Created in 2019, the DSCH – Shostakovich Ensemble Composition Award is an initiative of DSCH – Associação Musical, aimed at encouraging and promoting excellence in contemporary Portuguese art music.
The Prize was established with the aim of recognizing, encouraging, and promoting contemporary Portuguese art music, and is intended to honor both the work and the distinguished career of a leading Portuguese composer, regardless of age.
Originally awarded every two years, the Prize became an annual award in 2023. It includes not only artistic recognition but also a monetary prize and the commission of a new musical work from the honored composer, which is subsequently premiered in a concert setting in Portugal.
The laureates reflect the diversity and excellence of contemporary Portuguese musical creation.
Luís Tinoco was the first composer to receive the Prize (2019 edition) – recognized both in Portugal and internationally for his chamber, orchestral, and vocal works, which have been performed in various countries. Following the Prize, Tinoco composed the piano trio "Aleppo", premiered by the DSCH – Shostakovich Ensemble at the Centro Cultural de Belém.
In 2021, the composer Eurico Carrapatoso was awarded the Prize – recognized as one of the most important contemporary Portuguese composers, with a vast catalogue spanning symphonies, operas, chamber music, and choral works. Carrapatoso then composed "Quartet for a New Time", which was premiered at the Sony Auditorium in Madrid by the DSCH – Shostakovich Ensemble.
The composer Andreia Pinto Correia was awarded the Prize in 2023, a recognition that also highlighted the significance of Portuguese female composers on the international contemporary music scene.
Na edição de 2024, o distinguido foi Sérgio Azevedo – um compositor com destacada trajectória criativa e pedagógica, com obras interpretadas por numerosos intérpretes de destaque. Além da distinção artística, o prémio incluiu a encomenda da obra “Sonatina giocosa” para contrabaixo solo, estreada por Tiago Pinto-Ribeiro no Festival de Música dos Capuchos, em Almada.
In 2025, the laureate was Carlos Azevedo – composer, arranger, pianist, and pedagogue, with a unique creative career that masterfully spans both classical and jazz music, in a continual dialogue between tradition, innovation, and improvisation.
The DSCH Composition Prize is awarded by the prestigious DSCH – Shostakovich Ensemble, under the artistic direction of Filipe Pinto-Ribeiro. Founded in 2006, DSCH is today regarded as one of the most significant international chamber ensembles, with albums dedicated to Shostakovich and Beethoven, released by Paraty/Harmonia Mundi–PIAS and acclaimed by the specialized press with the highest distinctions.
Through this initiative, DSCH – Associação Musical reaffirms its commitment to contemporary creation and the sustained promotion of Portuguese music, contributing to the enrichment of the musical repertoire and to the recognition of composition as a central element of cultural life.
© DSCH – Associação Musical 2025
