A unique musical experience: for the first time in Europe, Avi Kaplan and two choirs present an Americana program created specifically for OTTW’26. The former Pentatonix vocalist, a three-time Grammy-winning renowned alternative, indie, and country artist, arrives in Vilnius with a new concert format. Prepare for an evening where powerful bass vocals, choral harmonies, and elements of country, blues, gospel, and roots rock merge into a modern, never-before-heard sound.
Continuing the unique "Open To The World" festival, the ISM choir "Bel Canto" offers an exclusive concert experience. On December 12, 2026, the festival presents the Americana music phenomenon and the only project of this scale featuring Avi Kaplan and choirs in Europe. It will feature nearly 100 performers from Lithuania, the USA, Sweden, and the United Kingdom: Avi Kaplan, the best European male choir "Zero8", the ISM choir "Bel Canto", British ensemble "Voces8" vocalist Blake Morgan, and others.
The only Avi Kaplan concert and his first visit to the Baltic states
Avi Kaplan is a renowned US singer and songwriter, former vocal bass of the platinum-selling a cappella group Pentatonix. In the music world, he is valued for his exceptionally low, deep, and warm bass and wide vocal range.
Having started his solo career in 2017, Avi Kaplan was already one of the most prominent voices in modern vocal music. After leaving the pop group, he turned to indie, country, blues, and roots rock style music, dominated by natural vocals and acoustic instruments.
Avi Kaplan's solo albums and singles – "Floating on a Dream", "Move Our Souls", "Peace Somehow", and others – generate millions of streams every month (more than 200 million in total) on music platforms and tens of millions of views on Instagram, TikTok, and other social media. During last year's world tour, he held 40 concerts in the USA, Europe, and the Middle East.
Avi Kaplan's performance at OTTW’26 will be his only concert and his first visit to the Baltic states.
For the first time in Lithuania – the Americana phenomenon on the OTTW’26 stage
American roots music is a contemporary US musical direction that combines traditional country, blues, R&B, bluegrass, and roots rock music into a cohesive, organic sound. This musical "umbrella" formed as an alternative to commercial country, and its artists seek authenticity, focusing on natural vocals and acoustic instrumentation.
Americana music consciously avoids excessive studio processing, auto-tune used in pop music, and artificiality. Vocals here sound natural – voice cracks, emotions, and deep breaths are valued, creating a sense of intimacy and truth. This genre is also characterized by precise two- or three-part harmonies.
Lyrics are extremely important in Americana. These are usually pieces written in a storytelling style, resembling letters, diaries, or short stories. Main themes include working-class concerns, provincial life, personal dramas, and social issues such as inequality or environmental protection.
In recent years, Americana has become a prominent direction in the independent American scene, often presented at festivals and concerts as modern but tradition-respecting music.
Exclusive content and concert experience in Christmas Vilnius
In this exclusive OTTW’26 program, Avi Kaplan will present his most prominent hits, intriguing duets with "Voces8" vocalist Blake Morgan, and a program prepared specifically for this evening with the best European male choir "Zero8" and the ISM choir "Bel Canto". Most of the pieces were arranged and adapted for the choirs by Avi Kaplan and Blake Morgan themselves, so this evening will have a distinct sound experienced only here.
The concert experience will be complemented by a subtle visual atmosphere. In the LVSO hall, video projections will echo the symbolism of Americana music, allowing sound and image to merge into one picture. This is an evening where Christmas Vilnius will take on a warmer, deeper, and slightly mysterious tone.
Main performers
Avi Kaplan (USA), vocalist and guitarist.
Blake Morgan (UK), vocalist.
Choir "Zero8" (Sweden). Artistic director Rasmus Krigström.
ISM choir "Bel Canto". Artistic director Milda Švelnienė.
Motiejus Bazaras, pianist.
Selected instrumentalists.
Creative and technical team
Producers – Avi Kaplan, Audrius Valatkevičius, Blake Morgan.
Sound – Kęstutis Dulinskas (No Noise).
Production design and lights – Martynas Vaitkevičius ("Delegatai").
Lighting programming and control – Paulius Varonenka ("FadersUp Live").
Video projections – Ričardas Matačius.
Video projection mapping (3D mapping) – Ervinas Gresevičius.
Video projection equipment and service – company "Baltas Dažnis".
Open To The World 2026
The ISM choir "Bel Canto" festival "Open To The World" is a unique, traditional vocal-choral music project in Lithuania. Its goal is to present modern content, the world's best choirs, vocal ensembles, and composers, to promote innovation in culture and choral music as well as cooperation between music creators from Lithuania and other countries, to foster Western culture, and to create, perform, and improve together.
Having started in 2018, "Open To The World" will present five concerts this year, featuring more than 270 singers and musicians: composer and conductor, two-time Grammy winner Christopher Tin (USA), alternative, indie, and country artist, former Pentatonix vocalist Avi Kaplan, the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra, choirs "Zero8", "A Scalpella" (Sweden), and "Liepaitės", vocal ensembles "Les Itinérantes" (France) and "Ringmasters" (Sweden), soloists Jamal Moore, Peter Drackley (USA), Kseniya Bakhritdinova (Ukraine), Blake Morgan (UK), and others.
Project sponsors: building manufacturers INHUS, real estate development company "Vastint Lithuania", the largest logistics real estate developer in the Baltic states "SIRIN Development", and Vilnius City Municipality. Information partner – LRT television, advertising partner – advertising agency "Ogilvy".