Gunnar Karel Másson

Gunnar Karel Másson was born in Reykjavík May 17th 1984.
He started studying music at an early age and has played a diverse range of instruments.
Gunnar started his compositional studies in the fall of 2007 at the Icelandic Academy of Arts where he finished a B.A. in composition in 2010. He did his M.Mus. in Copenhagen (2012) where he is currently working on a advanced post graduate diploma (Solist), which he is expecting to finish in 2014.
Besides his composition studies he is also pursuing a degree in philosophy, as much of his music is based around conceptual observations of our surroundings.

His teachers have been:
Tryggvi Baldvinsson,Dr. Úlfar Ingi Haraldsson, Bent Sørensen,
Hans Abrahamsen, Juliana Hodkinson, Jeppe Just Christensen and Niels Rosing Schow.

His Music has been performed at a number of festivals including:
Ung Nordisk Musik (2009 SE/2010 FI/2011 DK/2012 IS/2013 NO)
Hitzacker Sommerliche Musiktage DE (2009)
Við Djúpið IS (2009)Pulsar DK (2013/2012/2011)
Sonic DK (2013,2012)
Shanghai New Music Week CN (2012)
Dark Music Days IS (2010)
Klangwerkstatt Berlin DE (2010)
Þjóðlagahátíð IS (2011)
Integra Live DK (2011)


Education:
2012 -
University of Iceland (B.A. in Philosophy and Classic studies)
2012 -
The Royal Conservatory of Music Copenhagen (Advanced post-graduate diploma)
2010 - 2012
The Royal Conservatory of Music Copenhagen (M.Mus. Composition)
2007 - 2010
Iceland academy of the arts (B.A. in Composition)
2004 - 2010
F.Í.H. Musicschool Iceland (studying trumpet, jazz/classical)
2002 - 2003
Reykjavík Musicschool Iceland (classical Tuba)
2001 - 2002
M.G.K. Vojens Denmark (classical Tuba)


Performed/workshops by/with
Kammersveitin Ísafold (IS), Boulanger Trio (DE), Duo Harpverk (IS),
XelmYa (DE), Ensemble Adapter (DE/IS), Kronos Quartet (US),
Aalborg Symfoniorkester (DK),Sinfóníuhljómsveit Íslands (IS),
Arditti Quartet (UK), Caput (IS), Trio Reykjavík (IS),
Ensemble Insomnio (NL), Kairos Quartet (DE), Esbjerg Ensemble (DK), Ungfónían (IS), TM+ (FR)

Music for theater:

2012
Sýning Ársins by 16 lovers
Director: 16 lovers

2010
Nígeríusvindlið by 16 lovers
Director: 16 lovers

Fjöltengi by Hlynur Páll Pálsson and Homo Ludens
Director: Hlynur Páll Pálsson

2 polish speaking Rumanians byDorotu Maslowsku
Director: Heiðar Sumarliðason

Orphans by Dennis Kelly
Director: Vignir Rafn Valþórsson

2009
Nígeríusvindlið – (work in progress) by 16 lovers
Director: 16 lovers

Homo Absconditus by Hlynur Páll Pálsson and Homo Ludens
Director: Hlynur Páll

Twelfth Night by William Shakepeare.
Director: Rafael Bianciotto.

Gangverkið by the Group
Director: Kristín Eysteinsdóttir.