Elena Daunytė
cellist and vocalist
A Lithuanian cellist and vocalist carrying her country's name across Europe and beyond — laureate of numerous international competitions and a Grand Prix winner, member of the ensemble „Regnum Musicale“, and a musician where classical tradition meets improvisation.
About
Music as a journey, not a destination
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Music as a journey, not a destination
Elena Daunytė is a laureate of numerous international competitions and a Grand Prix winner, since 2021 the cellist of the Čiurlionis Quartet at the Lithuanian National Philharmonic, and a member of the family ensemble „Regnum Musicale“. Since 2023 she has taught at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, leading the string quartet and chamber ensemble classes. As a soloist and chamber musician she has appeared in competitions, festivals, and masterclasses spanning Latvia, Germany, Switzerland, Croatia, Russia, Austria, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Hungary, and the United Kingdom, all the way to Hong Kong, Shanghai, and the United States.
As a soloist she has performed with the Lithuanian Chamber, Lithuanian National, and Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestras, the Riga, Kaunas, and Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre orchestras, and the Royal College of Music and Halifax Symphony Orchestras, under conductors Andrzej Kosendiak, Jonathan Berman, Modestas Pitrėnas, Sergei Krylov, Saulius Sondeckis, Vilmantas Kaliūnas, Martynas Staškus, Nicholas Simpson, and Clark Rundell.
She is regularly invited to perform solo cello parts at the Vilnius and Gaida festivals alongside the Lithuanian Chamber and Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestras, and her artistic path has been supported by the S. Karosas Foundation, the Musicians' Support Fund, Rotary International, and the Perkūnas and Vilnius Rotary clubs, in collaboration with the Lithuania Council for Culture.
For several years Elena has also studied voice under Professor Vladimir Prudnikov and includes vocal works in her concert programmes. She experiments with combining cello and voice, seeking new harmonies and possibilities for synthesising the two instruments.
„What matters most is growth — and the deepest joy found in the process of improving itself.“
Path
Education and growth
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Education and growth
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M. K. Čiurlionis School of Art
The foundation of her musical education — the ground on which an international career was built.
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Royal Northern College of Music
Studies at one of Europe's most respected music academies.
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Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre
Advanced cello studies in Vilnius, actively representing the academy at national and international events.
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Masterclasses
Continuous growth alongside cellists of world renown.
Own music
„Laisvės glėby“ (In a Hug of Freedom) · music video · her own work for voice and cello · Bezdonys, 2020
„Ryto ugnis“ (Morning Fire) · music video · her own work for voice and cello · Buivydai hillfort · LRT · KLIPVID 2021
Solo with orchestra
Soloist Elena Daunytė · conductor Andrzej Kosendiak (Poland) · Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra · Lithuanian National Philharmonic, 2022
Soloist Elena Daunytė · conductor Jonathan Berman (United Kingdom) · Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra · Lithuanian National Philharmonic, 2023
Elena Daunytė (cello) · Šiauliai Chamber Orchestra „Camerata Solaris“ (artistic director and conductor Vilhelmas Čepinskis) · Paliesius Manor, 2025 · LRT · (from 34:25)
Voice
Gioacchino Rossini · „Canzonetta Spagnuola (En medio a mis colores)“ · sung by Elena Daunytė · with her sisters Joana Daunytė (harp) and Kotryna Ugnė Daunytė (violin) · Vilnius Town Hall, 7 April 2024
Giedrius Kuprevičius · the ballad „Vilniaus gatvelės“ (Streets of Vilnius) for cello, voice and piano, arranged for her · Elena Daunytė (cello and voice), Milda Umbrusevičiūtė (piano) · Laureates’ concert of the International Nehama Lifshitz Vocal Competition · Vilnius Town Hall, 2022
Poetry
Įkvėpime
Kai įkvėpi – nesulaikai juk laiko
Pulsuoti pradeda širdis laikinume
Rimties ritme ji pagreitį išlaiko
Ir sulėtėja tik ramiam iškvėpime.
Bangavime srovės patiri esatį
Iš lėto krūtine laiku iries
Ramiam kvėpavime randi jaukiausią prieglobstį
Savęs nebebijodamas nė kiek.
Įkvėpime – akimirkos jaukumas gimsta
Išsyk plevendamas Kūrėjo delnuose
Iškvėpime paleidi į Pasaulio kismą
Tai, ką įkvėpęs kurstei savyje.
„33 įkvėpimai“ (33 Inspirations) — a book of poetry, in Lithuanian. Published by Slinktys on 6 March 2026; launched on 8 March at Green Hall 2.
Poems published in the journal „Krantai“, 2026 (2), June.
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Photographs — Gintaras Jonaitis
„33 įkvėpimai“ (33 Inspirations) · an experience of poetry, music and conscious breathing · Elena Daunytė (poetry), Ninah Sol (conscious breathing) · Nida Culture Centre „Agila“, 2 July 2026
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Every poem begins with an in-breath.
„33 įkvėpimai“ is an experience where three ways of returning to yourself meet: the word of poetry, music, and conscious breathing. The evening is built on Elena Daunytė’s book „33 įkvėpimai“ — thirty-three three-verse poems born of silence, of things lived through, and of change.
Elena reads her own poetry while Ninah Sol leads the conscious-breathing practice, gently and safely inviting everyone to feel their breath, slow down and let go. Quiet, specially chosen music holds the whole experience. Nothing needs to be known or learned beforehand. It is enough to sit down, close your eyes and let word, sound and breath carry you. The breath becomes rhythm, the music a support, and the poetry a mirror in which each person may recognise something of their own.
It is a space to stop and notice that sometimes a single conscious breath is enough to give the day another colour.
- Elena Daunytė — poetry and its reading
- Ninah Sol — conscious breathing
Open your heart to the flow of time, breath, music and word!
Together
Ensembles and collaboration
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Ensembles and collaboration
Regnum Musicale
A family ensemble formed with her sisters, named after their father's cultural organisation — a shared emotion, a flight of feeling on stage.
Vilnius and Gaida Festivals
Regularly invited to perform solo cello parts alongside the Lithuanian Chamber and Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestras.
Čiurlionis Quartet
A chamber-music partnership blending classical repertoire with deep musical chemistry.
Coverage
In the media
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In the media
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„A motorcycle accident hushed the cello“ Lietuvos rytas · „Savaitgalis“ · 7–13 August 2026
„Lietuvos rytas“, the „Savaitgalis“ supplement, no. 31, 7–13 August 2026 · interview by Regina Renčeliauskaitė · photographs by R. Danisevičius and from the family album
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Poetry publication Krantai · 2026 (2) · June
The journal „Krantai“, 2026 (2), June · the poem „Metai“ and the cycle „Triposmiai“
- „Dedikacija M. K. Čiurlioniui“ · the Paliesius Manor concerts Paliesiaus dvaras · LRT · 2025
- „Be kaukių“ (Without Masks) · doubt is inseparable from the whole of a musician’s path LRT Radioteka · 2023
- „Creating a mutual miracle“ · before the concert „Prancūzų muzikos šedevrai III“ Lietuvos muzikų sąjunga · 2023
- „A bouquet of French masterpieces for the Philharmonic’s audience“ Lrytas · 2023 · review
- „The cellist Elena Daunytė — a believer in going to extremes“ Žmonės.lt · 15min · 2022
- „Making music with my sisters — a shared emotion and a flight of feeling“ Lietuvos muzikų sąjunga · 2020
- „Muzikinis pastišas“ · the cellist Elena Daunytė as guest LRT Radioteka · 2018
- „Had I had a father, there is no telling whether music or literature would have stayed in the background“ Lrytas · 2018
- „A gifted young cellist gives every percent of her success to sincerity“ Bernardinai.lt · 2018
- Elena Daunytė’s gallery — photographs, video and audio Lietuvos muzikų sąjunga
Recognition
Awards and honours
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Awards and honours
Elena is a laureate of numerous international competitions and a Grand Prix winner. For her active concert and competition career promoting Lithuania's name abroad, she has repeatedly received commendations from the Presidents of the Republic of Lithuania, and for her musical achievements was awarded the Queen Morta Prize.
- Art Creator status — granted on 20 June 2020 by decision of the Minister of Culture Mindaugas Kvietkauskas
- Grand Prix at international cello competitions
- Commendation from President Valdas Adamkus for promoting Lithuania's name worldwide
- Commendation from President Dalia Grybauskaitė for active artistic work
- The Queen Morta Prize for musical achievement
- Laureate of numerous international cello competitions
A letter of thanks from President Dalia Grybauskaitė · the Presidential Palace, Vilnius, 7 March 2017 · Photograph — Robertas Dačkus
Photo gallery
Photograph — Gabrielius Jauniškis · Žalgiris Arena, March 2017
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Photographs — Gintaras Jonaitis, „Karantino provokacijos“ (Quarantine Provocations), spring 2020
Photograph — Gintaras Jonaitis, „Karantino provokacijos“ (Quarantine Provocations), June 2020
Photographs — Dmitrijus Matvejevas · Lithuanian National Philharmonic, 11 November 2023
The concert-performance „Amazoniškai“ · Joana Daunytė (harp), Kotryna Ugnė Daunytė (violin), Elena Daunytė (cello, voice, poetry) · Vilnius Town Hall, 7 April 2024
Photograph — Dmitrijus Matvejevas · „Angels of Sorrow“, Vilnius Festival, 2020
Get in touch
Concerts, collaborations, or press enquiries — I always welcome a message.