Commissions by LA Phil, LA Children's Chorus and American Youth Symphony Nominated for Icelandic Music Awards Page 2- BWWClassical MusicWorld

Deborah Borda, President and CEO of the LA Phil states, "We have a successful and ongoing relationship with the composer Daniel Bjarnason. The piece commissioned by the LA Philharmonic has resulted in Daniel's nomination for this award. We are thrilled that our platform in Los Angeles has highlighted one of the world's most interesting young voices. We wish Daniel every success and look forward to working with him again in the 2013/14 season where we have commissioned a full orchestral work from him for our North American tour."

The Los Angeles Philharmonic, led by LA Phil Creative Chair John Adams, premiered Bjarnason's Over Light Earth, which was commissioned by the orchestra, on October 16, 2012, at Walt Disney Concert Hall, in the first Green Umbrella series concert of the 2012/13 season. Over Light Earth is inspired by paintings of Mark Rothko and Jackson Pollack.

Bjarnason garnered widespread acclaim for his debut album, Processions (2010), with Time Out NY declaring that Bjarnason "create(s) a sound that comes eerily close to defining classical music's undefinable brave new world." Both a conductor and composer, he has worked with a range of ensembles, including the London Sinfonietta, Ulster Orchestra and Sinfonietta Cracovia. He also regularly conducts both the Icelandic Opera and Iceland Symphony Orchestra. Bjarnason has won numerous awards and grants and has twice been awarded a special recommendation for his work at the International Rostrum for Composers. In 2010, he was nominated for the prestigious Nordic Council's Music Prize and won the Kraumur Music Award. The same year, Processions won the coveted Best Composer/Best Composition categories at the Icelandic Music Awards. Bjarnason's versatility as an arranger and conductor has led to collaborations with a broad array of musicians outside the classical field, including Sigur Rós, Efterklang, múm and Ólöf Arnalds, among others.

<< Page 1