Heidur Bjarnadottir

Heidur Bjarnadottir is an Icelandic cellist and teacher with an education from Conservatorium Maastricht (B.Mus and M.Mus in cello) and further studies at Malmö University, where she is now taking the master's programme Culture and Change. She has also studied at the Iceland University of the Arts.

She has received inspiration and guidance from internationally recognised cellists such as Johannes Moser, Ursula Smith, Jacob Shaw and Gabriel Schwabe, and has taken part in masterclasses with, among others, Alexander Chaushian and Bryndís Halla Gylfadóttir.

Heidur has long experience both as a musician and as a teacher. She has taught cello at music schools in Iceland, including Edda Borg Music School and Reykjavik Suzuki School, and has worked as a substitute teacher at Kópavogur Music School. She has taught everyone from children aged 5 and up to young adults, in both individual lessons and ensembles. She herself started as a Suzuki student and today uses parts of the method in her own teaching. She also teaches young children piano and the introduction programme.

As a musician, Heidur has broad experience of orchestral and project work. She plays in the Elja Chamber Orchestra and has previously played in, among others, Neue Philharmonie, and as section leader in Limburg Jeugd Symfonie Orkest. She has also taken part in productions such as Brundibár (Opera Zuid) and Vlogel (Boven Water Muziektheater), as well as several artistic projects with elements of electronic music, dance and performance.

For Heidur, teaching and making music are two sides of the same coin – inspiring, exploring and growing together through music.