Vita Rusaitytė (b. 1977) is a mainstream jazz singer, skilled in scat technique, admired for her low, rich and warm voice and exceptional artistry. Her repertoire includes jazz standards and original compositions.
While still studying choral conducting at the Vilnius Conservatory, Vita Rusaitytė got fascinated with jazz and joined vocal jazz ensemble Jazz Land (leader Artūras Novikas). In 2003, she graduated as a jazz vocalist from the Art Faculty of the Klaipėda University, where she studied with Steponas Januška, and in 2005 earned Master Degree in acting from the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre. During her studies in the Klaipėda University, Vita Rusaitytė performed with the university's Big Band, West Coast Band, Doudi Jazz Band, Malina's Top Secret, in duo with Saulius Šiaučiulis, and in trio with Arnoldas Jankūnas and Algis Kilis. Her other jazz partners include Pranas Narušis, Rimantas Bagdonas and group Jazz Comfort, Egidijus Buožis, Linas Rimša, Vytautas Labutis, Arvydas Jofė, Dainius Pulauskas, Eugenijus Kanevičius, Skirmantas Sasnauskas. Presently she has been collaborating with the Lithuanian Radio and Television Orchestra and Skirmantas Sasnauskas' folk-jazz project.
Vita Rusaitytė has received prizes in a number of competitions including Grand Prix in Sing Jazz festival in Panevėžys (2002), first prize in Young Jazz Singers Competition in Klaipėda (2002), first prize in Young Jazz Singers Competition in Vilnius (2003), first prize in international jazz singers competition Sony Jazz Stage in Riga (2005), second prize in Nome Jazz competition in Tallinn (2005), and was hailed the best in Lady Summertime competition in Finland (2005).
In addition to her active performing career, Vita Rusaitytė teaches jazz vocal at the Vilnius College, the Vilnius Conservatory and the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre. Currently she pursues her interest in the Lithuanian folk music, which often serves as an inspiration for her original compositions.
© Jūratė Kučinskaitė
