A unique musical experience: for the first time in Europe, former Pentatonix vocalist and three‑time Grammy winner Avi Kaplan joins two choirs for an exclusive Americana showcase. Now a leading voice in alternative, indie, and country music, he arrives at OTTW’26 with a brand‑new concert set. Prepare for unforgettable evenings as his deep, warm bass merges with rich choral textures to blend country, blues, gospel, and roots rock into a modern, distinctive sound.
As part of its flagship Open To The World festival, ISM Bel Canto Choir Vilnius presents unique content and concert experience. On December 12-13, 2026, the festival unveils the phenomenon of Americana music at a scale not seen elsewhere in Europe, featuring nearly 100 performers from Lithuania, the US, Sweden, and the UK: Avi Kaplan, Europe’s leading male choir Zero8, ISM Bel Canto Choir Vilnius, Blake Morgan of the British ensemble Voces8, and others.
Avi Kaplan’s Exclusive Baltic Concerts and First Visit to the Region
Avi Kaplan is an acclaimed American singer and songwriter, formerly the bass vocalist of the platinum‑selling a cappella group Pentatonix. He is widely recognized for his exceptionally low, warm bass voice and expansive vocal range.
By the time Avi Kaplan launched his solo career in 2017, he had already built a global audience as one of the most distinctive voices in modern vocal music. After leaving the pop world, he shifted his focus toward indie, country, blues, and roots rock – genres deeply defined by natural vocals and acoustic instrumentation.
His solo albums and singles – Floating on a Dream, Move Our Souls, Peace Somehow, and others – generate millions of monthly streams (over 200 million in total) and tens of millions of views across Instagram, TikTok, and other social platforms. During 2025 world tour, he performed 40 concerts across the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East.
Avi Kaplan’s upcoming appearance at OTTW ’26 will mark his only concerts in the Baltics and his first-ever visit to the region.
Americana Makes Historic Lithuania Debut on OTTW’26 Stage
American roots music is a contemporary genre that blends traditional country, blues, R&B, bluegrass, and roots rock into a cohesive, organic sound. It emerged as an alternative to commercial country music, with artists seeking authenticity by focusing on natural vocals and acoustic arrangements.
The genre intentionally avoids heavy studio processing, pop-style auto-tune, and artificial effects. Vocals remain raw and natural, embracing natural cracks, breaths, and emotional nuances to create a profound sense of closeness and honesty. Americana is also celebrated for its precise two- and three-part vocal harmonies.
Lyrics play a central role. Americana songs often follow a vivid storytelling style, resembling letters, diary entries, or short narratives. Themes frequently explore working-class life, small-town experiences, personal struggles, and poignant social issues such as inequality or environmental concerns.
In recent years, Americana has become a defining force in the independent American music scene, presented at major global festivals and concert halls as a modern yet tradition-rooted genre.
Exclusive Content and a Unique Concert Experience in Christmas Vilnius
This special OTTW’26 program features Avi Kaplan performing his most notable songs, including exclusive duets with Voces8 vocalist Blake Morgan. Prepared specifically for this evenings, the lineup pairs Avi Kaplan with Europe’s leading male choir, Zero8, and ISM Bel Canto Choir Vilnius. Most of the choral arrangements were custom-created by Avi and Blake, making this a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The concerts will also incorporate a subtle visual layer. Custom video projections inside the LSSO Hall will reflect the symbolic world of Americana, adding a quiet visual dimension that complements the music. It's set to be an unforgettable evenings, giving wintertime Vilnius a warmer, deeper, and beautifully mysterious glow.
Main Performers
Avi Kaplan (USA), vocalist
Blake Morgan (UK), vocalist
Zero8 (Sweden), Artistic Director Rasmus Krigström
ISM Bel Canto Choir Vilnius, Artistic Director Milda Švelnienė
Guthrie Brown (USA), pianist
Kaleb Thomas (USA), guitarist
Production Team
Producers – Avi Kaplan, Audrius Valatkevičius, Blake Morgan
Sound Engineering – Kęstutis Dulinskas (No Noise)
Production & Lighting Design – Martynas Vaitkevičius (Delegatai)
Lighting Programming & Operation – Paulius Varonenka (FadersUp Live)
Video Projection Design – Ričardas Matačius
3D Projection Mapping – Ervinas Gresevičius
Technical Support & Equipment – Baltas Dažnis
Open To The World 2026
ISM Bel Canto Choir Vilnius’ flagship Open To The World festival is a unique vocal‑choir music project in Lithuania that has become a cherished tradition. It showcases modern content and the world’s finest choirs, vocal ensembles, and composers. The festival promotes cultural and choral innovation and fosters cooperation between Lithuanian and international musicians. It also serves as a platform to nurture Western culture, create, innovate, and grow together.
Born in 2018, this year’s festival features five concerts bringing together over 270 singers and musicians. Headliners and participants include two‑time Grammy‑winning composer and conductor Christopher Tin (USA); alternative, indie, and country artist and former Pentatonix vocalist Avi Kaplan (USA); the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra; choirs Zero8, A Scalpella (Sweden), and Liepaitės; vocal ensembles Les Itinérantes (France) and Ringmasters (Sweden); and soloists Jamal Moore, Peter Drackley (USA), Kseniya Bakhritdinova (Ukraine), Blake Morgan (UK), and others.
The festival is sponsored by engineering, prefab, and construction company INHUS; property developer Vastint Lithuania; the largest logistics property developer in the Baltics, SIRIN Development; and Vilnius City Municipality. LRT TV is the information partner, and Ogilvy is the advertising partner.