Post by Sorbonne Université

💫 Vilnius – Paris: celebrating academic cooperation through music and culture The Sorbonne University Choir and Orchestra (COSU) recently travelled to one of its esteemed European partners, Vilniaus universitetas / Vilnius University in Lithuania, as part of a unique two-concert musical tour. The tour kicked off on 24 April with an enchanting a cappella choral evening at St John’s Church, featuring the Sorbonne University Choir and three Lithuanian ensembles from Vilnius University, and was followed by a second concert on 25 April with the Sorbonne University Choir and Orchestra, the Vilnius University Chamber Orchestra and the Vilnius University Academic Mixed Choir “Gaudeamus”. Combining contemporary and classical European choral music, symphonic works and tributes to the great Lithuanian classic, M. K. Čiurlionis, the concerts were a rare opportunity to witness exceptional European choirs and orchestras on the same stage, bringing together talented students and musicians from two of Europe’s most historic universities. Deputy Vice-President for Europe at Sorbonne University, Berni Hasenknopf led the delegation with Frédéric Pineau, choir conductor, Nicolas Agullo, orchestra conductor, Emilie Loeuil Labarchède, COSU director and 79 students from Sorbonne University. Sorbonne University representatives were welcomed by the Ambassador of Lithuania to France, Arnoldas Pranckevičius, the Rector of Vilnius University, Rimvydas Petrauskas, Vice Rector Artūras Vasiliauskas, and Vice Rector Vilmante Pakalniskiene. Representatives from the French Embassy and the Institut français de Lituanie / Prancūzų institutas Lietuvoje in Vilnius also attended the performances. As a key European partner of Sorbonne University, the Vilnius tour follows a framework agreement signed by the two universities in 2024 and a strategic visit led by the president of Sorbonne University, Nathalie DRACH-TEMAM, to Vilnius University in June 2025. Together, they support a shared vision for European cohesion, academic freedom and the construction of a shared European Knowledge Area. 🎶 A proof of the power of music in bringing cultures together, the tour was a reminder of how academic cooperation can foster harmonious opportunities for cross-cultural, creative collaboration in a complex geopolitical climate.    Frédéric Pineau | Nicolas Agullo | Tom Gachet | Hyacinthe Ravet | Olivia Dallet | Emilie Loeuil Labarchède | Arnoldas Pranckevičius | Clémence Viaud | Eglė Čepaitė | Modestas Jankūnas | Rasa Gelgetionė | Gintė Jokubaitienė | Sonata Adomaitienė | Karina Kandrotaitė Photo credits: Tom Gachet et Monika Andrulytė