About Me: Leonardas Pilkauskas
I am a professional musician, multi-instrumentalist (saxophones, clarinet, flute), composer, arranger and educator. Active on the jazz scene since 2006, my musical journey bridges classical precision and contemporary jazz freedom. Today, I am recognized as one of Lithuania’s most versatile and prolific woodwind performers and orchestrators.
Education & Academic Foundations
- 2006: Earned a Bachelor’s degree from the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre (LMTA).
- 2010: Graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from the prestigious Royal Conservatoire of The Hague in the Netherlands.
- 2012: Completed my international educational journey with a Master’s degree from the Conservatorium van Amsterdam.
Professional Journey & Career Milestones
After six years of intensive studies and performance in the Netherlands, I returned to Vilnius in 2012 to actively contribute to the Lithuanian cultural landscape.
- Arranging & Orchestration (2014–Present): Known for supplying extensive material to wide-ranging ensembles—from big bands to string quartets and symphony orchestras. My arrangements have been featured prominently in major Lithuanian national television (LRT) cultural and musical projects, including Dainuoju Lietuvą, Gražiausios poetų dainos, and Dainų dainelė (2019–2026 seasons) , as well as productions for the Panevėžys Musical Theatre, Vilniaus Sinfonietta, and Kaunas Big Band.
- Album Releases & The “Creative Network”: In recent years, I have prioritized original compositions, collaborating closely with top jazz musicians across Latvia, Belgium, Denmark, and Italy to record several albums under my Creative Network initiative:
- How Deep Is Her Voice (2022)
- And The Sun Will Shine When I’ll See You Again (2023) — critically acclaimed in the French jazz magazine “Citizen Jazz” (2025), where writer Mario Borroni highlighted its innovative approach to jazz evolution.
- There Will Never Be Another Antwerp (2024)
- Trio El Grey (2025)
- Ensembles & Orchestras: I actively perform with and lead several prominent groups, including the Leonardas Pilkauskas Birthday Septet (founded in 2018) and the Vilnius JJAZZ Orchestra (since 2022).
- Pedagogical Career (2012–Present): Alongside my stage career, I believe deeply in giving back to the community. Since 2012, I have been educating the next generation of musicians at the Contemporary School Centre (Šiuolaikinės mokyklos centras) in Vilnius, where I also founded the ŠiMC Jazz Band for kids.
My Philosophy: For me, music is a mature, deeply reflective craft. Whether orchestrating for a televised symphony orchestra or improvising on stage with a small jazz combo, my goal is to fuse technical mastery with genuine emotional authenticity.