The second decade of Midsummer Vilnius opens on 11 July with a remarkable international collaboration, bringing together British musical phenomenon Jacob Collier, the legendary vocal ensemble Take 6, and the Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra (LKO), conducted by Suzie Collier, Jacob’s mother and one of the earliest figures to help shape his musical sensibility.

Jacob Collier stands among the most distinctive creative forces of his generation. His singular musical imagination and multilayered sound drew global attention while he was still a teenager. Today, the seven-time Grammy winner continues to craft a musical language that feels entirely his own — one where jazz harmony, choral polyphony, pop melodicism, R&B inflection, and classical clarity interweave with effortless coherence. On stage, Collier is known for his exuberance, community building energy and instinct for improvisation: performances where the audience becomes an active part of the creative moment, and his playful presence amplifies every emotional shift in the music.

Joining him, Take 6 remain one of the most influential vocal groups in the world — a benchmark for a cappella, gospel, and jazz vocal traditions. Their immaculate blend, rich harmonic palette, and unmistakable artistic discipline have inspired countless musicians and earned them wide international recognition, including multiple Grammys. Take 6 were also a formative inspiration for Jacob Collier in his youth – he would attend their concerts as a child, and the creative exchange has now come full circle, with Collier becoming a source of inspiration for them in return.

This concert also marks a new encounter with the Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra, admired for its precision, versatility, and openness to international projects. Under the baton of Suzie Collier — British conductor, violinist and Honorary Member of the Royal Academy of Music — the orchestra adds another layer of colour to this unique musical conversation. Jacob often notes that she was among the first to nurture his ear for polyphony, his love of choral textures, and his ability to perceive harmony almost visually. Their appearance together is a rare and meaningful moment in today’s global music scene.

As the festival’s opening event, this concert promises to be one of the defining highlights of the year — an evening when Vilnius resonates with the pulse of the world stage, as musicians from different cultures and generations meet through the universal language of music.

Conducted by Suzie Collier