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Credit: Javier Belmonte

Jaime Belmonte Caparrós is a Spanish-Finnish composer, conductor, singer, and artistic researcher based in Helsinki. He is a doctoral researcher at the Sibelius Academy, University of the Arts Helsinki, where his practice-led research investigates how transcultural and interdisciplinary collaboration challenges dominant artistic ontologies, reshaping his compositional practice and collective authorship. His work is marked by an openness to dialogue and the use of space, technology, and timbral exploration to create immersive, architecturally informed sound worlds.

In parallel to his academic research, Jaime works as an independent composer, engaging in commissioned projects across Europe. His recent portfolio reflects his dedication to intercultural and transdisciplinary co-creation. Recent works include Ráidu, a collaboration with Sámi yoiker Anna Näkkäläjärvi-Länsman that explores anti-colonial methodologies and Indigenous ontological frameworks, and Aquatic Universes, an immersive installation-concert created with visual artist Paola Guzmán Figueroa. Furthermore, his work Cinq regards sur 2024, for two pianos, two percussionists, and electronics, was jointly commissioned by IRCAM, Radio France, and the Time of Music Festival, and premiered at the Manifeste Festival in Paris by Yarn/Wire. His music has been performed widely by leading contemporary music ensembles and has received international recognition, including the 42nd Irino Prize for chamber music composition.

Jaime teaches transcultural composition and artistic research at the Sibelius Academy and studied composition there himself, completing both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees under Lauri Kilpiö, with additional mentorship from Kaija Saariaho. He also holds a degree in composition and music theory from the Conservatory of Murcia. His artistic development has been shaped by international programs such as Transcultural Collaboration, Tenso Workshop for Choir and Electronics, and Atlas Lab.

Alongside composition and teaching, Jaime is the artistic director of the choir Ruamjai and maintains an active career as a professional ensemble singer, performing with groups such as the Helsinki Chamber Choir and Vokal Nord.

  • ◆ Artistic director at:

    • Ruamjai (FI) 2021-present.

    • Järvenpään Kamarikuoro (FI) 2015-2024.

    • Aiolis Naiskuoro (FI) 2016-2020.

    • Äänenkannattajat (FI) 2016-2019.

    • Valon Kaiku (FI) 2014.

    • Escolanía de la Stma. y Vera Cruz de Caravaca (ES) 2012.

    • Coral Santa Elena (ES) 2010-2013.

    • Coros del Conservatorio de Caravaca de la Cruz (ES) 2010-2013.

    ◆ Guest conductor: Norrbotten Neo Ensemble (SE), Crosscurrents project (HU), Coro y Orquesta de Ruta BBVA (ES), Vantaan Kamarikuoro (FI), Copenhagen Business School Choir (DK) and Orquesta de concierto de la Fuerza Aérea Argentina (AR).

    ◆ Workshops with Plural Ensemble (ES), Sibelius Academy Vocal Ensemble (FI), Musiikkitalon kuoro (FI) and Moscow Conservatory Chamber Choir (RU).

  • ◆ 2024-present: Sibelius Academy - Uniarts Helsinki (FI)

    ◆ 2020-2021: International School of Music Finland (FI)

    ◆ 2014-2017: International School of Music Finland (FI)

    ◆ 2008-2013: Conservatorio de Caravaca de la Cruz (ES)

  • ◆ DMus (2021-present) Sibelius Academy

    ◆ MMus (2017-2020) Sibelius Academy

    ◆ BMus (2013-2016) Sibelius Academy

    ◆ Higher Diploma of Music (2006-2011) Conservatory of Murcia

    ◆ Professional Diploma of Music (1995-2006) Conservatory of Murcia

  • ◆ UNM Festival (FI, 2020): Riikka Talvitie, Petri Kuljuntausta, Tanja Tiekso.

    ◆ Atlas Lab (NL, 2019): Joel Bons.

    ◆ Viitasaari Time of Music 2019 (FI, 2019): Kaija Saariaho.

    ◆ Roma New Music Week 2019 (IT, 2019): Beat Furrer.

    ◆ Impuls Academy 2019 (AT, 2019): Jorge Sánchez-Chiong, Alberto Posadas.

    ◆ Transcultural Collaboration (CH/HK/SG, 2017): Daniel Späti, Nuria Krämer, Ricardo Eizirik, Zhao Chuan, Kaho Yu, Dimitri de Perrot, Simon Dietersdorfer, Lucie Tuma, Heinrich Lüber, Elisabeth de Roza, Ming Wong, Eisa Jocson, Annemarie Bucher, Naveen Shamshudin.

    ◆ UNM Festival (IS, 2017): Halldor Ulfarsson, Thrainn Hjalmarsson, Anna Thorvaldsdottir.

    ◆ Mixtur Festival (ES, 2017): Pierluigi Billone, Wolfgang Heiniger, Rodrigo Sigal, Fabián Panisello.

    ◆ TENSO workshop for choir and electronics (FI, 2016): Marco Stroppa, James Wood, Paola Livorsi.

    ◆ II European Musical Creation Workshop (ES, 2010-11): Alberto Bernal, Alberto Posadas.

    ◆ Murcia Sound Matter [Murcia Materia Sonora] (ES, 2010): Francisco López.

    ◆ I European Musical Creation Workshop (ES, 2009): Aureliano Cattaneo, Stefano Gervasoni.

    ◆ III "Molina Actual" Composition workshop (ES, 2007): José María Sánchez Verdú, Joan Guinjoan, Arditti Quartet.

  • ◆ 42nd Irino Prize of Chamber Music Composition 2020

    ◆ 1st WITOLD SZALONEK International Composers’ Competition 2018

    ◆ 1st PAMPA Residency 2014

    ◆ Ruta Quetzal 2005

  • ◆ Society of Finnish Composers 2024.

    ◆ Otto A. Malm Foundation 2023.

    ◆ Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike) 2023.

    ◆ Sibelius Academy Foundation 2023.

    ◆ Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike) 2022.

    ◆ Finnish Music Foundation (MES) 2022.

    ◆ Pro Musica Foundation 2021.

    ◆ Armas Paloheimo Foundation 2019.

    ◆ Sibelius Fund 2018.

    ◆ Wegelius Foundation 2018.

    ◆ Swiss-European Mobility Programme 2017.

    ◆ Laura and Marketta Simes Foundation 2016.

Full CV (PDF)
Sheet music
Research

Credit: Leo Brinkmann

Jaime’s musical thinking orbits around four dimensions of sound: materiality, grammar, representation, and space. His music functions as a living ecosystem – not only in how these four sonic elements interact, but in how his compositional process actively adapts to the diverse cultural, technological, and transdisciplinary realities of his collaborators. His music often features intricate, timbrally rich textures structured through a clear grammatical logic that shapes the listener’s perceptual journey. The spatialization of sound plays a central role, not only in sculpting sonic perception but in situating the work within broader cultural and emotional contexts.

Increasingly, Jaime’s work engages with extramusical sources – ranging from the sonification of data and natural processes to themes of ecological crises, cultural identity, vulnerability, and ethical responsibility. These elements do not simply illustrate or comment; they leave a trace on the music itself, becoming representational elements that trigger an emotional or psychological response and inscribe lived experience into the musical fabric.