MONIKA SOKAITĖ
Monika Sokaitė is a Lithuanian composer of contemporary music whose work combines instrumental, choral, and interdisciplinary expression. She began her musical path as a violinist and later studied composition.
Her music is distinguished by expressive articulation, rich texture, and a conceptual approach to form. Voice and text occupy a central place in her work, often drawing on sacred and literary sources. Sokaitė’s choral works are published by Carus-Verlag (Germany), and her music has been performed in various European countries by renowned soloists and ensembles.
Her works have been interpreted by internationally recognised performers, including conductors Linas Balandis, Vaclovas Augustinas, Povilas Vanžodis, violinist Martynas Švėgžda von Bekker, baritone Plamen Beykov, and percussionist Pavel Giunter. Her music has been presented by ensembles Synaesthesis, Giunter Percussion, St. Christopher Chamber Orchestra, Šiauliai Chamber Orchestra, Klaipėda Chamber Orchestra, Sofia Soloists Chamber Orchestra, choirs Šiauliai State Choir “Polifonija”, Vilnius Municipal Choir “Jauna muzika”, Riga Municipal Choir “Ave Sol”, vocal ensemble “Duodeco” and others. Premieres have taken place in Lithuania, Germany, Poland, Bulgaria, USA, Latvia, and Croatia.
In addition to composing, Monika Sokaitė is active as a music critic and publicist, writing about contemporary music processes and their cultural contexts.
The composer holds strong feminist views—her work consistently raises questions of women’s visibility in classical and contemporary music. Her works often explore themes of identity, corporeality, and expression, questioning traditional hierarchies in the musical field. Sokaitė seeks to create space for women creators, performers, and thinkers in the arts—her artistic path becoming both a personal and political statement about women’s place in the cultural canon.
• III Prize – student composition competition “Mano nata” (“My Note”), Lithuania, 2010
• I Prize and Choir Audience Award – “Vox Juventutis”, Lithuania, 2016
• II Prize – “Musica Sacra Nova”, Germany, 2015
• II Prize – “Sofia 2015”, Bulgaria, 2015
• Letter of appreciation from the President of the Republic of Lithuania, Dalia Grybauskaitė (2016)
• Prize of the Mayor of Vilnius for the best Lithuanian composition – International Eduardas Balsys Composers Competition (Vilnius, 2025)
IMPORTANT WORKS
2010 First student composition competition “Mano nata” (“My Note”), III Prize for a diptych for piano.
2012 Young Composers Competition “Vox Juventutis 2012” final concert, “Sena juoda varna” (“An Old Black Crow”), performed by Vilnius Municipal Choir “Jauna muzika”, conductor Vaclovas Augustinas, St. Catherine’s Church, Vilnius.
2013 Young Composers Competition “Vox Juventutis 2013” final concert, “Ave Maria”, performed by Vilnius Municipal Choir “Jauna muzika”, conductor Vaclovas Augustinas, St. Catherine’s Church, Vilnius.
2013 First electronic music festival “Ahead”, audiovisual installation for tuba, electronics and video “Pažiūrėk, kaip gražiai laivas plaukia” (“Look How Beautifully the Ship Sails”), Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, Grand Hall.
2014 Young Composers Competition “Vox Juventutis 2014” final concert, “Salve Regina”, performed by Vilnius Municipal Choir “Jauna muzika”, conductor Vaclovas Augustinas, St. Catherine’s Church, Vilnius.
2014 Music for the film “Pakeleiviai” (“Fellow Travellers”), director Linas Mikuta. “Kino pavasaris 2014” award for Best Short Film.
2015 International Young Composers Competition “Musica Sacra Nova 2015” (Cologne, Germany), II Prize for “Lacrimosa” for mixed choir.
2015 International Sacred Music Festival “Gaude Mater” (Częstochowa, Poland), Gdańsk State Choir conducted by Jan Łukaszewski performed “Lacrimosa”.
2015 VII International Young Composers Competition “Sofia 2015” (Sofia, Bulgaria), II Prize for a composition for baritone solo and chamber orchestra.
2015 Sofia Soloists Chamber Orchestra, conductor Plamen Djouroff, soloist Plamen Beykov (baritone), world premiere of “Karina” for chamber orchestra and baritone.
2016 Letter of appreciation from the President of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė.
2016 International electroacoustic music festival “Jauna muzika 2016”, premiere of “O Tu Illustrata” for baritone, string quartet, and percussion.
2016 International Young Composers Competition “Vox Juventutis 2016”, I Prize and Choir Audience Award for “Divina Commedia. Paradiso. Canto XXXIII” (text by Dante Alighieri).
2016 Premiere of “II Vakarinė” (“Second Evening Prayer”) for mixed choir, performed by choir “Aidija”, Vilnius Cathedral.
2016 Conference “Principles of Music Composition”, premiere of “In paradisum”.
2017 Contemporary music festival “Druskomanija 2017”, “Sigitas” (in memoriam Sigitas Geda).
2017 World premiere of Violin Concerto “Todos Los Fuegos el Fuego” (“All Fires the Fire”), Hamburg.
2017 Contemporary dance performance “Status”.
2018 Short ballet “Penkios atminties kryptys” (“Five Directions of Memory”), Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre.
2018 Lithuanian premiere of Violin Concerto “Todos Los Fuegos el Fuego”.
2019 “Salve Samogitia” premiere for choir and percussion.
2020 “lost in longing for lust”, ensemble Synaesthesis.
2021 “antrininkė” (“The Double”), based on poetry by Virginija Kulvinskaitė.
2021 Project “Nymphology”.
2022 Composition for solo violin “A(wo)men”.
2023 Soundtracks for dance performances “Sponsored” and “Derybos” (“Negotiations”).
2024 Project “Tebūnie šviesa” (“Let There Be Light”), composition “In paradisum”.
2025 Choral composition “Ad Apes Barberinas”.
2025 Large-scale work “O kaip atrodo taika? Kokia jos spalva?” (“What Does Peace Look Like? What Is Its Colour?”).
2025 Choral composition “Douleur et liberté (after De Sade)” (“Pain and Freedom”).