Šiauliai District Municipality Culture Centre’s Folk Craftsmen Ensemble “Margulis”
The Folk Art Folklore Ensemble was established in 1990, initially consisting of folk artists who enjoyed singing.
In 1994, the ensemble was led by a young and talented ethnomusicologist, Diana Daunoraitė-Martinaitienė.
From 2004 to 2015, under the leadership of Birutė Poškienė, the folklore ensemble mainly performed songs typical of the Šiauliai region, taken from the surrounding areas of Šiauliai: Gruzdžiai, Kurtuvėnai, Kuršėnai, Micaičiai, Raudėnai, and others. Samogitian songs are also well-loved and frequently performed, along with instrumental pieces.
With its concert program, the Folk Art Folklore Ensemble “Margulis” participated in the World Lithuanian Song Festivals in Vilnius in 2003, 2007, 2009, 2014, 2018, and 2024. In 2009, commemorating the millennium of Lithuania’s name, the ensemble performed at folklore festivals in Poland: in Punsk and Augustów.
The creative concert program was recorded on a CD released in 2005 to mark the ensemble’s 15th anniversary.
From 2016 to 2020, the folklore ensemble was led by Paulius Vaišnoras.
Since 2024, Birutė Poškienė has returned to lead the ensemble.
In 2024, the ensemble participated in the international folklore festival “Atataria lamzdžiai 2024” in Kaunas.
Šiauliai District Municipality Culture Centre’s Folk Ensemble “Nesenstantys širdimi”
The ensemble has prepared several concert programs, including:
“Ir paauga žalias linas” (And the Green Flax Grows),
“Advent Songs, Games, and Customs”,
“War Songs of the Šiauliai Region”.
The ensemble participated in:
World Lithuanian Song Festivals (1994 and 1998),
World Lithuanian Song Festival “Mes” (2003),
Lithuanian Song Festival “Būties ratu” (The Circle of Existence) (2007),
Lithuanian Millennium Song Festival “Amžių sutartinė” (Harmony of the Ages) (2009),
Lithuanian Song Festival “Čia mano namai” (This is My Home) (2014),
The centennial Lithuanian Song Festival “Kad giria žaliuotų” (May the Forest Be Green) (2024).
The ensemble is also a regular participant in the international festival “Atataria lamzdžiai”.
Artistic director: Birutė Poškienė
