Performers & composers

Schola cantorum

Schola cantorum is a chamber choir, founded a decade ago by the conductor, Hörður Áskelsson, cantor at Hallgrímskirkja (Hallgrim's Church) in Reykjavík. The choir normal size of 14 members has been expanded to 40 members for Edda Oratorio.

Schola cantorum has from the very start played an important role in the Icelandic music scene, especially in the musical activities in Hallgrímskirkja where the choir has given many concerts.  The repertoire of Schola cantorum consists mainly of renaissance, baroque and contemporary music. The choir released it’s first CD, Principium, in 1999 with choral music from the 16th and 17th century, by composers such as Tallis, Byrd, Schein and Gesualdo. In it’s latest CD, Audi creator coeli, Schola cantorum sings in contrast only Icelandic contemporary music most of which is being premiered by the choir. Schola cantorum has also participated in a number of recordings of choral-orchestral compositions. Many of these are works by Jón Leifs, such as Þjóðhvöt and Hafís, and have been issued on the label BIS.
Schola cantorum was in 1998 awarded the top prize in an international choir competition in Noyon, France. Subsequently the choir gave four concerts in Picardy and Paris in 1999. The choir has also performed in Norway, Finland, Italy and Spain. The choir's latest performance outside Iceland was in Paris in 2004 with the ambient rock band Sigur Rós in Hrafnagaldur Óðins (Odin's Raven Magic).

Concerts with Schola cantorum in 2006 include Geistliche Chormusik and Kleine geistliche Konzerte by Heinrich Schütz, Symphony no 2 by Icelandic composer Atli Heimir Sveinsson (with The Iceland Symphony Orchestra), Requiem and De profundis by André Campra and Messiah by G.F. Händel.

Schola cantorum was appointed City of Reykjavík Official Music Group 2006.