Biography
Emerging as a leading advocate for chamber music from its homeland, the Siggi String Quartet has become a regular presence at multiple Icelandic music festivals.
The ensemble includes violinists Una Sveinbjarnardóttir and Helga Þóra Björgvinsdóttir, violist Þórunn Ósk Marínósdóttir, and cellist Sigurður Bjarki Gunnarsson, all of whom rank among Iceland’s distinguished solo performers. Sveinbjarnardóttir completed a bachelor’s degree in Reykjavik in 1995 and continued her training at the Musikhochschule Köln and the Berlin University of the Arts. In addition to her duties as concertmaster of the Reykjavik Chamber Orchestra and her appearances in major concertos with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra, she has recorded with non-classical artists such as Björk, Bonnie Prince Billy, and Rammstein.
After initial studies in Iceland, Björgvinsdóttir worked with Isabelle Faust at the Berlin University of the Arts and graduated with the institution’s highest mark. She obtained a master’s degree from the Royal Conservatory of Brussels and has performed with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra as well as with the Isafold Chamber Orchestra, Reykjavik Chamber Orchestra, and Elektra Ensemble. Marinósdóttir, principal violist of the Iceland Symphony Orchestra, studied with Ervin Schiffer at the Royal Conservatory in Brussels. A frequent soloist with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra and guest performer with other ensembles in Iceland and abroad, she serves on the faculties of the Reykjavík College of Music and the Iceland Academy of the Arts. Gunnarsson pursued studies in Iceland before attending the Manhattan School of Music in New York, from which he graduated in 1998. He remained in New York for further work with Harvey Shapiro at the Juilliard School of Music, receiving a master’s degree in 2000, and joined the Iceland Symphony Orchestra two years later.
The Siggi String Quartet assembled in 2012 for appearances at the Ung Nordisk Musik festival (UNM). Rapid success followed, leading to a standing concert series at Harpa Northern Lights Hall and repeated engagements at Nordic Music Days and Dark Music Days in Reykjavik. The quartet has commissioned numerous new pieces and, as of 2019, was presenting a complete cycle of Beethoven’s string quartets. That same year the group issued the album South of the Circle, which features music by the Icelandic composers Daniel Bjarnason, Sveinbjarnardóttir, Valgeir Sigurðsson, Mamiko Dis Ragnarsdóttir, and Haukur Tómasson.
The ensemble includes violinists Una Sveinbjarnardóttir and Helga Þóra Björgvinsdóttir, violist Þórunn Ósk Marínósdóttir, and cellist Sigurður Bjarki Gunnarsson, all of whom rank among Iceland’s distinguished solo performers. Sveinbjarnardóttir completed a bachelor’s degree in Reykjavik in 1995 and continued her training at the Musikhochschule Köln and the Berlin University of the Arts. In addition to her duties as concertmaster of the Reykjavik Chamber Orchestra and her appearances in major concertos with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra, she has recorded with non-classical artists such as Björk, Bonnie Prince Billy, and Rammstein.
After initial studies in Iceland, Björgvinsdóttir worked with Isabelle Faust at the Berlin University of the Arts and graduated with the institution’s highest mark. She obtained a master’s degree from the Royal Conservatory of Brussels and has performed with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra as well as with the Isafold Chamber Orchestra, Reykjavik Chamber Orchestra, and Elektra Ensemble. Marinósdóttir, principal violist of the Iceland Symphony Orchestra, studied with Ervin Schiffer at the Royal Conservatory in Brussels. A frequent soloist with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra and guest performer with other ensembles in Iceland and abroad, she serves on the faculties of the Reykjavík College of Music and the Iceland Academy of the Arts. Gunnarsson pursued studies in Iceland before attending the Manhattan School of Music in New York, from which he graduated in 1998. He remained in New York for further work with Harvey Shapiro at the Juilliard School of Music, receiving a master’s degree in 2000, and joined the Iceland Symphony Orchestra two years later.
The Siggi String Quartet assembled in 2012 for appearances at the Ung Nordisk Musik festival (UNM). Rapid success followed, leading to a standing concert series at Harpa Northern Lights Hall and repeated engagements at Nordic Music Days and Dark Music Days in Reykjavik. The quartet has commissioned numerous new pieces and, as of 2019, was presenting a complete cycle of Beethoven’s string quartets. That same year the group issued the album South of the Circle, which features music by the Icelandic composers Daniel Bjarnason, Sveinbjarnardóttir, Valgeir Sigurðsson, Mamiko Dis Ragnarsdóttir, and Haukur Tómasson.
Albums
Atli Heimir Sveinsson – The Complete String Quartets
2023
Moonbow
2021
Stara: The Music of Halldór Smárason
2020
Konan við 1000°
2014
Singles
