Bára Gísladóttir is an Icelandic composer and double bassist based in Copenhagen. Her work is generally based on thoughts regarding the approach and concept of sound as a living being.
She studied composition at the Iceland Academy of the Arts in Reykjavík, Conservatorio di Musica “Giuseppe Verdi” in Milan and at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen. Her music has been performed by ensembles and orchestras such as Athelas Sinfonietta, The Danish National Symphony Orchestra, The Danish National Vocal Ensemble, Distractfold, Duo Harpverk, Elektra Ensemble, Elja Ensemble, Ensemble Adapter, Ensemble InterContemporain, Ensemble New Babylon, Ensemble recherche, Esbjerg Ensemble, Frankfurt Radio Symphony, Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra, Iceland Symphony Orchestra, loadbang, Marco Fusi, Mimitabu, NJYD, Nordic Affect, Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Riot Ensemble, Siggi String Quartet, TAÏGA String Quartet and TAK Ensemble. Bára´s pieces have been selected for festivals such as Dark Music Days, Darmstädter Ferienkurse, Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festical, International Rostrum of Composers, KLANG Festival, Nordic Music Days, TRANSIT Festival and Wittener Tage für neue Kammermusik. She has received the Carl Nielsen and Anne Marie Carl-Nielsen Foundation’s Talent Awards, Léonie Sonning Talent Prize, The Reykjavík Grapevine’s Music Awards, and has been nominated to the Carl Prize as ‘Composer of the year’, the Kraumur Music Awards three times for ‘Album of the year’ and The Icelandic Music Awards three times for ‘Piece of the year’.
Bára has released several albums – HĪBER (Dacapo Records 2020) and Caeli (w/ Skúli Sverrisson, Sono Luminus 2021) to name a few.
Bára is an active performer and regularly plays her own music, mostly solo or with her long time collaborator, Skúli Sverrisson. In addition to this, she is the double bassist of Elja Ensemble. Her works are published by Edition·S.
Website
https://www.baragisladottir.com
