Following an open call earlier this year, Iceland Music has selected three Icelandic artists to participate in an international visitor program in Berlin from October 2–5, 2026.

The selected artists are:

• Áki Ásgeirsson, composer and multimedia artist (S.L.Á.T.U.R.)
• Bergrún Snæbjörnsdóttir, composer
• Þórgunnur Anna Örnólfsdóttir, singer and performer (KIMI ensemble / Duo Gjörð)

The visit coincides with the Month of Contemporary Music and the Ensemble Festival. A dense four-day itinerary awaits the group, during which they will attend concerts, visit studios and venues, and participate in the Time to Listen conference, which focuses on international collaboration.

This year, the project reaches further than before, bringing together artists from across Europe. The visit will serve not only as a window into the German contemporary music scene but also as a valuable platform for weaving deeper connections and fostering collaboration between diverse European scenes.

The participants were selected by a jury composed of representatives from the partner organisations and INM / Field Notes Berlin.

About the Participants

Áki Ásgeirsson is a composer and multimedia artist. He has composed music for traditional instruments alongside designing new instruments, audio software, computer-controlled instruments, and sound installations. He is a member of the composer collective S.L.Á.T.U.R. and one of the organisers of the RAFLOST festival.

Áki has been an active presence in the Icelandic experimental music and art scene as a composer, sound artist, and performer. With a background in free improvisation, electronic music, creative coding, and algorithmic composition, he frequently collaborates with artists across different disciplines.

Bergrún Snæbjörnsdóttir is a composer working at the intersections of experimental music, performance, and sonic research. In her work, she shapes living, ever-evolving sound systems where improvisation, notation, and unpredictability intertwine.

Her works have been performed and commissioned by numerous international ensembles, festivals, and institutions, including the International Contemporary Ensemble, INA GRM, Nordic Affect, and the Oslo Philharmonic. Bergrún is an Associate Professor of Composition at the Iceland University of the Arts, and her debut album, Skinweeper, was released by Smekkleysa in 2026.

Þórgunnur Anna Örnólfsdóttir is a classically trained singer specialising in contemporary music. Þórgunnur has premiered over 25 works, including operas, solo pieces, and chamber music, among them works composed specifically for her trio KIMI ensemble and the duet Gjörð. She has appeared as a soloist with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra, Ensemble Storstrøm, and BIT20 Ensemble, and at festivals such as Bang on a Can (US) and Tête à Tête (UK).

In 2025, she performed the title role in the new Icelandic opera BRÍM, earning nominations for both the Icelandic Music Awards '26 and the Gríman Performing Arts Awards '25. Through her participation in this project, Þórgunnur aims to create new opportunities for both KIMI ensemble and Duo Gjörð.

We congratulate them all and look forward to the journey ahead!

The project is organised in collaboration with INM / Field Notes Berlin, Art Music Denmark, Centre National de la Musique, Fonds Podiumkunsten Netherlands, Kultur:lx, Austrian Music Export, Music Finland, Music Norway, and Pro Helvetia.

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