Donaldas Račys

Donaldas Račys was born in Šiauliai, Lithuania, where he began playing the piano at the age of six. He continued his musical studies at the national Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis Art School under the guidance of E. M. Šernienė and A. Jurgelionis. As a student, he became a laureate of numerous national and international piano competitions, among the most notable being the Usti nad Labem Competition (Czech Republic), the Jaunųjų Atlikėjų Konkursas (Lithuania), and the Riga Piano Competition (Latvia).

Later, Mr. Račys studied at the Moscow State P. Tchaikovsky Conservatory under Professors V. Kastelski and L. Dedova. The pianist has given recitals in Germany, Austria, Italy, the United States of America, Denmark, Russia, the Czech Republic, Poland, and China. He has also conducted lectures and masterclasses in the USA (Chicago), the Czech Republic (Prague), Poland (Czestochowa), and Italy (Genoa, Frosinone, Pesaro, Verona, Milan). Donaldas participated in the “Yamaha” music festival in China (Beijing, Anyang, Luoyang) and “Olympus Musicus” in the Czech Republic. He has performed chamber music concerts with violinists Roman Fedchuk and Evgenia Epshtein, cellist Ramutė Kalnėnaitė, and in a piano duo with Julija Sadaunykaitė.

In addition to his solo activities, Mr. Račys is a sought-after pedagogue whose students have received awards in many international piano competitions, such as the Roma Piano Competition, Malta Valletta Piano Competition, and the Magnus Competition. Donaldas has initiated a series of concerts in Lithuania and abroad, featuring performances of all “Etudes tableaux” by S. Rachmaninoff, all Preludes by C. Debussy, and lesser-known piano pieces by F. Liszt.

Donaldas is in high demand as a jury member for national and international competitions, including the International Piano Competition Kutaisi (Georgia), International Young Pianists’ Competition in Liepaja (Latvia), International Magnus Piano Competition (online), International Piano Competition “Premio Scarlatti” in Vilnius (Lithuania), and the National Youth Competition in China (Beijing).

Mr. Račys has worked at the national M. K. Čiurlionis Art School for gifted children. Since 2012, he has been teaching at the Music Academy of Vytautas Magnus University, where he holds the position of professor and serves as the head of the piano department.