Free concert for seniors in St. Casimir’s Church in Vilnius

For the second year, the concert, “Together with the Seniors” will be organised in St. Casimir’s Church in Vilnius on 25 November 2023 at 14H. This is a special event for lonely seniors who are unable to participate on their own in public events. Entrance to this concert is free. At the end of the concert donations will be collected benefiting Senavita Senior Home.

The concert will feature the sounds of St. Casimir’s Church’s grand organ combined with popular, classical, and gospel music, including “Švelnumas” by A. Raudonikis, “Baltas paukštis” by V. Kernagis, “Aleliuja” by Leonard Cohen.

“During the end-of-year holidays, we often get lost in the pre-holiday worries, forgetting the elderly, those who are near and far, and are left alone”, says Renata Marcinkutė-Lesieur, world-renowned organist, professor at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, and director of the Centre for Religious Music, and the concert’s initiator. “More than anything they need our attention, fellowship, and a warm conversation”.

The concert will feature the group Il Senso – sopranos Ieva Barbora Juozapaitytė and Indrė Anankaitė, tenors Laimonas Bendaravičius and Kasparas Damulis, as well as the ensemble United Voices, led by Monika Švilpaitė and Shasta Miller, with Renata Marcinkutė-Lesieur on the organ. Eglė Juozapaitienė and Gintaras Mikalauskas host this event. All are freely donating their talents for this noble cause. The main idea of the event is also embodied in the name of the group Il Senso, which translates from Italian as “meaning”.  At the concert, seniors will not only see and hear live the artists they see on TV, but also have an opportunity to interact with them.

“The idea to organise this concert originated out of the social exclusion experienced by seniors. The elderly living alone leave their homes to buy food, and they no longer have the will, the energy, or the money to live a social life. Lonely seniors are often isolated in a society is dominated by the young. “So, we aim to bring all generations together to celebrate life and socialise during the concert,” says Renata Marcinkutė-Lesieur who conceived the concert.” She added, “We encourage people to bring their grandparents or a lonely elderly neighbour, and let’s give them a nice festive concert!”

Organised by the Vilnius International Rotary Club, its members and former president Ulrike Jansen, Renata Marcinkutė-Lesieur. The Rotary Club is partnering with the charity foundation “Let’s Be Together” and the philanthropist Birutė Vizgirdienė.

This is the second charity concert for lonely seniors organised by Vilnius International Rotary Club. Last year’s concert was a great success and truly appreciated by the seniors in attendance in the environment of beautiful music played in a sacred space.  Many were moved to tears.

The Rotary Club of Vilnius International will also donate to the Senevita Home for the Elderly, recently affected by the fire.