Bernardas Butkus
Born in 2004 into a family of musicians, he grew up surrounded by brass music. At the age of six he began studying with his first teacher, his grandfather, the renowned brass expert Pranas Dapšauskas. Under his guidance for eight years he achieved remarkable success, winning numerous national and international solo competitions. His accolades include two first prizes at the Juozo Pakalnio Competition, first place at Vario Garsai, and another first prize at the Ventus Musicale Competition.
Bernardas' Adams Gear
At the age of 14, Bernardas completed his studies at the Bronius Jonušas Music School, marking the end of a formative chapter with his grandfather and teacher, Pranas Dapšauskas. He then continued his musical journey under the guidance of his uncle, Jurgis Dapšauskas, at the Karoliniškes Music School. Although he spent only one year there, Bernardas describes it as the most challenging yet rewarding year in his development as a musician.
In 10th grade, he was accepted into the prestigious National M. K. Ciurlionis School of Arts in Vilnius, widely regarded as Lithuania’s leading institution for young musicians. There, he studied under Antanas Ladyga and went on to win first prize at the international Baltic Impressions competition.
In 2022, Bernardas made a major leap into the brass band world when Brass Band Aukštyn invited him to perform as their principal euphonium at the European Brass Band Championships in Birmingham, his first major international appearance. That same year, he joined both Brass Band Sklepucini and Brass LT as principal euphonium, and he continues to perform with both ensembles.
At the 2023 Lithuanian Brass Band Nationals, he made history by being named Best Soloist in both of the top two divisions, the first musician ever to receive this double honor. The following year, at the 2024 European Brass Band Championships in Palanga, Bernardas was principal euphonium for both Brass Band Sklepucini (conducted by Vilmantas Vapsva) and Brass LT (conducted by Russell Gray). Both ensembles won first prizes, Sklepucini in the Premier Section and Brass LT in the Challenge Section. Bernardas was named Best Soloist in the Premier Section for his performance of Down to Earth by Stijn Aertgeerts.
A key figure in Bernardas’s career has been Remigijus Vilys, head of several Lithuanian brass bands and musical director of Brass LT. He has played a crucial role in Bernardas’s development, consistently providing him with opportunities to grow as both a player and a soloist.
In 2025, Bernardas returned to the European stage in Stavanger and became the only musician in history to win the Best Soloist award twice at the European Brass Band Championships, this time for his performance of Pantomime by Philip Sparke.
Throughout his young career, Bernardas has performed as a soloist with a wide variety of ensembles, including brass bands, concert bands, big bands, wind orchestras, and symphony orchestras. His appearances include performances with Brass Band Sklepucini, Sklepucini PRO, Brass LT, BB Heist, Wardle Anderson Brass Band, BB Aukštyn, the Vilnius University Orchestra Oktava, the M. K. Ciurlionis Symphony Orchestra, and both the Lithuanian Police and Military Wind Bands.
Now, at just 20 years old, Bernardas is an AR Resonance Junior Artist, a Rising Star of Adams Musical Instruments, and principal euphonium with Brass Band Sklepucini and Brass LT, as well as euphonium player with BB Heist. He is currently continuing his studies in Belgium under the mentorship of Tim De Maeseneer and Frans Violet.