Cellist Mindaugas Bačkus (b. 1973) has musical pedigree: his grandmother Anelė Karaliūtė-Bačkuvienė was a soloist of the State Opera Theatre in the interwar period and later taught singing, his father Vyturys Bačkus played cello in the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre orchestra and taught cello in a music school. 
In 1991, M. Bačkus graduated from M.K. Čiurlionis School of Arts, where he studied with Romanas Armonas, in 1991–1998 pursued Bachelor and Master degrees at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, where he was a student of Prof. Rimantas Armonas. In 1999–2001, M. Bačkus continued his postgraduate studies under the tutelage of Prof. Ralph Kirshbaum and Prof. Karine Georgian at the Royal Northern College of Music (UK) earning Master Degree and Professional Performer diploma. In 2007–2009, the cellist returned to the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre where he earned Art Licentiate Diploma under Prof. Rimantas Armonas. In 2009, having received an ERASMUS scholarship, he honed his baroque cello skills under Prof. Viola de Hoog at the Utrecht School of the Arts (the Netherlands).

M. Bačkus started his professional career while still at school blazing many a different trail. However, his heart lies in chamber music, solo concerts and recordings. His wide music interests manifest not only in all-inclusive academic cello repertoire, but also in intensive search for expression means scrupulously ‘examining’ the 20th–21st-century music scores, delving in jazz projects or focusing on baroque cello idiosyncrasies (this instrument was the topic of his Art Licentiate dissertation). A wide range of performing styles imbues his artistic vocabulary with rich palette of colours showcased in daring imagination, vibrant and suggestive intonation, lush timbral tenor and well-judged stylistic atmosphere. 

Both contemporary and early music have become certain leitmotivs in his solo and other music making: leading the orchestra, or playing in various chamber ensembles and orchestras. He is actively involved in early music projects – plays baroque cello, is a member of Baltic States Baroque Orchestra (lead. D. Stabinskas) and Brevis consort. M. Bačkus also appears in contemporary music festivals (Upbeat in Norway, MaerzMusik in Germany, Gaida, Jauna muzika, Iš arti, Marių klavyrai and Druskomanija in Lithuania), premiering works and often inspiring new ones. His two CDs (el cello, 2005; Pas De Deux, 2007) feature works mainly by Lithuanian composers written in recent decades, many of which are dedicated to M. Bačkus.

The cellist has given recitals and chamber music concerts in Lithuania, England, Scotland, Germany, Sweden, Poland, USA, Norway and France. As a soloist he appeared with the Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra, Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra, Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre Symphony Orchestra, Latvian National Opera Symphony Orchestra, Lithuanian Armed Forces Orchestra, Camerata Klaipėda and Klaipėda Chamber Orchestra. He took part in a number of cello master classes: Holland Music Sessions led by Prof. Ralph Kirshbaum and Tsojoshi Tsutsumi (Bergen, the Netherlands), by Prof. David Geringas (Vilnius, Lithuania) and Prof. Aldo Parisot (Manchester, England), and baroque cello master classes by Prof. Anner Bylsma (Amsterdam, the Netherlands). In 2000, he received English Speaking Union scholarship and took part in Norfolk Chamber Music Festival (USA) where he collaborated with members of Tokyo and Vermeer string quartets, pianists John O’Connor and Boris Berman, and guitarist Eliot Fisk among others.

He also appeared in a number of international events including International RNCM Manchester Cello Festival (Great Britain), Klangspuren (Austria), as well as festivals in Lithuania – Sugrįžimai, Alternatyva, Nepaklusniųjų žemė, International Thomas Mann Festival, Pažaislis, Vilnius Jazz and Birštonas Jazz Festival. Considerable part of his artistic energies were invested in work in various orchestras such as World Youth Symphony Orchestra, Vilnius Chamber Orchestra, Baltic States Youth Symphony Orchestra (principal cello), Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra (concert tour led by Yehudi Menuhin), Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra (principal cello), Kremerata Baltica, Vilnius Festival Orchestra (under the baton of Yuri Bashmet) and Kamerata Klaipėda.

2003 marked the beginning of an important period in M. Bačkus artistic career – he joined Chordos String Quartet (whose member he was for 6 years), and in 2005 became a member of Disobedient Ensemble. The main emphasis of Chordos String Quartet lies on 20th – 21st-century repertoire, while abroad the ensemble most often represents contemporary Lithuanian music. Among the activities of the Disobedient Ensemble very important is The Land of Disobedient, annual International Chamber Music and Ecology Festival in Nida. In this weeklong event sharing the stage with various partners the Disobedient Ensemble gives an array of original programmes showcasing music, film, theatre, photography and diverse ecological actions.

In addition to these artistic veins, M. Bačkus also teaches cello in Art Faculty of Klaipėda University and E. Balsys Art Gymnasium in Klaipėda. Three years ago he became a permanent feature in the National Student Academy, an educational program for gifted children, organised by Mstislav Rostropovich Charity and Support Foundation Support to Lithuanian Children. In summer of 2009, the cellist revealed one more of his talents – became an artistic director of Klaipėda Chamber Orchestra. “I see the position of an artistic director of Klaipėda Chamber Orchestra as an opportunity to realise my own ideas and generate them together with like-minded people. I am looking for this excellent collective to discover music anew, and fathom new ways to control emotions of the audience”, said M. Bačkus in one of his interviews.