Longer version

Úlfar Ingi Haraldsson began his music studies in Iceland in the early 80's. Initially focusing on contrabass performance and jazz studies in the jazz program of FIH School of Music. Later enrolling in the composition and theory program at the Reykjavik College of Music where he completed his BA degree in 1990. His teachers in Iceland included Karólína Eiríksdóttir, Snorri Sigfús Birgisson and Thorkell Sigurbjörnsson.
Continued graduate studies in musical composition and theory from 1992-2000 at the music department of University of California, San Diego. His principal teachers were Brian Fernayhough, Rand Steiger, and Bertram Turetzky.  Other important teachers and mentors include George Lewis, Roger Reynolds, Joji Yuasa and Harvey Sollberger. Completing his Ph.D.  dissertation in 2000 the title was "Developing Methodological Strategies for the Documentation and Treatment of Multi-Structural  Elements in Modern Musical Composition as Relating to Dual Closure.
Úlfar Ingi Haraldsson has worked as a composer, contrabassist, teacher and conductor in Iceland and in California. He has written works for orchestra, chamber groups and soloists that have been performed in Scandinavia, Europe, USA, and Mexico. His works have been performed by numerous ensembles and soloists including e.g. the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra, Caput Ensemble, Reykjavik Chamber Orchestra, UCSD Wind Quintet, master percussionist Steven Schick and the legendary Bertram and Nancy Turetzky Duo, Italian chior Libera Cantoria Pisani,  Christians Consort Chamber choir in Norway along with collaborations with the Icelandic Dance Company.
Úlfar has appeared as a composer and performer at international festivals including e.g. Young Nordic Music Festivals, Dark Music Days, Nordic Music Days, International University Music Festival and Darmstadt Revisited Festival in San Diego, Reykjavik Arts Festival, cultural events relating to European Cities of Culture, been a composer in residence of the Skalholt Summer Music Festival, and collaborated with the European Music and Dance (N+ECA) network along with numerous concerts in Iceland and internationally.
Currently works as a composer and teacher of composition, theory, bass and music literature at the Reykjavik College of Music, FIH School of Music and Iceland Academy of the Arts.

On the agenda

Upcoming concerts:

Pianist George Fisher will be performing Another World for piano and electronics in:

Tenri Cultural Institute of New York,

43A West 13th St., Manhattan.   

The concert will take place Saturday, November 18, at 7:30 pm.

More concerts coming up soon!


Te lucis ante terminum for mixed choir premiered in Italy December 2021 

Meditation for alto flute premiered in Italy December 2021

Time is Changing for Reykjavik Big Band premiered in spring 2022

Dreamscape, a new solo work for piano, premiered in fall 2020

Requiem for Melting Ice VI  premiered Thursday, September 2 in Havnar Kirkja, Tórshavn on Nordic Music Days Festival in Faroe Islands 2021. 

Some inactivity because of Covid from 2020-2022


New work titled Endurskin for choir premiered by South Iceland Kammerkor June 29, 2019.

Recording session with Icelandic Symphony Orchestra June 11, 2019 recording my work Emerging Songs from 2010. 

New work titled Red Basie so Blue for Big Band premiered by Reykjavik Big Band June 3, 2019

Two new songs premiered as a part of a new musical titled Fylgd by Guðbrandur Ægir Ásbjörnsson. Songs were written by several composers and my two songs are titled Stundum brenna tár (Það sem ekki má) and Enginn skilur mig with lyrics written by Skarphéðinn Ásbjörnsson. Premiered April 28 with additional 13 shows to May 12, 2019. 

Recording session with Caput Ensemble and Kristinn Sigmundsson recording my work Eyktir February 20, 2019.

Premier of Requiem für Schmelzendes Eis III   collaborative composition and performance by Úlfar Ingi and Gunnar Kristinsson involving film, visual art, sculpture and performance art in collaboration with www.kumu.company  premiered September 5, 2018 in Elisabethenkirchke Basel, Switzerland.   

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New work, Eyktir for baritone voice and chamber sextet, premiered during the Dark Music Days Festival 2018. Friday, Jan.26 concert at 9pm in the Frikirkja Church in Reykjavik. Performers are the magnificent singer Kristinn Sigmundsson and the Caput Ensemble. The work is composed to six poems of Gunnar Kristinsson appearing in his collection Eyktir from 1988. https://www.facebook.com/events/1978895822432860/

Dark Music Days Festival 2018 Jan.25 - Jan.27

http://www.darkmusicdays.is/program2018/

Cantando Musikkforlag publications https://shop.cantando.com/search?q=Úlfar%20Ingi%20Haraldsson

New work, Orfeo nel basso, for contrabass and harp premiered May 17 in the KEFAS hall, Iceland – featuring Thorir Johannsson, bass and Elisabeth Waage, harp. See more here (in Icelandic): https://www.facebook.com/events/1680372692265426/

Participating in the Dark Music Days Festival in Reykjavik jan.26-28, 2017 – Presenting a new quintet written for Nordic Affect with electronics see more:  http://www.darkmusicdays.is/nordic-affect-1

Several compositions in progress for 2016 involving e.g. Caput Ensemble, Nordic Affect and Hutchins Consort.

Portrait concert with Caput scheduled in Nordic House March 2016.

Iceland premier of the work, Blue Sky Wide Cliffs, for 5 trombones and organ in Neskirkja church june 6. Composer conducting this two movement work.

New CD release on feb. 14 "The Day of Icelandic Music" --- Title: RESEARCH – Explorations in Harmony and Form.

A new three movement work, Memoria for piano and chamber orchestra, will be premiered at the Dark Music Days Festival jan. 30. in Harpa Concert Hall in Reykjavik.