Laurynas Vakaris Lopas (b. 1948) studied choral conducting at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, in the class of Professor Herman Perelstein, in 1967-1972; he finished composition class of Professors Eduardas Balsys and Vytautas Laurušas in 1985.
L. V. Lopas has been an artistic director and conductor of the symphony and chamber orchestras of the Vilnius Juozas–Tallat Kelpša Higher Music School during 1973-2012. During 1990-1995, he has been an artistic director and conductor of the symphony orchestra of the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre.
In 1986 he founded chamber choir Cantemus, which he directed for 25 years. Under his direction, the choir has won 7 prizes at international competitions. Since 1995, he is Professor for choral conducting at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, as well as member of the Lithuanian Chorus Union and the Lithuanian Composers’ Union.
L. V. Lopas’ creative output includes different genres, such as symphonic, chamber instrumental and vocal works, pieces for organ and carillon, incidental music for theatre, a number of popular songs and especially – music for children. His work is marked by laconic, moderate modernist aesthetics. The polyphonic texture of his pieces is often based on principles of polymeters, polyrhytms and polytonality, and the thematic material on the characteristic motives of Lithuanian folk music.
