Over to Reykjavik, Iceland this week for a concert from the Summer Festival 2012, featuring Vikingur Olafsson, piano – Sigrun Edvaldsdottir, violin – Bryndis Halla Gylfadottir, cello – Einar Jóhannesson, clarinet – Ari Þór Vilhjálmsson, violin – Ástríður Alda Sigurðardóttir, piano and Sigurgeir Agnarsson, cello. The concert was recorded at Sala Harpa Concert Hall in Reykjavik on June 17, 2012
Featured on the program; beginning with Ravel’s Sonata for Violin and Piano, followed by the Trio for violin, cello and Piano – the concert concludes with Brahms Trio for Clarinet, Cello and Piano op. 114.
Bryndis Halla Gylfadottir began her cello studies at the age of six. After studying at various music schools in Iceland and Canada, where she spent her teenage years, she graduated from the Reykjavik College of Music, under the tutelage of Gunnar Kvaran. Bryndis consequently moved to Boston, Massachusettes to further her studies at the New England Conservatory of Music with cellists Colin Carr and Laurence Lesser as her teachers. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from the school in 1987 and with a Master´s degree in 1989. During her stay in the United States Bryndis received fellowships to participate in various music festivals, among them the Banff Centre for Arts and the Tanglewood Music Center. After graduating from the NEC she took on the position of principal cellist in the Iceland Symphony, a position she held until the year 2014.
Sigrun Edvaldsdóttir commenced violin training when she was 5. She undertook formal studies with Gudny Gudmundsdottir at the Reykjavík Coll. of Music, graduating at 17 as the youngest person ever with a soloist diploma. She then went to the U.S. to study with Roland and Almita Amos, and then with Jascha Brodsky and Jaime Laredo at the Curtis Inst. of Music in Philadelphia (B.M., 1988). In 1987 she took second prize in the Leopold Mozart competition in Augsburg; in 1988 she won fifth prize in the Carl Nielsen competition in Denmark; in 1990 she captured the Bronze Medal at the Sibelius Competition in Helsinki. In 1988 she became first violinist of the newly-founded Miami (Fla.) String Quartet. She also pursued a career as a soloist and as a recitalist.
Einar JÓhannesson entered the Children’s Music School in Reykjavik when he was 6, and while still attending elementary school, he took up the clarinet. After training at the Reykjavik Coll. of Music (1963-69), where he studied with Gunnar Egilsson, he went to London to pursue training at the Royal Coll. of Music (1969-74) under Bernard Walton and John McCaw. In 1979 he was awarded the Sonning Prize for young Nordic soloists, which enabled him to complete his study with Walter Boeykens in Nice. Returning to Reykjavik, he became first clarinetist in the Iceland Sym. Orch. He also pursued a career as a soloist, recitalist, and chamber music player, touring throughout Europe. He has won particular distinction for his performances of contemporary scores.
Ari Þór Vilhjálmsson serves as Principal Second Violin of the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra. Born 1981 in Reykjavík, Iceland, he worked with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra from 2006 – 2014 before moving to Helsinki. He has also appeared as guest concertmaster with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic and the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse. A dedicated teacher, Ari taught at the Reykjavík College of Music, working with many of Iceland’s most talented young violinists. He continues to teach students in Iceland and Finland, and performs solo and chamber music regularly in both countries. Growing up in the United States, Ari began playing the violin at the age of 5. He later completed degrees from the Reykjavík College of Music, University of Illinois and Northwestern University. His main teachers were Guðný Guðmundsdóttir, Rachel Barton Pine, Sibbi Bernharðsson, and Almita and Roland Vamos.
Ástríður Alda Sigurðardóttir achieved her Recital Diploma at the Reykjavík College of Music under the guidance of Anna Þorgímsdóttir. Between 2000 and 2003 she studied with Reiko Neriki at Indiana University but has also attended many master classes and private classes in piano and chamber music with artists such as Geörgy Sebök, Ludwig Hoffmann, Janos Starker, Jürgen Schröder and Olaf Dressler. Ástríður has performed widely, both as soloist or with other musicians. She has released the solo album CHOPIN (2010), PORTRAIT (2014) with flutist Emilía Rós Sigfúsdóttir, the tango album FIMM Í TANGÓ (2010) and ALDARBLIK (2007) in collaboration with the Icelandic singers Eyjólfur Eyjólfsson and Ágúst Ólafsson.
Sigurgeir Agnarsson was appointed the principal cellist of the Iceland Symphony Orchestra in 2017, having previously served as assistant principal cellist from 2003. Agnarsson graduated from the Reykjavík College of Music, where his teacher was Gunnar Kvaran. Further studies followed at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston and at the Hochschule für Musik in Düsseldorf. Since then Agnarsson has enjoyed a wide and diversified career as a performer, teacher, and organiser of various music events.
Enjoy the concert.
