Clarinetist Sarunas Jankauskas will perform at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 13, at the Sandzén Gallery in Lindsborg. He will be accompanied by locally raised pianist, Nick Carlson. The concert continues a tradition of area musicians performing at the Gallery during the holiday season. This year’s event is a special benefit for the A. Jay Steinberg Music Scholarship, with freewill donations accepted.
A native of Lithuania, Sarunas Jankauskas enjoys a versatile performance career as a soloist, chamber and orchestral musician as well as a contemporary music artist. His playing has been acknowledged for its “notable precision and beauty,” “exotic flair,” “smooth and seductive delicacy,” and for “bringing a rich tone to even the most breathlessly fast passages.” Currently, he is the principal clarinetist of the Wichita Symphony and member of the Lieurance Woodwind Quintet.
Jankauskas has performed throughout the United States and Europe in a variety of concert settings. He has appeared as a concerto soloist with numerous ensembles, including Boulder Chamber Orchestra, Round Rock Symphony, Texas Festival Orchestra, The University of Texas at Austin and Wichita State University Symphony Orchestras. As a chamber musician he collaborated with St. Petersburg and Jasper String Quartets, Colette Valentine, Toby Blumenthal, Kris Becker and other accomplished artists.
In 2012, Dr. Jankauskas joined the School of Music at Wichita State University as Assistant Professor of Clarinet. Previously he served on the faculty at Texas Lutheran University in Seguin, Texas. He started his formal musical studies at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre and, after moving to the United States, received degrees from Grand Valley State University, Rice University and, most recently, from the University of Texas at Austin.
Nickolas Carlson is a third year graduate student studying Orchestral Conducting. His principal teacher is Dr. Mark Laycock. Nick has been assistant conductor for four WSU Opera Theater Productions and will be the Music Director for WSU’s spring production of Les Indes Galantes by Jean-Phillipe Rameau. He received his Bachelor of Music degree in organ performance from Bethany College. His organ teacher at Bethany was Dr. Melody Steed. He has studied conducting with Dr. Jared Chase, Johannes Gustavsson, and Dr. Richard Koshgarian. Nickolas studied clarinet in Lindsborg with A.J. Steinberg for 10 years, and has continued his studies with Dr. Jankauskas at Wichita State. He has also studied organ and folk music at Musikhögskolan Ingesund in Arvika, Sweden.
The concert season at the Gallery is coordinated by Shawn Knopp. A holiday themed reception in honor of the participants will follow the program.
The Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery is located at 401 North First Street in Lindsborg. There is no charge for admission, however, seating is limited. For further information, contact the Gallery at 785-227-2220 or fineart@sandzen.org.
Sandzn Gallery Christmas Concert on December 13