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Fóstbræður Male Choir

Fostbraedur Male Choir is one of the leading male choirs in Iceland, it's history being an important part of Iceland´s music history since the choir's foundation in 1916. There is a strong tradition of male choirs in Iceland and therefore great demands are made on the best choirs. Critics concur that Fostbraedur Male Choir has, during almost a century of public performance, undoubtedly fulfilled these demands.

The Fostbraedur Male Choir is an amateur choir, consisting of around 65 active members, of which the majority has taken singing lessons or received musical training.

Today the choir gives many concerts annually in Reykjavik and elsewhere in Iceland. It has done a number of recordings, performed in radio and television and appeared in concerts with the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra and the Icelandic Opera, performances with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra include Shostakovich´s 13th Symphony, Babi Jar, as well as a performance of Stravinsky´s Oedipus Rex.

The choir has travelled widely abroad, visiting many European countries both in West and East Europe, as well as North America. The choir has won prizes in international competitions; in 1972 the choir won second prize in the International Choir Competition in Llangollen in Wales; in 1987 the choir took part in the International Choir Competition in Linderholzhausen, Germany and won third prize; and finally the choir won gold prize in the International Choir Competition, Musica Sacra, in Prague 2001.

In year 2004, Fostbraedur organized and managed a festival taking place in Iceland, Finland and St.Petersburg, Russia.Main performance in the festival was Oedipus Rex by I.Stravinsky, where Fostbraedur performed in St. Petersburg Philharmonija with St. Petersburg Philharmonian Orchestra, with soloists from Iceland, Poland Germany and Lithuania, Mr. Algirdas Janutas who sang Oedipus himself. Concert was conducted by Mr. Bernhard Wilkinson.

Since then the choir has done various projects with Icelandic Simphony Orchestra along with a participation in St. Christopher Summer Festival in Vilnius Lithuania with St. Christopher Chamber Orchestra.

Conductor of Fóstbræður is Árni Harðarson.

Chairman of Fóstbræður is Ragnar Á. Sigurðarson email: ragnar.sigurdarson(at)simnet.is 

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