Skaidra Jancaite graduated from the Kaunas J.Gruodis Conservatoire in 1987 with a speciality in chorir conducting, and from the Lithuanian Academy of Music in 2002, where she studied solo singing with Assoc. Prof. J. Grickiene and with Prof. V.Noreika.
In 19911992 Skaidra Jancaite attended master classes in singing led by Prof. A. Orlowitz (Denmark), by Prof. Th. Grubbe (France, 1996) and by Prof. J. Loibl (Austria, 1997). In 19872001 the singer worked at the Lithuanian Academy of Music; since 1998, she has been working at the Kaunas Juozas Naujalis School of Arts.
Skaidra Jancaite frequently sings in Lithuania; she participates in concerts of avant-garde and experimental music as well as in different projects; she also sings during festivals of classical and contemporary music. As a vocalist and soloist she was an active member of a few chamber music groups (AB Antiqua, Collegium) and avant-garde music ensembles (RAAS, N.N.N.). Her repertoire includes opuses of Renaissance, baroque and classical music, works of romantic and contemporary composers, sacral songs, Russian romances and Lithuanian folk music.
For 20 years Skaidra has been well known as a performer of sacral music; she has been performing in Lithuanian churches, schools and concert halls. Concerts for Lithuanian schoolchildren, Advent Moods and Lets Play with Sounds, organised by the singer since 1992 as well as Sunday Concerts of Sacral Music in Vilnius St. Casimir and other churches have become very popular. In 2007 the singer has realised her most significant projects: Ave Maria, Sakralianiai duetai (Sacral Duos) and a feast of the synthesis of creation and art, Kūrimo diena, which has been the largest event organised by Skaidra Jančaitė so far, bringing together over 300 creators (childrens theatre, dance troupes, ensembles, musicians, singers, composers, poets, video artists, the kite movement, etc.). The singer has been continuously searching for new forms and possibilities of communication with the audience, discovering a unique style of expression: during her musical-educational programmes for children and youth she communicates with the audience and predisposes the listeners for openness and self-expression.
The expressive nature of contemporary music is particularly close to the artists heart as well as the possibility it suggests of discovering new ways of interpretation. For several years, during her performances of contemporary vocal music, the singer has been combining music, drama, dance, pantomime and art photography, thus forming an individual style marked by a strong effect on the audience. Since 2003 the artist has been holding photography exhibitions: Surfaces and Curved and Discontinuous Lines, Crying Forest/A Coast of the Pacific (Verkiantis miškas / Ramiojo vandenyno pakrantė), Diptychs (Diptikai), A Thought in Time (Mintis laike), The Microworld of Church. Crypt. Neighbourhood (Bažnyčios mikropasaulis. Kripta. Kaimynystė), In-Lithuania-Village-Countryside, City-History (Lietuvoje-Kaimas-Gamta, Miestas-Istorija), Surfaces (Paviršiai), I Have Drowned in Them (Aš paskendau juose), A Letter to Montmartre from Užupis (Užupio laiškas Monmartrui), Dangerous-Banned Art (Pavojingas-Uždraustas menas), Artist to Artist (Menininkas menininkui) and others. The aforementioned series of photographs were exhibited in museums all over the country, schools, churches, Kaunas Artists House, Vilnius City Hall and also in Notre Dame-desperans in Paris, Montmartre, Lyon, Otava (Canada), Hamilton, Toronto, Budapest, Detroit, New York, Washington, Atlanta, San Francisco and Seattle. Her series of photographs presented for a competition organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania, The Best We Have (Tai, ką turime geriausio), was awarded a special prize of the ministry in 2005.
Skaidra Jancaite has participated in festivals of new music: Jauna Muzika in Vilnius (1991-1995), I International Thomas Mann Festival in Nida (1997, 2004), Vilnius Festivals (1999, Pažaislis Music Festival (1997 2001), IX Curonian Spit Festival and the town of Anykščiai celebration (2007). She has given concerts in Austria (1996, 2008), Denmark (1997), Russia (2000, 2002), Latvia (2001, 2003, 2007), Byelorussia (2006), Slovenia (2005), Poland (2006-2007), France (20012008), Canada (20032004) and the USA (20032007).
As a soloist Skaidra Jancaite has performed with Lithuanian chamber ensembles Musica Humana, Ciurlionis Quartet, Vilniaus Arsenalas, Ex Tempore, Collegium, Gould String Quartet (Canada) and the Laboratory of Stage Art artists in Riga and Pedval; with pianists V.Slobodian, G.Zalatoriene, L.Giedraityte, E.Miksys (Lithuania), R.Stalygiene (USA), P.Stravinskas (USA), V.Paulauskaite - Binder (USA), V.Serebryany (Canada), K.Enns (Canada); with organists L.Digrys, A.Telksnyte, R.Marcinkute Lesieur; and with conductors N.Berman (Italy), D.Katkus and R.Servenikas (Lithuania). Skaidra Jančaitė performed at the Lithuanian premiere of A. Zubels Unison together with accordionist R. Sviackevičius and the premiere of B. Langs DW 15 Songs Preludes at the 5th Warsaw Tourning Sound Festival.
Skaidra Jancaite has organised festivals: What Are You Doing Here? and The Chords of the Castle festival in Raudondvaris. Skaidra has also realised several projects: Forbidden Art together with Finnish artists, a project with graphic artist M. Gonzenbach (Switzerland) and dancer S. Orinska (Latvia), Prayer, a musical pantomime (music, movement and live singing); The Warmth of Hexagon, a project with a childrens camp, Kites for the Baltic Sea, during which Skaidra organised a concert of hand-made instruments and songs created by children at the Baltic Sea and staged a performance.
