Kristupas Bubnelis (b. 1995) is a Lithuanian composer with interests in microtonality, the dynamic interaction between timbre and time, and the poetics of decay. Praised for "decisive clarity and captivating harmonic brilliance"1 (Bernhard Uske, Frankfurter Rundschau), Bubnelis works with the textural and timbral shifts that form the core of his musical language. He focuses on the transitory states of sound and merges collage-like structures with fluid transformations, creating “a sense of fragile beauty, and unerring professionalism.”2 (Anna Veismane, ISCM)
Bubnelis has composed for a variety of ensembles, including symphony and chamber orchestras, as well as solo instruments. His works span multiple genres and media and have been performed internationally in countries such as Germany, Austria, Denmark, France, Indonesia, the UK, the US, Canada, and Switzerland. He won the Second International Eduardas Balsys Young Composers’ Competition in 2021. His collaborations include performances with renowned ensembles such as Ensemble Modern (Germany), Wet Ink Ensemble (US), Ensemble Caput (Iceland), and Quasar Saxophone Quartet (Canada), among others.
Currently, he is a doctoral candidate at Columbia University in New York City, studying under Georg Friedrich Haas. He holds a master’s degree from the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he studied with Rubens Askenar and Edmund Finnis, graduating with distinction and receiving the DipRAM Award. He also earned his bachelor’s degree from the same institution under the tutelage of Christopher Austin, where he received the G. V. Turner-Cooke Composition Award.
Bubnelis has participated in masterclasses and seminars with notable composers such as Unsuk Chin, Oscar Bianchi, Oliver Knussen, Harrison Birtwistle, Hans Abrahamsen, and Claus-Steffen Mahnkopf. His works have been featured at major international festivals, including the Lucerne Festival Academy (2023), California Festival (2023), World New Music Days (2024), and the International Young Composers Academy Ticino (2025).
Other achievements include the Lithuanian Composers' Union Prize (2024) for the best works in chamber orchestra and ensemble categories, as well as the Young Composers’ Prize and Best Chamber Composition Award (2022). His newly commissionedConcerto for Clarinet, Percussion, and String Orchestra will premiere at the Lithuanian National Philharmonic Hall in October 2025, following the release of his debut album, produced by the Lithuanian Music Information Centre (LMISC). In 2026, he will collaborate with the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra and International Contemporary Ensemble (US).
More information: https://music.columbia.edu/content/kristupas-bubnelis