Viktorija Pilatovic

Since August 2013 Viktorija Pilatovic has been a Faculty member of USFQ College of Music, Berklee College of Music International Network Member School in Quito, Ecuador, where she is a professor of Jazz Vocal Performance.

She has recently joined Greg Osby's “Inner Circle Music” label. Her debut album “Nica's blues” will be available soon.

Viktorija was invited to take part in The First International Festival of Jazz Improvisation skills Master-Jam Fest in Odessa, Ukraine on the 5th-8th of June 2013. The Festival gathered 43 musicians from all over the world. In November 2012 Viktorija Pilatovic Quintet was an opening act for Chris Dave and Drumheadz at Vilnius Mama Jazz Festival involving artists as : Wallace Roney and Ravi Coltrane.

In October 2012, jazz singer, composer and arranger Viktorija Pilatovic performed her original composition “We Could Solve That” with internationally renowned bassist Victor Wooten in Valencia, Spain’s iconic Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia performing arts complex, complete with a rhythm section and backing vocals all scored by the young artist herself.

Her unique arrangement and composition skills were quickly noticed when she arrived at Berklee Valencia in September of 2012 to persue her Masters in Contemporary Studio Performance on a full ride scholarship. In just a few months after her arrival, Viktorija was invited to perform at the Berklee Yamaha All-Stars Concert alongside music legends bassist Abraham Laboriel, saxaphonist Perico Sambeat and vibraphonist Victor Mendoza, in addition to performing her arrangement of “So What” by Miles Davis with a vocal ensemble and backing band at Berklee Valencia’s Welcome Lecture for Berklee College of Music President Roger Brown, Valencian government officials and local media.

Earlier in 2012, Viktorija found herself the only student invited to participate at the AEC Pop and Jazz Platform in Lille, France, representing the young jazz generation amongst a number of music professionals, discussing teaching methods and the future of jazz education. In March 2012, she found herself performing as a solo artist with PCC Sympho-Jazz orchestra conducted by the legendary John Clayton. In July she performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Montreux, Switzerland. These accomplishments were made possible by Viktorija’s dedication and perserverance to her craft, starting in the early years of childhood.

Viktorija was born on the 12th of March in 1989 in Klaipeda, Lithuania. At the age of 6 she started playing classical piano, winning many Carl Czerny Piano Competitions. Throughout her childhood, she took part in many children ensembles performing all over country.

In 2007, she began her Bachelor studies in Jazz Vocal at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre. Since then, she has participated in a number of Jazz contests, such as the International Jazz Vocal Competition in 2008, 2009 and 2010, winning 1st prize in 'Jazz Fountain 2008'. In 2009, Viktorija was invited to take part in “Klaipeda’s Sea Festival”, appearing at The Tall Ships’ Races where she performed with The National Big-Band, recieving live coverage from Lithuanian national TV and radio.

In 2008, the young artist performed at a festival in Naggar, Himachal Pradesh, India hosted by the International Roerich Memorial Trust.

In 2010, Viktorija moved to The Netherlands to further her jazz studies at Prins Claus Conservatorium. Here her style evolved from traditional to contemporary jazz, fusing a number of styles and colors. Viktorija took lessons from J.D. Walter, Ralph Peterson, Alex Sipiagin, David Berkman, Don Braden, Jeff Cascaro, Joris Teepe, Freddie Bryant, Gene Jackson and Robin Eubanks.

In 2011, Viktorija won 3rd prize at the The Nederland Jazz Vocalisten Concours for her completely original arrangement of the famous standard “My Favorite Things”, featuring a solid bass line, modal harmonies and odd time signatures. The show was broadcasted on Radio 6 The Netherlands.

Also in 2011, Viktorija toured Athens, Greece with guitarist and vocalist – Adedeji Adetayo. Following the tour, she returned to Greece with her female jazz Group “The Sound Of Reflection” after the request by many, where they spent playing almost every night for a month. Viktorija’s success shows no signs of stopping.

She now holds two bachelor’s degrees, one from the Prins Claus Conservatorium and one from the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theater. She is currently studying for her Master's Degree in the Contemporary Studio Performance program at the Berklee College of Music, Valencia Campus.

During this time, Viktorija continues to develop arrangements and original compositions with a unique for a wide variety of ensembles at Berklee while strengthening her business skills at the university and developing her own teaching methods. On top of all this, Viktorija is working on her debut album featuring original compositions and unique arrangement of jazz standards, fusing jazz, hip-hop and soul, with an expected release of late 2013. While this young talent is busy working on a number of musical endeavors with a whirlwind of success, it is clear the only direction she is headed is up.

Awards

- Since August 2013 Viktorija Pilatovic has been a Faculty member of USFQ College of Music, Berklee College of Music International Network Member School in Quito, Ecuador, where she is a professor of Jazz Vocal Performance. - She has recently joined Greg Osby's "Inner Circle Music" label. Her debut album "Nica's blues" will be available soon. - Full ride scholarship for Master's at Berklee College of Music. - Viktorija Pilatovic Quintet was an opening act for Chris Dave and Drumheadz at Vilnius Mama Jazz Festival involving artists as : Wallace Roney and Ravi Coltrane. - Viktorija performed her original composition “We Could Solve That” with Victor Wooten. - Berklee Yamaha All-Stars Concert alongside music legends bassist Abraham Laboriel, saxaphonist Perico Sambeat and vibraphonist Victor Mendoza. - Performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Montreux, Switzerland. - Solo artist with PCC Sympho-Jazz orchestra conducted by the legendary John Clayton. - 3rd prize at the The Nederland Jazz Vocalisten Concours 2011 - Performing with a National Big Band at “Klaipeda’s Sea Festival 2009” receiving live coverage from Lithuanian national TV and radio. - 1st prize in 'Jazz Fountain 2008'. - Performed at the Festival in Naggar, Himachal Pradesh, India - Performed her arrangement of “So What” by Miles Davis with a vocal ensemble and backing band at Berklee Valencia’s Welcome Lecture for Berklee College of Music President Roger Brown, Valencian government officials and local media.