Gaudeamus, the university students’ song and dance festival, is a celebration for those who do not have time to be morose. People who come to Gaud­eamus do not need reasons to be optimistic. They are joyful regardless of circumstances because complaining would steal away precious moments.

It is just this positive, lively attitude that unites this half-century-old song festival and the even older student song „Gaudeamus”, which is sung at university graduations. Youth is fleeting; it passes; the future may bring dif­ficulties, but this reality does not disturb our current happiness – this is the message of the song.

For hundreds of years, song and dance has been a weapon in reserve, sup­porting Estonian existence and self-reliance. Yet for continued existence, every nationality needs to know how to get along with other nationalities.

Fifty years of Gaudeamus have shown that our people can and want to coop­erate with others, as evidenced at this festival by 7,000 singers and dancers from different countries and many universities.

Cheers to those thousands of worthy people who have preserved the tradi­tional festival flame and not allowed it to extinguish. Without their unselfish work, Gaudeamus would not exist. Fifteen times in the past 50 years the Gaudeamus song and dance festival has had these supporters, which is the same number of times the festival has illuminated the Baltic states during its circuit. What joy it is to see the festival, in its anniversary year, return with full vigor back to its birthplace Tartu.

The old song, „Gaudeamus,” calls long life to the academy, the city, the state, and everyone to whom we owe thanks for keeping this celebration alive.

Gaudeamus igitur! We don’t have time for unhappiness.

MAILIS REPS
Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Estonia

Dear participants, organizers, guests!
Dear colleagues!

I greet you with great pleasure on this special occasion - the 50th anniversary of the Baltic Students’ Song and Dance Festival „Gaudeamus”!

Dear students! At different times, you have been united and shown your unending joy of participation. I am fully confident that the „Gaudeamus” festival has become one of the creators of a united cultural heritage and the traditions of the Baltic States.

I would like to thank the organizers for their enthusiasm and contributed work! I would like to thank everyone who has contributed their efforts to have this great event.

Let the voices of Baltic students sound through time; let the dance strength­en our unity!
Let us all have a wonderful festival!

With warm regards,

Dr. habil. oec. BAIBA RIVŽA
Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Latvia

The word GAUDEAMUS brings into our minds the memory of the students’ old anthem Gaudeamus igitur, or the traditional Lithuanian-Latvian-Estonian student song and dance festival brimming over with youthful vivacity and elated emotions.

This summer sees a Baltic student song and dance event which signifies a twofold anniversary. This is the 15^th GAUDEAMUS festival. Yet an even more important anniversary is constituted by the fact that the first such festival took place also in the city of Tartu 50 years ago.

All the students singing, dancing and playing music in the GAUDEAMUS festivals have a very particular thing in common which is their love of art and their willingness to foster neighbourly relations. I sincerely wish the Baltic students to sustain the tradition embedding in itself these very important values.

I invite all of you to relish the play of colours and the harmony of music, the expressiveness of dance and the melodicality of songs – all of these precious things that are bequeathed to us by our charming young people.

Remigijus Motuzas
Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Lithuania

Eneken Koka
Gaudeamus office manager
gaudeamus@gaudeamus.ee
Ph + 372 7 302 403