Arvydas Malcys (*1957) graduated from the Kaunas Juozas Gruodis Conservatory in 1975, and from the Lithuanian Academy of Music, receiving diplomas both in cello playing (under Prof. Domas Svirskis) in 1980, and composition (under Prof. Vytautas Laurušas) in 1989. Arvydas Malcys has collaborated with a number of renowned performers. The works by Arvydas Malcys have been performed in many countries in Europe, Asia, North and South America, including the most prestigious concert venues such as New York Carnegie Hall, Moscow P. Tchaikovsky Philharmonic, Moscow Conservatory Great Hall, Paris Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, Shanghai Symphony Hall. Arvydas Malcys’ works were performed by over thirty symphony and chamber orchestras.
In 2004 he was awarded 3rd Prize for the symphonic composition Only Heaven Above Us at the Sinfonia Baltica International Composers’ Competition in Riga, in 2005 – 1st Prize for the Concerto for piano and chamber orchestra at the Juozas Karosas Composers’ Competition in Vilnius, in 2006 – Conductor’s Prize for the composition In memoriam for string orchestra at the composers’ competition Mozart 250 in Moscow, in 2008 – 1st Prize for the composition Saxchord for tenor saxophone and string quartet at the Juozas Karosas Composers’ Competition. In 2007 his Cantus sirenum was chosen as a recommended work at the Haifa International Flute Festival, and in 2009 his Narcissus was included in the obligatory program at the Max Rostal Viola Competition in Berlin.
Instrumental music makes up the most significant part of Arvydas Malcys’ creative output. In a number of his works for various instrumental settings, the tendencies of absolute music fit well with nearly expressionistic imagery and sound poetry reminiscent of the impressionism; a feel for neoclassical forms with aleatory and a penchant for colourful textures and specific sound effects. Having a discriminating ear, he takes special interest in timbre possibilities of different instruments in various registers of their range. Well familiar with peculiarities of instruments, Arvydas Malcys manipulates manifold expressional possibilities of individual instruments and their combinations, and thereby shapes them to serve as strongly-flavoured personifications, well-nigh “theatrical” characters. His music is fraught with contrast, grotesque and irony. Over twenty CDs featuring Malcys’ works and thirteen portrait CDs have been released to date. The composer is a winner of the Lithuanian Government Prize for Culture and Art.