This is a traditional event, taking place for the XXIV time in 2026.
The festival’s identity has gradually taken shape: a ceremonial format, a logo, a motto, regulations, a flag, and a mascot.
Rimantas Bagdonas was the initiator and long-time director of the festival-competition “JAZZ FONTANAS”. He took great joy and pride in the children who can play jazz, who understand it, play it beautifully, and are able to showcase their talents and compete with one another.
Rimantas Bagdonas (1952–2019)
For 40 years, his music of various genres filled concerts, festivals, and gatherings of friends. And then it stopped… A wound opened in the cultural life of Panevėžys, and Lithuania. We lost a composer, a creator of jazz music, an arranger.
To ignite others, you must first burn with that feeling yourself.
To move others to tears, your own tears must first flow.
To convince others, you must first believe yourself.
— W. Churchill
This quote by Nobel laureate W. Churchill fits perfectly the personality of the creator we have lost. Under his leadership, 18 festivals took place, the first in 2002. He ignited and convinced us — we will carry on the festival JAZZ FONTANAS that he created. This will be the greatest tribute to the creator, his ambitions, and his unfinished work…
The event, which has received outstanding recognition, continues to grow in the number of participants, diversity of genres, and geographical reach. The festival has already gained authority among the music-playing youth and their teachers in Lithuania, Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, and Latvia. It has become the young jazz performers’ own “Birštonas”. Inspired by the festival, ever new ensembles of young jazz musicians come together.
Since “JAZZ FONTANAS” is a festival-competition, the young participants are evaluated by respected Lithuanian jazz music professionals — critics, performers, and educators.
The festival helps young people interested in the art of music to grow, to explore, and encourages them to continue their studies in this field at Lithuanian and international music institutions. Many of the young performers who have participated in this project go on to study jazz in Austria, the Netherlands, England, Denmark, Switzerland, and even at the world’s most prestigious jazz school — Berklee College of Music (USA). “JAZZ FONTANAS” is for them a launchpad for a professional leap into the future.
Festival idea
The popularisation of jazz music; giving young, talented jazz performers the opportunity to shine, nurturing them by creating conditions to collaborate with professional musicians.
The project takes place in 3 stages:
- Competitive concerts by age group.
- A concert by the most outstanding participants at the “RANDEVU” jazz club.
- Award ceremony for the laureates and the Grand Concert (GALA CONCERT).
What makes the project unique
- This is the only event of its kind in Lithuania, covering a broad spectrum of children’s and youth vocal-instrumental jazz music.
- Joint creative work of young artists with their teachers and professional musicians.
Jury
- Members are invited by the festival-competition organisers.
- The jury composition is announced before the concerts begin.
- The jury’s decisions are final and cannot be appealed.