About

Gunnar Andreas Kristinsson (b.1976) studied with Kjartan Olafsson and Atli Heimir Sveinsson at The Reykjavik College of Music, with Krzysztof Meyer at Hochschule für Musik in Cologne and finally with Martijn Padding, Diderik Wagenaar and Clarence Barlow at The Royal Conservatory in The Hague, earning an MA degree in composition in 2004.

With the exception of a few vocal and electronic pieces, Gunnar’s compositions are mostly instrumental, varying from solo pieces to orchestral works. Many of them have found their way into music festivals worldwide such as Reykjavik Arts Festival, Ung Nordisk Musik, Gaudeamus Festival, Nederlandse Muziekdagen, Ultima Festival, Dark Music Days, Suså Festival, Nordic Music Days and Darmstadt Summer Course.

Among ensembles that have performed Gunnar’s work are Nieuw ensemble, De Ereprijs, Orkest De Volharding, Caput ensemble, Reykjavik Chamber Orchestra, The Icelandic Symphony Orchestra, Ensemble Multifoon, Soil ensemble, Ensemble Modelo62, Dygong-ensemble, Stockholm Saxophone Quartet, Skark ensemble, Duo Harpverk, Reykjavik Wind Ensemble, Nordic Affect, The Icelandic Flute Ensemble and Orkiestra Muzyki Nowej.

The first CD dedicated solely to Gunnar’s music, Patterns, received a Kraumur Award in 2013. Gunnar was nominated as Composer of the Year and his orchestral piece, Angelic Mechanisms, was nominated as Composition of the Year at The Icelandic Music Awards 2013. His clarinet concerto, Sisyfos, was RUV’s (The Icelandic Broadcasting Service) contribution to The International Rostrum of Composers in Helsinki in May 2014 and his piece Arma Virumque Cano was selected for a performance at ISCM World Music Days in Wroclaw in October 2014.