Home » Member Page

Leonardas Pilkauskas

My life is a peculiar trip of challenges, but never sad.

About Me

I'm Leonardas Pilkauskas – playing saxophone (flute and clarinet), composer, arranger, educator, propagandist. I was born (1984) in Vilnius, the capital and oldest city in Lithuania. This little country in the East-Europe, whose ancient language is most closely related to Sanskrit (a historical Indo-Aryan language), declared independence in 1990 after undergoing a long-term history ruled by foreign occupations. Largely agricultural roots and an extensive mythology similar to Norse traditions are Lithuanian identity, while forward thinking and artistic present-generations are the future of young nation spread all over the world. I began my musical education when I was six years old in M.K.Ciurlionis School Of Arts and after a while finishing my first bachelor degree in Lithuanian Music and Theater Academy (2006). Then I moved to Netherlands to continue my studies in Den Haag, Royal Conservatory of Music, where I'm done with my second bachelor degree (2010). At this moment I live in Vilnius after finishing studies in Amsterdam Conservatory, a Master degree (May of 2012).

My Jazz Story

My personality is influenced by philosophy works dedicated to humanity appreciation. My lifeline is blessed for having opportunities to learn from great teachers. I'm always surrounded with great spirits and extraordinary talents of my generation who gives me inspiration to seek for the light in future perspectives. My music expression language is inspired by various philosophy writings (Albert Schweitzer, Erich Fromm, Johan Wolfgan Goethe, Vladimir Dostoyevsky, Carlos Castaneda, Mike George and others); by music about eclectic freedom in composition art (Oliver Messiaen, Igor Stravinsky, Arnold Schonberg, Anton Webern, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Bela Bartok, Johan Sebastian Bach and others); I love fine arts (surrealistic or abstract art-field works). Composer inside me loves to construct forms re-imagining reality pictures. An inner urge of intelligent detail is necessary in my work.