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Professor ZBIGNEVAS IBELGAUPTAS is a graduate of the National M. K. Čiurlionis School of Arts in Vilnius. He earned his degree at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre where later he successfully completed postgraduate studies (1987). He was a laureate of several competitions: at the National Competition for Young Pianists in 1979 he was awarded with the 1st prize; at the International M. K. Čiurlionis Piano Competition of 1982 he also took the 1st place; in 1991 he was announced as the winner of the International Competition of Piano Duos in Rome. In 1988, Zbignevas Ibelgauptas joined the staff of the LMTA Piano Department and from 2009 to 2011 he acted as the head of the Department and the chair of the LMTA Doctoral Committee. From 2011 to 2021 he was the rector of the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre.
Zbignevas Ibelgauptas is a frequent participant of numerous musical events in Lithuania and abroad as the international festivals in Germany (Usedomer Music Festival), Canada (Music Niagara), Poland (Warszawska Jesień), Denmark (Musikhost), Ljubljana Summer Festival in Slovenia, festivals in Belarus, Russia, Ukraine. Since 1989, Zbignevas Ibelgauptas has been performing in a piano duo with Rūta Rikterė. The duo has given recitals in Japan, Switzerland, Italy, France, Germany, Slovenia, Ireland, Latvia, and Russia; the piano duo has also released several CDs. Zbignevas Ibelgauptas is frequently involved in the work of organising and judging committees at various international and national competitions: he was a member of the jury at the International M. K. Čiurlionis Competition, the International S. Vainiūnas Competition, the International Young Virtuoso Competition in Riga, Tallinn international Piano Competition and many other events. In 1997 Zbignevas Ibelgauptas was awarded with the National Culture and Arts Award. In 2016 he was awarded with the title of Commander of the Royal Order of the Polar Star of the Kingdom of Sweden.
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