Jonathan Pinchuk wins Sabam prize for composition at Royal Conservatoire Antwerp
During last week's Pasklaar concert, composer Jonathan Pinchuk was awarded the Sabam Prize for composition, an initiative of Sabam for Culture. This prize is awarded annually to the graduating master student in composition with the highest score within each conservatoire in Flanders.
Jonathan Pinchuk graduated from the Royal Conservatoire Antwerp last year and left a lasting impression. According to his teacher Bram Van Camp, Pinchuk stands out as a versatile composer with an impressive repertoire that includes vocal music, chamber music and orchestral music. Van Camp praises his great imagination and ability to turn it into intriguing compositions with a rich and varied sound world.
‘Jonathan remains honest and authentic in every composition,’ Van Camp writes. ‘He dares to question himself, often with a touch of humour and a penchant for the absurd. His music scores are professionally finished and thoughtful, earning the respect and trust of performers.’
Pinchuk's most memorable contributions during his programme illustrate his unique creative approach. His master's thesis, entitled Should we take Ravel seriously?, explored humour and the unserious in the music of Maurice Ravel. The thesis not only offered new insights but also made the jury laugh. In addition, Pinchuk submitted a portfolio of harmony and counterpoint studies under the pseudonym Svitoslav Daldjek, a fictional dodecaphonist from the interwar period. The fictional character and music were presented so convincingly that the work was rated higher than his own compositions.
With this award and his original vision, Jonathan Pinchuk has established himself as a promising composer. As Bram Van Camp aptly concludes, ‘We are confident that Jonathan will continue to grow and surprise.’