A bit about myself

I am a composer, pianist and electronic music producer from Barcelona. I love to create music that explores a wide range of expression: from intimate piano and synthesizer melodies to the expansive sounds of the symphonic orchestra. My classically-inspired music blends acoustic instruments with experimental electronics, both digital and analogue.

Arnau Brichs studied composition at the Royal Academy of Music in London as a full ABRSM scholarship holder, graduating first-class honours. He has been recognized internationally with "PRIX ÉLAN 2024" (Paris, France) – where he unanimously won the Jury, Orchestra and Audience Prizes, the "WCSMS Promising Young Composers Competition" (Philadelphia, USA) or the "Eric Coates Prize" (London, UK). His music has been championed by the likes of the Orchestre National d’Île-de-France (Paris), the Uusinta Ensemble (Finland), Locrian Chamber Players (New York City, USA) or the Lucerne Festival Contemporary Orchestra (Switzerland).

As an electronic musician, he works with modular synthesizers, drum machines, but also with custom-made digital sampling tools, which allow him to manipulate the sounds acoustic sounds in ways never possible before. In order to talk about his ideas, he has introduced some neologisms: “aural deepfakes“, “presence“ or “invisible electronics“. The software he develops for his own music, a lot of which is open source, has proved to be widely popular online, amassing over 10K downloads so far.

He started his pianist career by being mentored by revered jazz pianists Chano Domínguez and Marina Albero, as well as following classical studies at the IEA Oriol Martorell school in Barcelona. As a performer, he has appeared in venues like the Ateneu Barcelonès, Fundació Joan Miró (Festival Lluerna), CaixaForum Barcelona, UTOPIA 46 or the International Music Festival of Cadaqués. 

Currently, he is a Composer in Residency 2024-25 in the prestigious IRCAM institute in Paris, which will lead to the premiere of a new work for oboe, symphonic orchestra and electronics, with Orchestre national d’Île-de-France next June in Festival ManiFeste.

Michèle Tosi, music critic – France

“a seductive and colorful work, mixed with jazzy rhythm, which already demonstrates a great mastery of orchestral writing”

George Benjamin, composer – United Kingdom

“the presence of a real creative musician with an unexpected and personal voice

Awards & Recognitions

  • JURY, AUDIENCE AND ORCHESTRA JURY PRIZES

    PARIS, FRANCE

  • PHILADEPHIA, UNITED STATES

  • LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM