Create cannot stop

The competition "Kurti Negalima Sustoti" (Create Don't Stop), organized by the Vilnius JJAZZ Ensemble.

The selected work will go through the entire professional music presentation process – working with the ensemble and preparing the piece, a professional studio audio recording, a live performance at the "Tamsta" club, and filming it. The organizers of the competition aim to provide a space for creativity that may have lived only in sheet music, on a computer, or during rehearsals with friends, but has not yet had the opportunity to go through the entire professional preparation process – from the first rehearsal with performers to recording and the stage.

"I remember when I was growing up and studying music, I often received answers to questions about written music that it was written by a great person who should not be questioned. Of course, I am exaggerating a bit, but I always wanted to talk about creativity without answering the question 'why?' just by saying 'that's how it should be.' Rules and knowledge are important, but they should not become a wall behind which creativity begins," says "Golden Stage Cross" laureate, composer, and artistic director of the Vilnius JJAZZ Ensemble, Jievaras Jasinskis.

It is precisely the desire to bring creativity closer to people who are just starting their journey that is one of the most important ideas of "Kurti Negalima Sustoti." The competition is aimed at those for whom a professional recording, working with a larger group of musicians, or presenting their work on stage might be a new experience.

"I really want to encourage people who are just thinking about a creative path to create, to at least try. The sheet music can be simple; you can use technology, friends, or other musicians. There is no need to be afraid of sheet music, no need to pit creative freedom against rules or music notation. In this competition, we do not limit genres, we do not set the duration of the piece, and we do not focus solely on jazz – we focus on the creative person and their idea," says J. Jasinskis.

In recent years, the Vilnius JJAZZ Ensemble has been paying more and more attention not only to concert and creative activities but also to education and opening up the creative process. For the ensemble, this is a natural continuation of its own activities – the collective constantly experiments with different musical forms and looks for ways to leave more room for experimentation, collaboration, and new ideas on the professional stage.

"Kurti Negalima Sustoti" transfers this principle to collaboration with an emerging author. The author of the selected work will receive not only a professional audio recording and a live performance video clip. Together with the Vilnius JJAZZ Ensemble musicians, they will prepare the piece for performance and will have the opportunity to experience up close how written music turns into a piece performed by a professional collective.