Rokas Diržys (2008)

| Lithuania

National M. K. Čiurlionis School of Arts

Professor | Rūta Lipinaitytė

Accompanist | Simas Minkevičius

Rokas started violin in the age of seven at the Kaunas First Music School, in the violin class of expert teacher D. Galdikienė, from which he graduated in the spring 2023. Since September 2023, Rokas has been studying at the National M. K. Čiurlionis School of Arts, in the violin class of prof. Rūta Lipinaitytė-Savickienė. He is a scholarship holder of the Rostropovich Charity and Support Foundation "Help for Lithuanian Children", winner of 80 competitions, recipient of the Maximalist Scholarship in 2020-2021 and 2023, VIVAT Future Multitalent scholar in 2022 and 2024. At the moment Rokas plays S. Krylov violin handed over by the Rostropovich Charity and Support Foundation. Composer Giedrius Kuprevičius heard Rokas playing his piece "Four Strange Dances for Violin and Piano", and decided to arrange them for wind band. In 2022, after a break of more than 50 years, these dances were heard again in concert halls. In these performances Rokas was playing as the soloist with the Ąžuolynas Wind Orchestra. In April 2024, Rokas won 1st prize and the EMCY Prize at the 12th International Balys Dvarionas Piano and Violin Competition. He also won grand prix at the VII Vilnius International Youth Music Competition "Premio Scarlatti" and the VII Jonas Urba National String Competition in October 2024. Rokas is constantly improving his musical skills in masterclasses, and has participated in open lessons with violinists and professors Zakhar Bron, Andrei Baranov, Christian Altenburger, Džeraldas Bidva, Martynas Švėgžda von Bekker, Dalia Dėdinskaitė and Pierre Amoyal.