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“a knockout – wondrously inventive”
“Virtuosic, modern, occasionally discordant, but still accessible”
“hypnotic”
Icelandic composer Gulli Björnsson’s music has been captivating our membership for some time now, immersing us in the virtual soundscapes of Björnsson’s native Iceland and inspiring us through his evocative and mesmerizing compositions to take our music making to new levels. A classical guitarist by training, Gulli’s music typically ties electronics, instruments and visuals to experiences in nature. Currently he is taking this a step further, exploring ways to utilize computers in his composition process and execution. Join us and see why Gulli’s music has been described as “hypnotic” (News Gazette), “a knockout – wondrously inventive” (Soundboard Magazine) and “modern, occasionally discordant, but still accessible” (Classical Guitar Magazine). We’re super excited to be able to bring a small part of Iceland to Wilmington!
Works to be performed by Gulli Björnsson.
Please share our event on Facebook and invite your friends!
MASTERCLASS
11/23/24: Gulli Björnsson will be teaching a masterclass in the afternoon, November 23rd at 1:00 pm in the West Room of Presbyterian Church of the Covenant. The masterclass is free to observe and open to the public, but registration is required. Register as an auditor to sit in and hear what Mr. Björnsson has to teach our guest performers, or register as a performer for your chance to perform for Gulli and have him critique your performance (a small tuition fee applies). Register as either an auditor or performer in our Online Store.
Gulli Björnsson (b.1991) is a guitarist, composer and programmer from Iceland whose music typically ties electronics, live instruments and visuals to experiences in nature. Gulli´s music has been described as “hypnotic” (News Gazette) “a knockout – wondrously inventive” (Soundboard Magazine) and “Virtuosic, modern, occasionally discordant, but still accessible” (Classical Guitar Magazine).
He has written for New Jersey Symphony, Alarm Will Sound, Sō Percussion, Aizuri Quartet, Iarla Ó Lionáird, New York Classical Guitar Orchestra, Contemporaneous, Amanda Gookin, Dither, Jiji, Vicky Chow, Steve Cowan, Mirror Strings amongst others.
His compositions have recently been featured by Carnagie Hall, 92nd Street Y, Le Poisson Rouge, Caramoor, Green Music Center, Centre Culturen Canadian Paris, San Fransisco Performances, New York Guitar Festival, Boston Celebrity Series, Harriman-Jewell Series, Le Poisson Rouge, Purdue Convocations, Krannert Center, Rockefeller Tri-University, KPU music, NDR Kultur, Ung Nordisk Musik, Oh My Ears Festival, Nantucket Musical Arts Society, BU Tanglewood Institute amongst others.
Gulli has received accolades for his compositions from Changsha, Rust and Veria International Guitar Composition Competitions and received grants from distinguished institutions such as Fulbright, The American Scandinavian Foundation, Valitor, Landsbankinn and The International Advisory Board. He has also been the recipient of multiple awards for his guitar playing: 1st prize at Nótan (a national music competition in Iceland), winner of The Lilian Fuch’s Chamber Music Competition and a finalist in The ASTA National Solo Competition, European Guitar Award and The International Young Talents Competition. Gulli was also the recipient of The Eliot Fisk Prize and The Andrés Segovia Award for his studies at Yale School of Music and Manhattan School of Music.
Gulli is an Augustine Artist and exclusively plays on Augustine Strings. He is currently pursuing his PhD in music composition from Princeton University and holds degrees from Manhattan School of Music, Yale School of Music and Princeton and worked as professor of electronic composition at the University of Kansas from 2022-24.
