The orchestra of the Vilnius Festival, in Lithuania's capital, has premiered in 2003 under the leadership and auspices of the Russian violinist Yuri Bashmet – who, for many years, has maintained strong artistic links with the musicians in Lithuania and other countries in the region. The idea of creating an orchestral group which united young and experienced string musicians was Gintautas Kevisas'. He is the artistic director of the Vilnius Festival, an event which has attracted the attention of the musical world since its first edition, in 1996. Created in the Festival, the group shows the best traditions in the string schools in the region, and many of its musicians have taken part in groups such as the National Symphonic Orchestra of Lithuania, the State Symphonic Orchestra of Lithuania, Lithuania's National Opera and, still, Kremerata Baltica. The orchestra performs an extended repertoire which includes baroque, classical and romantic music, as well as music from the twentieth century and composed by contemporary Lithuanian composers.

When the group premiered in 2003, the enthusiastic performance of the musicians and Yuri Bashmet made its first concert an extraordinary occasion. During these five years of musical life, the promises of the début have been more than accomplished in seasons and presentations of the orchestra in Lithuania, in tours and festivals in Europe. For its first presentations in South America, Vilnius Festival Orchestra will be conducted by Krzysztof Penderecki, one of the biggest composers of the second half of the twentieth century and conductor of a starred international career.