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Curriculum Vitae Halldór Smárason

Date of birth: 3rd of March 1989 Address: Smiðjustígur 13 | 359 West 122nd Street 101, Reykjavík | New York, NY 10027 Iceland | USA Email: halldorsmarason@gmail.com Website: www.halldorsmarason.com Phone numbers: +354 847-8417 +1 (917) 690-3622 Education: 2012-2014 Manhattan School of Music. Graduated with M.M.-degree in classical composition, after

studying primarily with Dr. Reiko Füting. 2009-2012 Iceland Academy of the Arts. Graduated with B.A.-degree in classical composition, after

studying primarily with Tryggvi M. Baldvinsson and Atli Ingólfsson. 2005-2009 Ísafjörður College. Graduated with a college degree in natural science. 1996-2009 Ísafjörður Music School. Graduated with an Advanced Level Piano Examination, after

studying primarily with Sigríður Ragnarsdóttir. Professional Activities: 2014 Arrangements and accompaniment with the Icelandic male singing quartet

Sætabrauðsdrengir. Selected to participate at the Ung Nordisk Musik Festival held in Malmö, Sweden. _a_at_na for chamber ensemble selected as one of four pieces (out of a pool of 48 pieces)

to be played by the Oslo Sinfonietta at a concert in Oslo August 18th 2014. Selected from a pool of applicants to develop a new work the fall 2014 for Psappha

Ensemble (Manchester, UK), with support and mentoring from ensemble members. To be premiered at The International Anthony Burghess Foundation, Manchester, UK, January 7th 2015.

Wrote an arrangement for the Reykjavík Queer Choir. 2013 Gave a presentation on Stara for string quartet and electronics at Columbia University

Music Department, December 5th 2013. Revised and partially re-arranged Hurricane Transcriptions by Lee Ranaldo (originally

arranged by Ellis Ludwig-Leone), for a performance in Sydney, Australia, in January 2014.

Wrote arrangements on five Christmas songs for women’s choir, organ and string quartet, for Domus Vox. Premiere at Hallgrímskirkja Church, Reykjavík, Iceland, December 11th 2013.

Selected to participate at the Ung Nordisk Musik Festival held in Oslo, Norway. Master class with Henrik Hellstenius (Norwegian Academy of Music), where he discussed and gave comments on the piece Stara for string quartet and electronics, August 23rd 2013.

Coordinator of the electro-acoustic concert Upp rís úr rafinu held at Kaldalón, Harpa Concert Hall, Reykjavík, Iceland, July 12th 2013.

The summer 2013, Nefna for electronics was a part of the “Galdrastafir” app, representing Vatnsfjörður, a nature reserve in northwestern part of Iceland. The app allows tourists to use their cell phones to scan QR codes at specific locations around the West Fjords, which unlocks different pieces of art related to the area.

Master class with Daniel Lippel (International Contemporary Ensemble), where he performed and gave comments on Skúlptúr 1 for guitar, April 24th 2013.

Master class with Dr. Lewis Nielson (Oberlin College), where he discussed and gave comments on the piece 6 for harp, percussion and electronics, April 18th 2013.

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2012 Master class with Dr. Louis Karchin (New York University), where he discussed and gave comments on the piece Stara for string quartet and electronics, December 6th 2012.

Music directed and played with a jazz trio five evenings in a row with a new songwriter each night, as a part of the Songwriters series event at the Við Djúpið Music Festival in Ísafjörður, Iceland.

2011 Commissioned from a group of applicants to compose an oboe quartet for the Við Djúpið Music Festival. The 25th of June the Ensemble ACJW premiered the work Grunnavík in Hamrar concert hall in Ísafjörður, Iceland.

2010-2012 Occasional jazz piano lessons with Eyþór Gunnarsson. 2008-2009 Big band workshop in Ísafjörður, Iceland, directed by the trumpet player Iris Kramer. 2008 Við Djúpið Music Festival in Ísafjörður, Iceland. A workshop in piano improvisation,

taught by the pianist Agnar Már Magnússon. Held a workshop for advanced piano students in Ísafjörður Music School in improvisation

and playing by ear. 2007 Við Djúpið Music Festival in Ísafjörður, Iceland. A workshop in piano improvisation,

taught by the pianist Davíð Þór Jónsson. List of Works: 2014 Harðorðað for viola d’amore and electronics, 5’. Written for and premiere by Marco Fusi

at the Sonic Festival 3.0 – Ritualistic Soundscapes, Literaturhaus, Copenhagen, Denmark, September 10th 2014.

Pólypsar for viola and electronics. Premiere by Þóra Margrét Sveinsdóttir at Upp rís úr rafinu II, Mengi, Reykjavík, Iceland, August 2nd 2014.

_a_at_na for chamber ensemble, projector and electronics, 6’. Written for the Podium Festival Iceland. Premiere at Norræna húsið, Reykjavík, Iceland, June 5th 2014.

1972 - I. Fyrir for percussion, electronics and chess, >2’. Written for and premiere by Ellery Trafford at the Bossi-Comelli Studio, Manhattan School of Music, New York, NY, USA, April 18th 2014.

Rúlletta for baritone, bass clarinet, trombone and trumpet, >2’. Written for and premiere by loadbang at Greenfield Hall, Manhattan School of Music, New York, NY, USA, April 3rd 2014.

Ástæða for chamber ensemble, 10’’. Part of a collaborative collection of short pieces, Vines, by 9 students of Dr. Reiko Füting and himself. Written for the Contemporary Performance Program at the Manhattan School of Music. Read at a CPP Reading, Ades Performance Space, Manhattan School of Music, New York, NY, USA, January 21st 2014.

2013 átt for orchestra, 2013, 6’. Written for and premiere by the Manhattan School of Music Symphony at Borden Auditorium Hall, Manhattan School of Music, New York, NY, USA, January 31st 2014.

Pólypsar for violin and electronics, 2013, 5'. Premiere by Una Sveinbjarnardóttir at Errata Collective’s opening concert, Björtuloft, Harpa Concert Hall, Reykjavík, Iceland, July 18th 2014.

Hine Ma Tov for guitar, 2013, 2'. An arrangement of a traditional Hebrew melody. Written for and premiere by Daniel Lippel at Fríkirkjan Church, Reykjavík, Iceland, June 30th 2013. Additional performances at The Good Shepherd Church Rectory, Brooklyn, NY, USA, November 3rd 2013, and Bessunger Kirche, Darmstadt, Germany, November 27th 2013.

Fjögur horn for many instruments in a small space, 2013, 60'. Written in collaboration with Kristinn Gauti Einarsson and Valdimar Olgeirsson, musicians, and Gunnar Jónsson, visual artist. Premiere by 22 diverse musicians in Slunkaríki, Ísafjörður, Iceland at the Við Djúpið Music Festival, June 20th 2013.

Skúlptúr 1 for guitar and electronics, 2013, 4’. Premiere by Gunnlaugur Björnsson at Kaldalón, Harpa Concert Hall, Reykjavík, Iceland, July 12th 2013.

Music for the short film Bella for violin, violoncello, accordion, guitar and sampled instruments, 10’. Played by myself, accordion, guitar and sampled instruments,

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Benjamin Sutin, violin, and Vivian Chang, violoncello. Collaboration with Olga Goister (writer and director, Columbia University).

6 for harp, percussion and electronics, 2013, 18’. Written for and premiere by Duo Harpverk at the Millenium Stage, The John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, Washington D.C., USA, March 5th 2013.

2012 Nefna for electronics, 2012, 6’. Premiere in Miller Recital Hall, Manhattan School of Music, New York, NY, USA, December 5th 2012.

Stara for string quartet and electronics, 2012, 11’. Premiere by Holly Jenkins and Benjamin Sutin, violin, Nicholas Pauly, viola, Vivian Chang, cello, Robert Karpay, electronics, in the Greenfield Concert Hall, Manhattan School of Music, New York, NY, USA, November 19th 2012. Additional performances by Ensemble neoN at Riksscenen, Oslo, Norway, August 22nd 2013, and by Charlotte Munn-Wood and Jenny Yum, violin, Olivia Chew, viola, Maria Hadge, cello, Robert Karpay, electronics, in the Greenfield Concert Hall, Manhattan School of Music, New York, NY, USA, November 25th 2012.

Un dur for mezzo-soprano and piano, 2012, 3’. Poem by Steinn Steinarr (Ástin og dauðinn). Written for and premiere by Karen Nadia Pálsdóttir, mezzo-soprano, and Selma Guðmundsdóttir, piano. Premiere in Sigurjón Ólafson Musem, Reykjavík, Iceland, May 15th 2012.

Börn að leik for children’s choir and piano, 2012, 3’. Poem by Steinn Steinarr. Written for Álfheiður Björgvinsdóttir. Premiere by Kársnesskóli’s 6th Grade Children Choir, in Salurinn, Kópavogur, Iceland, May 5th 2012. Conducted by Álfheiður Björgvinsdóttir.

Fuscus for orchestra, 2012, 15’. Commission and premiere by The Iceland Youth Symphony Orchestra, Ungfónía, in Neskirkja, Reykjavík, Iceland, March 29th 2012. Conducted by Gunnsteinn Ólafsson.

2011 Vegfarendur for flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano and video, 2011, 12’. Written for and premiere by Elektra Ensemble at Dark Music Days Festival at Kaldalón, Harpa Concert Hall, Reykjavík, Iceland, January 28th 2012. Conducted by myself.

Ævi for chamber choir, 2011, 6’. Unpremiered. Grunnavík for oboe quartet, 2011, 12’. Commission and premiere by the Ensemble

ACJW. Premiere in Hamrar Concert Hall, Ísafjörður, Iceland, at Við Djúpið Music Festival, June 25th 2011.

Sofðu for orchestra, 2011, 5’. Unpremiered. Dvöl for saxophone, guitar, horn, piano, cello and percussion, 2011, 11’. Premiere by

Smári Alfreðsson, saxophone, Jón Gunnar Margeirsson Biering, guitar, Guðmundur Andri Ólafsson, horn, Glódís Margrét Guðmundsdóttir, piano, Sigríður Kristjana Ingimarsdóttir Waage, cello, Þórður Þorsteinsson, percussion, in Iðnó, Reykjavík, Iceland May 22nd 2012.

Music for the short film Skjáskot for piano, violin, viola, cello, contrabass and sampled instruments, 2011, 15’. Played by myself, piano and sampled instruments, Úlfhildur Þorsteinsdóttir, violin and viola, Þórður Þorsteinsson, cello, Bára Gísladóttir, contrabass. Collaboration with Björgvin Ottósson (director, The Icelandic Film School).

2010 Haust í Þjórsárdal for tenor and mezzo-soprano, upright piano and string orchestra, 2011, 6’. Poem by Steinn Steinarr. Premiere by Karen Nadia Pálsdóttir, mezzo-soprano, Þorkell Helgi Sigfússon, tenor, Halldór Smárason, piano, Halldór Sveinsson, Ísak Ríkharðsson, Úlfhildur Þorsteinsdóttir and Þuríður Helga Ingvarsdóttir, violin, Sandra Rún Jóhannesdóttir and Vala Gestsdóttir, viola, Ragnar Jónsson and Þórður Þorsteinsson, cello, Valdimar Olgeirsson, contrabass, in Sölvhóll Concert Hall, The Iceland Academy of the Arts, Reykjavík, Iceland, January 22nd 2011.

Hey! for Balkan band. Premiered by Orphic Oxtra on their debut album Orphic Oxtra. Eflaust for piano trio, 2010, 8’. Commission and premiere by Reykjavík’s Trio. Premiere

in Hafnarborg, Hafnarfjörður, Iceland, March 6th 2011. Music and soundscape for the monodrama Gardinernurnar for electric guitar, sampled

instruments and electronics, 2010, 10’. Played by myself. Written and premiere by Sara Margrét Nordahl, in Smiðjan, The Iceland Academy of the Arts, Reykjavík, Iceland, October 2010.

for clarinet, cello, contrabass and brass quintet, 2010, 8’. Premiere by (Walad) ووللدد Matthías Ingiberg Sigurðsson, clarinet, Karl Jóhann Bjarnason, cello, Gunnar

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Gunnsteinsson, contrabass, Valdís Þorkelsdóttir and Petter Ekman, trumpet, Bergrún Snæbjörnsdóttir, horn, Harpa Jóhannsdóttir, trombone, and Gunnar Karel Másson, tuba, in Sölvhóll Concert Hall, The Iceland Academy of the Arts, Reykjavík, Iceland, May 28th 2010. Conducted by myself.

2009 Sumarhrollur for flute and violoncello, 2009, 4’. Premiere by María Ösp Ómarsdóttir, flute, and Karl Jóhann Bjarnason, cello, in Sölvhóll Concert Hall, The Iceland Academy of the Arts, Reykjavík, Reykjavík, Iceland, January 17th 2010.

Til Siggu for piano, 2009, 6’. Written for Sigríður Ragnarsdóttir. Premiere by myself in Hamrar Concert Hall, Ísafjörður, Iceland, October 31st 2009.

Prizes: 2013 Received a fellowship from the Thor Thors Memorial Fund (American Scandinavian

Foundation) for graduate studies in classical composition at the Manhattan School of Music.

Received a grant from the Valitor Trust fund for graduate studies in classical composition at the Manhattan School of Music.

Stara selected as the winning submission for the Manhattan Prize, Manhattan School of Music’s string quartet composition competition.

2012 Received a Fulbright Grant-In-Aid for upcoming graduate studies in classical composition at the Manhattan School of Music.

2010 Won a composition competition held by Reykjavík's Trio with the Eflaust piano trio, which was premiered the 6th of March 2011 in Hafnarfjörður, Iceland.

2009 Received the main prize of Ísafjörður Music Association at the Ísafjörður Music School end of term in Ísafjörður, Iceland.

Graduated from Ísafjörður College, Iceland, as a dux scholae, or with the highest grade among those who graduated.

Runner-up in the Icelandic College's Singing Competition held in Akureyri, Iceland, which was broadcasted live on national television.

2002 Won The Big Narration Competition held in Hamrar in Ísafjörður, Iceland, representing Ísafjörður Grade School.

Music Directing Experience: 2012 Music directed and played with a jazz trio five evenings in a row with a new songwriter

each night, as a part of the Songwriters series event at the Við Djúpið Music Festival in Ísafjörður, Iceland.

2008 Music director in an ABBA tribute show in Ísafjörður, Iceland. Music director in the Rocky Horror Picture Show musical production of Ísafjörður

College's Theatre Company. 2007 Music director and arranger in the Alice in Wonderland musical production of Ísafjörður

College's Theatre Company. 2006 Music director and composer in the Hið ljúfa líf musical production of Ísafjörður

College's Theatre Company. Some Performances as a Performer: 2013 Performed with Reykjavík's Girl Choir and the Cantabile women's choir at various places

on a concert tour in northern Italy. 2012 Performed with a chamber ensemble in Satellite Ballet’s productions Warehouse Under

The Hudson and Epistasis at Gerald W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, New York, NY.

Performed with the indie folk/pop band Of Monsters and Men on their album release concert in Gamla bíó in Reykjavík, Iceland.

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2011 Performed with Reykjavík's Girl Choir at various places on a concert tour around Germany, Denmark and Italy.

2010-2011 Performed with a jazz trio in Laugardalshöll concert hall in Reykjavík, Iceland, at the concert series Björgvin Halldórson's Christmas Guests.

2010 Played in Biggibix's concert tour around the West fjords, Iceland. 2009 Held a graduation concert in Hamrar concert hall in Ísafjörður, Iceland, subsequently after

finishing an Advanced Level Piano Examination from Ísafjörður Music School. 2005-2006 Apollo, a band established by my friend and me in 2001 when we were 12 years old,

played at the Ein með öllu festival in Akureyri, Iceland. 2004-2011 Played dinner music at Ísafjörður College graduation, except the year 2009, when I

graduated myself. 2004-2010 Played at the People's Rock Festival, Aldrei fór ég suður, in Ísafjörður, Iceland, except

the year 2008. 2004-2007 Played dinner music at Christmas buffets in Hótel Ísafjörður, Iceland. 2004 Apollo played at Galtalækur festival, Iceland. Participated in the SAMFÉS singing contest, representing Ísafjörður Grade School. 2003 Participated in EPTA's (European Piano Teachers Association) piano competition. Apollo played at UMFÍ festival, a teenage sports event, in Ísafjörður, Iceland. Performance on Albums: 2010 Played on Orphic Oxtra's debut album, Orphic Oxtra, a Balkan band established the year

before. Genre: Balkan Pop. 2009 Played on Jón Tryggvi Unnarson's debut album, Silkimjúk er syndin. Genre: Blues /

Country / Folk. Played on Biggibix's debut album, Set Me On Fire. Genre: Pop rock. 2008 Played on Þröstur Jóhannesson's album, Vorið góða. Genre: Acoustic / Blues / Country. 2007 Played on Fjallabræður’s debut album, Bræðralag. Genre: Folk Rock. References: Dr. Reiko Füting, Professor of Composition and Chair of Theory Dept. at the Manhattan School of Music.

Phone: +1 (212) 749-2802, Email: rfueting@msmnyc.edu Mr. Atli Ingólfsson, Composer and a composition teacher at The Iceland Academy of the Arts.

Phone: +354 846-7981, Email: atli.ingolfsson@simnet.is Mrs. Sigríður Ragnarsdóttir, Director and a piano teacher at the Ísafjörður Music School, Iceland.

Phone: +354 861-1426, Email: sigridur@tonis.is