BNS, Vilnius, October 10–The Lithuanian Ministry of Culture has awarded the composer Anatolijus Šenderovas the medal “Carry Your Light and Believe.” Lithuanian cultural minister Šarūnas Birutis awarded the composer celebrating his 70th birthday this year the award “for significant contribution and extraordinary merit to Lithuanian culture and art, for initiatives inspiring the community to positive activities and for personal responsibility in creating the cultural and spiritual environment,” according to the ministry. The award was presented Saturday during Šenderovas’s birthday concert at the National Philharmonic in Vilnius.

Anatolijus Šenderovas is one of the best known modern Lithuanian composers. He’s participated at more than thirty international music festivals, staged the ballets “Mergaitė ir Mirtis,“ “Marija Stuart“ and “Dezdemona,” wrote music for three symphonies, two concerts for bass, a concert for guitar and chamber orchestra, and other works. In 1996 the composer received the Knight’s Cross of the Order of the Grand Duke of Lithuania Gediminas and in 2006 the award the Officer’s Cross of the Grand Duke of Lithuania Gediminas “For Merit to Lithuania.” He won the Lithuanian National Prize for Culture and Art in 1997.

BNS