas Archdiocese.
On the first day of the visit, 7 May, the Finnish musicians arrived in Kaunas and, in the afternoon, visited Kaunas 1st Music School. The first joint rehearsal of young Lithuanian and Finnish string players took place in the Giedrius Kuprevičius Concert Hall.
During the rehearsal, the String Orchestra of Kaunas 1st Music School and the Vilhonkatu Chamber Orchestra of Mikkeli Music Institute prepared the pieces for their joint performance.
After the first rehearsal, Lithuanian and Finnish musicians met in the third-floor hall of Kaunas 1st Music School. Dr Domantas Milius, Deputy Director for Education of Kaunas 1st Music School, presented the school, its activities, international projects and main areas of music education. Afterwards, the young violinists Nojus Gidra, Vaiva Vaičenonytė, Patricija Žebuolytė and Goda Poškaitytė introduced Kaunas and Lithuania in a particularly professional and interactive way. During the meeting, the guests had the opportunity to communicate with the school community, taste Lithuanian šakotis, share their first impressions and discuss the activities planned for the following day.
On 8 May 2026, the project activities continued. In the morning, rehearsals resumed in the orchestra hall with the participation of the musicians of the Vilhonkatu Chamber Orchestra. After the rehearsal, the guests had lunch and later took part in a guided tour of Kaunas Old Town. The guide, Deimantė, introduced the guests to the history of the city, Lithuanian culture and the architectural environment of Kaunas.
The main highlight of the visit was the international string music concert held on 8 May 2026 in the Conference Hall of the Kaunas Archdiocese. The concert was opened impressively by the String Orchestra of Kaunas 1st Music School, conducted by Expert Teacher Kristina Katavičiūtė.
The young string players of our school performed three pieces: musical themes by Franz Lehár from the operetta “Die lustige Witwe”, music by Harry Gregson-Williams from the film “The Chronicles of Narnia”, and John McLeod’s “Encore – Feudlin’ Fiddles”.
In the second part of the concert, the guests from Finland took to the stage. The Vilhonkatu Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Olli Helske, performed Pehr Henrik Nordgren’s “Pelimannimuotokuvia” / “Portraits of Country Fiddlers”, consisting of four movements: “Näpsyttäjä” / “The Plucker”, “Tuumiskelija” / “The Thinker”, “Vanhan miehen menuetti” / “The Old Man’s Minuet” and “Pelimannin elämänkappale” / “The Fiddler’s Favourite Tune”. The programme also included Armas Järnefelt’s “Berceuse”, Toivo Kuula’s “Sanaton laulu” / “Chanson sans paroles”, featuring a violin solo by Siiri Vauhkonen, Michal Šupák’s “Tuoll’ on mun kultani”, and two works by Antonín Dvořák – “Slavonic Dance”, Op. 46 No. 8, and “Slavonic Dance”, Op. 46 No. 1.
The guests from Finland gave an exceptionally professional and convincing performance. Their programme revealed clear ensemble discipline, timbral unity, musical flexibility and a mature approach to stage performance. In the repertoire of the young Finnish musicians, the restraint of Nordic music, the vitality of folk-inspired characters, lyrical sensitivity and the energetic pulse of dance came together naturally. This performance was also a valuable experience for the students of Kaunas 1st Music School, who had the opportunity to see at close range how chamber music-making, stage culture and responsibility for the overall orchestral result are developed in another country.
At the end of the concert, both ensembles joined together to form a single Lithuanian-Finnish youth orchestra. This part of the concert became the most striking artistic and educational highlight of the entire visit. The joint orchestra was conducted by both conductors – Olli Helske and Kristina Katavičiūtė. Four works were performed in the joint programme: Antonín Dvořák’s “Carnival Overture”, Jean Sibelius’ “Andante festivo”, Jean Sibelius’ “Impromptu” and Juozas Naujalis’ “Svajonė”.
The works of Jean Sibelius sounded especially meaningful during the concert, connecting Finnish musical culture with the Lithuanian audience. Meanwhile, Juozas Naujalis’ “Svajonė” became a sensitive sign of Lithuanian music, allowing the guests from Finland to encounter the Lithuanian musical tradition. These repertoire choices gave the concert both artistic and cultural value: not only two orchestras met on stage, but also two musical environments, two educational experiences and two cultures. After the final piece, the full audience gave the joint Lithuanian-Finnish youth orchestra a standing ovation.
This Erasmus+ project meeting showed that international cooperation between music schools can be deeply meaningful. It gave students the opportunity to understand that music is not only about individual preparation, but also about the ability to be part of a shared process. Playing in a joint orchestra develops attention, responsibility, stage endurance, self-confidence and respect for fellow performers. It is an experience that students take with them not merely as a concert memory, but also as an important stage in their musical growth.
The cultural dimension of the visit was no less significant. The young Finnish musicians became acquainted with Kaunas, the environment of Kaunas 1st Music School, the activities of Lithuanian music schools and our school community. For the Lithuanian students, the visit was also an opportunity to communicate with peers from another country, experience the atmosphere of an international project and see that musical cooperation can continue not only on stage, but also through informal communication, joint rehearsals, shared experiences and new professional connections.
We sincerely thank Olli Helske, conductor of the Vilhonkatu Chamber Orchestra of Mikkeli Music Institute, for his professional cooperation, sensitive musical leadership, responsible preparation and the meaningful visit of the young Finnish musicians to Kaunas. We thank the entire Vilhonkatu Chamber Orchestra for the excellent concert, joint rehearsals, open communication and the beautiful experience of international music-making. We express our special gratitude to Marja Ikonen, Director of Mikkeli Music Institute, for supporting international cooperation and for making it possible for this Erasmus+ project to become a living experience of partnership between Lithuanian and Finnish music schools.
We are especially grateful to Expert Teacher Kristina Katavičiūtė, conductor of the String Orchestra of Kaunas 1st Music School, for her extensive preparation work, professionalism, responsibility and preparation of the students for the joint international performance.
We also thank the teachers of Kaunas 1st Music School and the members of the working group who contributed to the implementation of this project: Violeta Valerija Polianskienė, Karolina Dovydaitė, Asta Gaidamavičienė, Diana Galdikienė, Genovaitė Loreta Krivaitienė, Marius Laurynaitis, Gintarė Maruškienė, Audronė Ravkienė, Roma Razmienė, Audronė Tamulienė and Darius Vasiliauskas.
We thank the concert host Silvija Jermakovaitė for her professional hosting of the event, as well as all students, teachers, organisers and audience members who contributed to making this Erasmus+ project meeting in Kaunas a beautiful, meaningful and memorable joint orchestral experience for young musicians from Lithuania and Finland. We are pleased that this partnership will have a meaningful continuation: on 5–9 October 2026, the young musicians of Kaunas 1st Music School will travel to Finland, where, together with the community of Mikkeli Music Institute, they will take part in joint activities and give a joint concert. We believe that this experience will become another important step in strengthening a long-term, close and mutually valuable inter-institutional partnership.
Prepared by: Dr Domantas Milius, Expert Piano Teacher
Photos and video: Justas Gudašis
Concert photos
