The 9th international folklore contest-festival “The Flower of the Sun” ended in Šiauliai with a spectacular concert lasting five hours. At the end of the final concert, the winners of the festival’s Grand Prix prize were announced, and other awards were distributed. The main prize of the festival and a voucher worth €1,500 went to one of the most outstanding participants of the festival, the folklore ensemble “El Redoble” from Spain, while the prize for the audience’s favourite was awarded to the folklore ensemble “Ritmos y Raíces Panameñas Ballet Folkclorico” from far away Panama. This prize was presented to the Panamanian representatives by the mayor of Šiauliai City Municipality Artūras Visockas.
Special prizes were also awarded during the closing concert. The prize from the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania for the development of cultural cooperation was awarded to the ensemble from Ukraine “Halychina”. Other prizes were also awarded as well. The prize established by the patron of the festival, Dr. Stasys Tumėnas, Member of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, was awarded to the ensemble from Poland “Grześ”, the prize for the preservation of traditions was awarded to the ensemble from Sweden “Lunds Studenters Folkdanslag”, and the prize for the promotion of traditions, which was presented by the chair of the international jury of the competition, ethnomusicologist Dr. Loreta Sungailienė, was given to the solo vocalist from the Czech Republic – Petr Unucka.
The colourful 9th international folklore contest-festival “The Flower of the Sun”, which lasted for five days, has become one of the largest international events not only in Lithuania, but also in the Baltic States. More than 800 performers from ten countries – Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Panama, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Hungary, Latvia, Poland, and Lithuania took part.
The international folklore contest-festival “The Flower of the Sun” is organised by the Baltic Centre Association. This representative event of Šiauliai is included in the lists of events of the international folk-art organisation IOV and the international dance festival federation FIDAF 2023 and has won recognition not only in Lithuania but also in many foreign countries. The festival is funded by the Šiauliai City Municipality, the Lithuanian Council for Culture, and other sponsors.
Folk music was played in Šiauliai and Northern Lithuania for the whole festival. Participants of the “Flower of the Sun” festival not only delighted the audience with their wonderful concert performances, but also invited them to learn traditional folk dances and songs.
Folk music was played in Šiauliai and Northern Lithuania for the whole festival. Participants of the “Flower of the Sun” festival not only delighted the audience with their wonderful concert performances, but also invited them to learn traditional folk dances and songs.
