About

Lukas Butkus (b. 2000) is a Lithuanian composer of contemporary music, performer and writer based in Vilnius, Lithuania.

From an early age Lukas had a keen interest in all things related to music. He started learning piano and music theory at Marijampolė’s St. Cecilija’s gymnasium having already learned music notation and basic piano playing by himself at the age of six. Not long after successfully taking part in numerous national and international piano competitions his natural inclination towards the want of a deeper musical understanding led him back to composition that he had abandoned at an early age but not for the lack of discouragement from surrounding authority figures. Only after having the opportunity of taking private lessons, which lasted for two impactful years, with famous Lithuanian composer Vidmantas Bartulis (1954-2020) did Lukas decide to pursue his dream of becoming a composer. In 2019, he started his bachelor’s studies at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre where he studied composition in the class of prof. Vaclovas Augustinas. Thereafter, since 2023, he’s been studying composition at the master’s level with prof. dr. Ričardas Kabelis. Since 2024, he is a member of the Lithuanian Composers’ Union.

His works have been awarded in many national and international composers’ competitions like “Vox Juventutis” (1st place in 2020; 2nd place in 2022; 3rd place in 2023), international E. Balsys young composer’s competition (4th place in 2023), “Musica Sacra Nove” (2nd place in 2022), finalist at the Liturgical music competition in 2021 and 2023, young composer’s competition “Mano nata” (1st place in 2018 and 2019). In 2021 he was awarded the prestigious M. K. Čiurlionis stipend-incentive to compose his syncretic piano concerto “Auto-da-fé”. Lukas’ works have been performed by choirs “Jauna muzika” (Vilnius), “via-nova-chor” (München), “Adoramus” (Vilnius), string quartet “Chordos”, contemporary music ensemble “Artisans”, piano trio “FortVio”, St. Christophor Chamber Orchestra, Lithuanian Symphonic Wind Orchestra, Future Symphony Orchestra, Vokalinio meno tinklas and others.

As a writer, Lukas has published one novel “Alisa žino” (published by “Naujas vardas” in 2019), written two other novels, five plays, ~80 poems, 23 short stories. He is an active music critic, writing reviews of concerts and music festivals.

His main interest is in symphonic, choral music, music for ensembles and in performative music practices. In an oeuvre of esthetical self-negation, the overarching theme of Lukas’ work is memory and the affectations of its perception—on the listener and on the composer—sometimes blended with the ironic and absurd fixtures of the contemporary age. Every new piece is a blank slate, a means of telling a story that is rarely connected to the previous one, unless only in self-ironic gestures.

As a pianist and harpsichordist, Lukas Butkus has performed numerous concerts solo and with other performers, ensembles and orchestras. Since 2020 he is an active member and co-coordinator of Vilnius based contemporary music ensemble “Artisans” which was recognised as ‘a potential leader of the Lithuanian contemporary music scene’. During the last five years he has premiered over 40 pieces by other composers, performed at festivals such as “Druskomanija”, “Muzikos ruduo”, “contemPLAY”, “Bandit Supreme”, “Kultūros savaitė”, “Keep singing — festival inspired by Jonas Mekas”, “Oxymora”, “Kultūros naktis”, “Pirmoji banga” and others.