Yrkja - Young Composers

This concert showcases two brand-new works by Haukur Þór Harðarson and Ingibjörg Ýr Skarphéðinsdóttir, who have participated this winter in a composers’ workshop under the guidance of Anna Þorvaldsdóttir, the Iceland Symphony’s composer-in-residence. The fruits of their labours will be premiered at a noontime concert at the Dark Music Days festival under the baton of Bjarni Frímann Bjarnason, Iceland Symphony's assistant conductor. Elísabet Indra Ragnarsdóttir will also chat with the composers about their works and their origins. The conversation will be in Icelandic. 

Yrkja is a collaborative project between the Icelandic Music Information Centre and various musical institutions and groups, which aims to prepare composers for work in a professional environment with orchestras, festivals, and other arts organisations. In recent years, the Iceland Symphony has participated in Yrkja, thereby giving young composers the opportunity to acquaint themselves with the orchestra at close range. A five-member adjudication panel of composers and Iceland Symphony members selected Haukur and Ingibjörg to participate this year.