Biography
Anna Thorvaldsdottir (actually Anna Þorvaldsdóttir) is a prominent Icelandic composer who frequently works with large structures of sounds, whether written for instrumental ensembles, soloists, voices, or electronic mediums. Her music tends to portray a flowing world of sounds with an enigmatic lyrical atmosphere. Her passion for working with large sound worlds, that often reveal the presence of a vast variety of sustained sound materials, reflects her sense of imaginative listening to landscapes and nature.
Anna’s music is frequently performed in Europe and in the US, and has been featured at major music festivals such as Nordic Music Days and Dark Music Days. Her works have been nominated and awarded on several occasions, e.g. at Prix Europa and for the annual International Rostrum of Composers (IRC). Hrím was awarded Composition of the Year (2010) at the Icelandic Music Awards 2011.
The Iceland Symphony Orchestra has premiered and recorded four of Anna's orchestra pieces, conducted by Ilan Volkov, Rumon Gamba, Bernharður Wilkinson, Christian Lindberg, and Daníel Bjarnason. Her most recent piece for orchestra, AERIALITY, was premiered by the orchestra in HARPA, the new award-winning Reykjavik Concert Hall, November 24th 2011, conducted by Ilan Volkov. The noted Icelandic CAPUT Ensemble has also premiered and recorded major works by Anna, conducted by Snorri Sigfús Birgisson.
Anna holds an MA and a PhD degree from the University of California in San Diego. During her studies at UCSD she primarily worked with Rand Steiger and Lei Liang, as well as with Chinary Ung, Philippe Manoury, Roger Reynolds, and percussionist Steven Schick. She received her BA degree in composition from the Iceland Academy of the Arts.
Anna was a teaching assistant at the University of California, San Diego from 2006 to 2010 and an Associate-In-Music at the department in 2011, teaching music theory and composition.
Anna’s debut portrait album - Rhízōma - was released October 25th through Innova Recordings. The album features three larger pieces for orchestra and chamber orchestra and five shorter movements from a solo percussed piano work. The pieces are performed by the Iceland Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Daniel Bjarnason, the Icelandic CAPUT Ensemble, conducted by Snorri Sigfus Birgisson, and percussionist Justin DeHart.
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