Algirdas Bružas

Algirdas Bružas (b. 1960) graduated from the Lithuanian Academy of Music in 1984, where he has studied composition with Prof. Julius Juzeliūnas. In 1986-2000 he taught theoretical subjects at the Conservatoire and the Music School in Šiauliai. In 1986-90 he headed Šiauliai division of the Lithuanian Musicians' Union, was actively involved in musical life of this city. Presently he teaches theoretical subjects at the 2nd Music School in Šiauliai. His creative work is primarily associated with Šiauliai, where his operas for children "First Christmas" and "Tale of the Forest" were staged and his musical-artistic collaborations with the artist Arūnas Vasiliauskas "Prayer for Those Who Did Not Return" (1993), "Rural Lithuania" (1996), "Impression" (1998) and "In the Land of Lithuania" (2000) were realized.

Algirdas Bružas' works were performed in various festivals and other events in Lithuania and abroad. The composer regularly participates in national and international competitions. In 1996 his cycle "Calvary" for female choir and organ received second prize at the J. Naujalis competition of sacred choral music. In 1998 Franz Schubert Society of Lithuania awarded the composer a prize for his opus "Angel of Hope", and in 2002 his composition "Cricket" received main prize at the Icebreaker International Competition in Great Britain.

Algirdas Bružas composes music of various genres, combining traditional means of expression, intonations of Lithuanian folk songs with serial and aleatoric techniques. Algirdas Bružas' music reveals his fascination with nature, which is also illustrated in the titles of his opuses, such as "Reed Hymns" for wind quintet, "Ten Water Preludes" for piano, etc.