Together
(Vaida Mikalauskiene and Rimas Mikalauskas)
As an artist collective the duet created itself in the years of the studying (in 1984). Both musicians graduated from Lithuanian Art Faculty the specialization of accordion in the cathedral of folk music. Even in those years the part of their examination program consisted of ensemble playing. After the posting in Mazeikiai, Vaida and Rimas found their creative path, because it was found in their family. The goal of both musicians is a concert scene and the work with children as educators. The successful debut of musicians was in 1988 in the second international festival in Vilnius. This opened them the doors of lots of prestige concert halls. After this successful performance, the musicians were invited to various festivals of accordion in St. – Petersburg (Russia), in Kiev (Ukraine). The duet performed and showed up very successfully in the course of mastery held in Bulgaria. In 1992 the duet took the second place in the city of Borgo Val Di Taro, in Italy.
In 1993 in the city of Castelfidardo (Italy) the duet won the third place. 1994-2005 is the period of concert trips (in Poland, Austria, Germany, Italy) and original creative solutions.
In 2000 Vaida Mikalauskiene establishes the private musical school “DOMISOLE” in three cities (in Mazeikiai, Klaipeda, and Vilnius). The students of different age groups study in the school. The children here are taught to play the accordion, piano, guitar, Yamaha, string, brass and percussion. Much attention in this school is paid to early age musical education. Very popular Japanese violinist and educator’s Sinici Suzuki method of “Mother Language” (where children are being taught music being only 3months old) is applied.
In 2000 Rimas Mikalauskas establishes national folk band and leads it successfully. The program of the band consists of the works of the author R.Mikalauskas.
The accordion duet “TOGETHER” is the professional collective. In its creative biography two compact discs were released called “Music for Two” and “Maybe”. The repertoire consists of their own reprocessed and remodeled works, such as J.S.Bach “Cakona”, F.List “Rapsody No.14” etc. In 1994 the duet begins to use the system of MIDI adjusted specially for accordions. This system helps performers to program and to orchestrate their works. Because of the electronic system their performed music was coloured in different colours and timbres. The popular tango, foxtrot and other works were supplemented.
Nowadays Vaida and Rimas successfully perform in Lithuania and abroad.
Their program is light and popular. The style is cheerful, vivacious, and convivial, appreciated by listeners.
Contact numbers: +370 671 26924
E-mail: domisole1@yahoo.com V.Mikalauskiene
+370 612 36659
E-mail: rimasm1960@yahoo.com R.Mikalauskas