Performers & composers

Víkingur Ólafsson

The Icelandic concert pianist Víkingur Ólafsson (b. 1984) has established himself as one of Iceland's most gifted young artists. An active performer since his early teens, Víkingur has appeared as soloist with all the major orchestras in his native country, including numerous times with The Iceland Symphony. Most recently he made his debut as a soloist/conductor in Mozart's Piano Concerto no. 25 with The Reykjavik Chamber Orchestra at The Reykjavik Art Festival in May 2006.

A dedicated performer of new music, Vikingur gave the Icelandic premiere of Ligeti's Horn Trio in August. As well as premiering Snorri Sigfús Birgisson's Piano Concerto no 2 (2005) with The Caput Ensemble, he is due to give the world premiere of Ólafur Óskar Axelsson's Piano Suite (2006) in May 2007. Other engagements include a performance of Beethoven's 3rd Piano Concerto with The Iceland Symphony in November, recitals in Gijón, Madrid, New York and Kópavogur, as well as a two week tour of Canada in April. The 12 Tones Music Label will release a CD in October 2006, featuring song cycles by Schumann and Grieg with Icelandic mezzo-soprano Guðrún Jóhanna Ólafsdóttir.

A recipient of many prizes and awards, Víkingur Ólafsson received the prestigious American-Scandinavian Society Cultural Grant for the year 2004. He won the Icelandic Music Awards 2005 in the category: "Iceland's brightest Prospect in Classical Music", and most recently he received the Carl Roeder Prize in Piano from The Juilliard School. He has been supported throughout his studies by The Birgir Einarsson Memorial Fund.

Since 2002, Víkingur has been a student of Jerome Lowenthal at The Juilliard School, from which he graduated in May with a Bachelor of Music degree. He has also worked closely with Ann Schein, Julian Martin and Robert McDonald. He will start his fifth year at the school this fall, working towards a Master's of Music degree as a student of Mr. McDonald.