▌ We Are All Made of Stars

Andrė Pabarčiūtė welcomed this world at a lovely day of July, with Sun crossing Cancer, in almost exact conjunction with the Moon, and MC coming in between. Her Venus is in Leo, and Moon makes semi-sextile with Chiron! This is a perfect constellation for bringing beauty and creative wisdom into our world.

At the age of six, Andrė begins singing in "Liepaitės" girl's choir. Shortly after becoming a schoolgirl, she enters the National M. K. Čiurlionis' College of Arts, and begins studying choir conducting at the 3^rd grade.

▌ Destined for Music

At once the exceptional gift of Andrė draws attention of teachers, notably of experienced piano instructor V. Gabanova. She becomes the first serious guide into the world of music for Andrė, and it was she who imparted the most fundamental primary skills of piano playing and score reading into Andrė. Further she introduced her lovely pupil to composer B. Kutavičius and cembalo player G. Kviklys, and even tried to teach her organ playing.

So, although Andrė entered the 3^rd grade absolutely without piano skills, in a short course of two years she took perfect command of piano keyboard, predating her later precise sense of style. Andrė did this in such a spectacular way that she has been immediately transferred into the 5^th grade of Piano division, into the class of Expert Teacher A. Šikšniūtė. The teacher of choir division felt very deserted at this move...

At 5^th grade she enters the composition class of B. Kutavičius.

At 6^th grade Andrė begins mastering cembalo under the guidance of G. Kviklys. Now she enters public performances willingly and often, as pianist, cembalo player, and composer. At 7^th grade she débuts at international stage and wins premier prix at Concours Nicolai Rubinstein, Paris. She also attends several master classes under guidance of Nina Seryogina, Ksenia Knorré, J. Karnavičius, etc. Her concert tour in Germany also was successful and received very favourable press.

As Andrė entered 9^th grade, B. Kutavičius quit his job as a tutor, and she has been promptly grabbed by N. Galiamova, composition teacher of extraordinary skill.

▌ Encounters with Jazz

Andrė made an acquaintance with jazz at 5^th grade, as she has been selected to perform in a musical for children "Dora Dora cha-cha-cha!" by Neda, one of the brightest Lithuanian jazz singers. Neda told her about V. Čekasin, but Andrė had yet to develop a taste for jazz then. Only 3 years after she actually visited V. Čekasin and without any longer introduction asked him to become her teacher.

V. Čekasin, after a little additional training, accepted her and quickly became enchanted by the sheer talent of his new charming pupil. But Andrė revealed herself as a tough student with a very strong and impetuous creative personality of her own. Only after two years of heated discussions concerning ways of teaching and learning the real work commenced.

Thus, Andrė began singing seriously only at the spring of 2003. This undoubtedly is only an initial stage to build a creative might on and actualize it in the factual creative processes. Andrė has yet to develop her own style, and taking into account her formidable potential, even her own music. She has yet to develop her voice — the precious instrument of conveying her musical fantasy, because she is still a young girl and keeps growing a bit.

For some time, Andrė took lessons in academic vocal technique by Sigutė Stonytė, probably the most accomplished classical vocalist in Lithuania. But V. Čekasin still remains the most versatile teacher for Andrė. He conveys the mastery and knowledge of composition, piano playing, singing, and improvisation.

▌ Experiences and Inspirations

Concerning specifically jazz vocals, Andrė is especially fascinated by the vocalists of improvisatory style, such as Sainkho Namtchylak, Tamia Favre, Norma Winstone, Lindha Kallerdahl, and also by classical performers: Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, and Sheila Jordan.

Andrė has collaborated with various Lithuanian jazz musicians: Jan Maksimovich Quartet, Liudas Mockūnas, Vytis Nivinskas, Dima Golovanov, Arkadij Gottesman, Marijus Aleksa, Pavel Giunter, Tomas Dobrovolskis of "Vilniaus Mušamieji" ensemble.

She also started very fruitful collaboration with the academic instrumentalist Raimondas Sviackevičius, and dancer Lora Juodkaitė.

Andrė likes free improvizing at jam-sessions during various events and with various performers: Alex Wilson, Leonid Šinkarenko, Oleg Molokojedov, Marc Ducret, Stefan Pasborg, Jacob Anderskov, Nils Davidsen, Brahm Fetterman, Mike del Ferro, Harri Sjöström, Matthew Bourne, Ryoji Hojito, Eve Cornelious, Christophe Monniot, Denis Charolles, Frédéric Gastard, A. Schreiber, Alex Kruglov, and others.

Recently she most often performs in trio with Raimondas Sviackevičius and Tomas Dobrovolskis, and never fails to charm and bewitch listeners with her fantasy, unfailing taste, musicality and high energy.

▌ The Road Goes Ever On

In summer 2005 Andrė graduated from National M. K. Čiurlionis' College of Arts, having received training in three domains: piano playing, composition, and musical theory. She passed the competitive exams at Lithuanian Academy of Music with flying colours, and Fall 2005 she started studies in piano class of Prof. Petras Geniušas. Now she is a second-term student.

Andrė plays not only classical pieces, but also jazz compositions and improvizations on piano.

Her other active interests span from flamenco dance to Greek philosophy; from visual arts and literature to quantum mechanics and astronomy; from nature and cosmos to the very heights and depths of human soul.