Short biography
Bence Kutrik studied composition in San Francisco (San Francisco Conservatory of Music), Toronto (University of Toronto), Budapest (Liszt Academy of Music) and he participated in several composition masterclasses.
He is dedicated to writing music that speaks about our time in a contemporary language focusing on innovation and experimentation meanwhile respecting tradition. He won numerous awards for concert- and film music in North America and Europe.
His most recent research focuses on the algorithmization of musical progressions by the means of information technology and artificial intelligence.
Studies and courses
2015: International Bartók Seminar, Szombathely, Hungary
Lecturers: Gyula Fekete and Ádám Balázs
2011 – 2014: Liszt Academy of Music – Composition MA, Budapest, Hungary
Teacher: János Vajda
2013: International Bartók Seminar, Szombathely, Hungary
Lecturers: Gyula Fekete and Csaba Faltay
2010 – 2011: Liszt Academy of Music – Opera Dramaturgy, Budapest, Hungary
Lecturer: János Vajda
2010: Canadian Contemporary Music Workshop (CCMW), Toronto, Canada
Lecturer: Gary Kulesha
2009 – 2010: University of Toronto – composition MA, Toronto, Canada
Teacher: Gary Kulesha
2005 – 2009: University of Toronto – composition BA, Toronto, Canada
Teachers: Christos Hatzis, Alexander Rapoport and Gary Kulesha
2002 – 2003: San Francisco Conservatory of Music – composition, San Francisco, USA
Teacher: Conrad Susa
1996 -2000 Gyula Erkel Music School – piano, Budapest, Hungary
Teacher: Bujdosóné Klára Pécsy
1996 – 2000: Dennis Gábor College – IT Engineer, Budapest, Hungary
1994 – 1996: SZÁMALK vocational school, programming, Budapest, Hungary
Awards
2023 Artisjus Award: The SATB choir piece titled Song on a Spring Evening received the Award for the Serious Music Work of the Year from Artisjus, Hungarian Bureau for Copyright Protection.
2020 Magyar Művészeti Akadémia (Hungarian Academy of Art) scholarship winner for writing an opera based on a play called A tanítónő by Sándor Bródy
2018 Ritual for chamber ensemble listed as recommended work for broadcasting and concert presentation on the 65th International Rostrum of Composers.
2018 Winning piece (Introverted Confessions) of the Austrian Anton Matasovsky composition competition for piano solo. It was the compulsory piece for the 10th International Rosario Marciano Piano Competition, Vienna, Austria
2016 Best soundtrack, short-film category: The Bespoke Tailoring of Mister Bellamy, Wild Rose Independent Film Festival, USA
2016 ICOT composition competition, first prize winner, Toronto, Canada
2015 Aurora Musis Amica award, The Immortal Heart, Budapest, Hungary
2014 Silver Hugo award for the best commercial and corporate design, Liszt Academy Spot film, Chicago, USA
2014 Best Original Music in a Short award, Four in the Morning, Blue Whiskey Independent Film Festival, USA
2014 Liszt Academy of Music composition competition second prize, Vertigo, Budapest
2012 Liszt Academy of Music composition competition third prize, Second Trio, Budapest
Notabe works
2017 Ritual, chamber ensemble, commissioned by ArTRIUM Contemporary Music Festival, premiere: Bartók Radio, 6th studio.
2017 Divergencies, Duo for saxophone and harp, commissioned by Duo SeRa, premiere: FUGA – Budapest Architectural Center.
2016 The Mandelbrot Riddle, chamber ensemble, premiere: Várkert Bazár, MINI festival, Budapest.
2015 Trembling, large chamber ensemble, commissioned by Beáta Móri, premiere: 2017 February 19, premiere: Studio 5 contemporary music group debut concert, Liszt Academy of Music, Solti hall.
2014 The Immortal Heart, short opera in one act with symphony orchestra, commissioned by the opera department at the Liszt Academy of Music, premiere: Liszt Academy of Music, Solti hall, played by: Concerto Budapest, Conductor: Vajda Gergő.
2014 Vertigo, chamber ensemble, premiere: Liszt Academy of Music, Solti hall.
2014 Two Fanfares for brass quintet, commissioned by the Liszt Academy of Music.
2013 Torn Out Pages for Symphony Orchestra, MA recital (thesis), premiered inMÜPA, Played by: Concerto Budapest, Conductor: Zsolt Serei.
2012 Second Trio for Violin, Cello and Piano, premiere: At the Liszt Academy of Music, Semmelweis building.
2010 Hamlet: The Final Scene, short opera in one act with large chamber ensemble, commissioned by the opera department of University of Toronto, premiere: University of Toronto, MacMillan Theater.
2010 Suite for String Orchestra, premiere: Music Gallery, Toronto, played by CCMW string orchestra, conductor: Gary Kulesha.
2009 Trio for Violin, Cello and Piano, premiere: University of Toronto, Walter Hall.
2009 My Life with the Seven Courses I Take for percussion ensemble and amplified sound effects, premiere: University of Toronto, Walter Hall.
2006 First Piano Sonata, premiere: University of Toronto, Walter Hall.
Applied music works
2016 Halj már meg!, feature film, orchestration, Hungary
2016 Földrengés Londonban, theater, orchestration, Hungarian Comedy Theater, Hungary. Worked with Gábor Presser and Péter Furák.
2015 The Bespoke Tailoring of Mister Bellamy, composition and orchestration, USA.
2014 The Philosopher King, feature films, composition and orchestration, Canada and Sweden.
2013 Four in the Morning, short film, composition and orchestration, USA
2012 One Way, feature film, composition and orchestration, USA
2012 Mars Project, documentary, composition and orchestration, Canada
2011 The Incidental, feature film, composition and orchestration, Canada
2010 and before: short-, animated film soundtracks and other applied music composition works for such prestigious companies as Disney Interactive, THQ, composition and orchestration, Canada, USA
Other
Founding member of Studio 5 contemporary music group. Other members: Judit Varga, Máté Bella, Árpád Solti and András Gábor Virágh.
Member of the Hungarian Composers Association.