Bára Gísladóttir (born 1989) is an Icelandic composer and double bassist, based in Copenhagen. She often performs with longtime collaborator

Skúli Sverrisson Skúli Sverrisson (born 23 October 1966) is an Icelandic composer and bass guitarist. He has worked with musicians Wadada Leo Smith, Derek Bailey (guitarist), Derek Bailey, Lou Reed, Jon Hassell, David Sylvian, Arto Lindsay, and composers ...

. She is the double bassist of Elja Ensemble. Bára has said that her work is concerned with the qualities of sound.

Biography

Born in Reykjavík on 21 November 1989, Bára played the violin from an early age, specialising in double bass from her teens onwards. She studied composition at the

Royal Danish Academy of Music The Royal Danish Academy of Music, or Royal Danish Conservatory of Music (), in Copenhagen is the oldest professional institution of musical education in Denmark as well as the largest, with approximately 400 students. It was established in 186 ...

where she completed a Masters Degree and an Advanced Postgraduate Diploma under the guidance of Niels Rosing-Schow and Jeppe Just Christensen. Prior to that she studied composition at the

Milan Conservatory The Milan Conservatory, also known as the Conservatorio di Milano and the Conservatorio Giuseppe Verdi, is a Music school, college of music in Milan, Italy. History The conservatory was established by a royal decree of 1807 in Milan, capital ...

with Gabriele Manca and earned a Bachelors Degree at the Iceland Academy of Arts with Hróðmar I. Sigurbjörnsson and Þuríður Jónsdóttir. Bára has released four albums. Her debut, ''Different Rooftops'', came out in 2015, and contained works that included voice, electronics, saxophone, and double bass. the 2016 follow-up, ''B R I M S L Ó Ð'', employed double bass and electronics across three movements. A 2017 album entitled ''Mass for some'' contained compositions for double bass, electronics, and voice. ''HĪBER'', released in 2020, utilised electronics and double bass. A 2021 release is planned for 'Caeli', a collaboration with

Prizes

Bára has received the

Carl Nielsen Carl August Nielsen (; 9 June 1865 – 3 October 1931) was a Danish composer, conductor, and violinist, widely recognized as his country's most prominent composer. Brought up by poor yet musically talented parents on the island of Funen, he d ...

and

Anne Marie Carl-Nielsen Anne Marie Carl-Nielsen (born Anne Marie Brodersen; 21 June 1863 – 21 February 1945) was a Danish Sculpture, sculptor. Her preferred themes were domestic animals and people, with an intense, naturalistic portrayal of movements and sentime ...

Foundation’s Talent Awards, the Léonie Sonning Talent Prize, and won the "Shout Out" award at

The Reykjavík Grapevine ''The Reykjavík Grapevine'' is an English language, English-language Icelandic magazine and online newspaper based in the Icelandic capital city, capital of Reykjavík. Its target audience primarily consists of foreigners, immigrants, internati ...

Music Awards. She was nominated at the

Icelandic Music Awards The Icelandic Music Awards () are the official annual music awards given in Iceland to commemorate the musical achievements of the year. The award was established in 1993 with an annual rock award given by the Félag íslenskra hljómlistarmanna ...

in 2019 and 2020 for "piece of the year" and the Carl Prize in 2020 as "Composer of the Year – Chamber Ensemble". In 2022, she was nominated for the

Nordic Council Music Prize The Nordic Council Music Prize is awarded annually by NOMUS, the Nordic Music Committee. Every two years it is awarded for a work by a living composer. In the intervening years it is awarded to a performing musician or ensemble. The Nordic ...

. She received the Ernst von Siemens Composer Prize in 2024.

Discography

* ''Different Rooftops'' (2015) * ''B R I M S L Ó Ð'' (2016) * ''Mass for some'' (2017, Mengi Records) * ''HĪBER'' (2020,

Dacapo Records Dacapo Records is a Danish classical music and new music record label. It was founded in 1989 to promote the classical and new music of Denmark and represents itself as "the Danish National label" ("Danmarks nationale pladeselskab"). The board inc ...

) * ''SILVA'' (2023, Sono Luminus)

References

External links

Bára Gísladóttir's website

Bára's Soundcloud Profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gisladottir, Bara 1989 births Living people Bara Gisladottir Bara Gisladottir Icelandic women composers Bara Gisladottir 21st-century composers 21st-century women composers Milan Conservatory alumni Double-bassists Icelandic violinists Icelandic women violinists