The 2022 Civic Artist is Bjössi Thor
Björn Thoroddsen, one of the country's most famous and beloved guitarists, is the 2022 Artist in Residence of Hafnarfjörður. He has, in his sincere and beautiful way, stamped himself into the minds and hearts of guitar enthusiasts around the world and enriched the cultural life of his hometown, Hafnarfjörður, with his events.
Not just one of the country's most famous guitarists, but adored all over the world.
Björn Thoroddsen, one of the country's most famous and beloved guitarists, is the 2022 Artist in Residence of Hafnarfjörður. He has, in his sincere and beautiful way, stamped himself into the minds and hearts of guitar enthusiasts around the world and enriched the cultural life of his hometown, Hafnarfjörður, with his events. Björn, or Bjössi Thor as he is commonly known, has for the past few decades been one of the country's foremost jazz musicians and has received various accolades as such. A tradition has developed in Hafnarfjörður of celebrating the last day of winter by selecting the town's Artist of the Year.
One of the country's most influential jazz musicians
Björn was 11 years old when he started learning the guitar, studying classical guitar at the Sigursveinn D. Kristinsson School of Music. He then went on to study at the Guitar Institute of Technology in Hollywood, graduating in 1982. Björn quickly began to compose and arrange, and works continuously on recordings and concerts both at home and abroad, having played with some of the world's most talented guitarists. He has released over thirty albums under his own name, as well as numerous collaborative projects, and his music has been released internationally. He has composed and arranged music for the trio Guitar Islancio, which has received well-deserved attention for its innovative arrangements of folk songs. Björn is not only one of the country's most well-known guitarists, but he is also admired worldwide and has performed his music extensively, appearing in the United States, Canada, Russia, Spain, Germany, England, and across the Nordic countries. Björn has received various accolades for his work throughout his career. In 2003, he was named „Jazz Musician of the Year“, the first Icelandic guitarist to do so; Jazz Composer of the Year in 2005, received an award from the International Association for Jazz Education and was awarded the gold medal of the Icelandic Musicians„ Association for his contribution to jazz music in 2011. It is now 40 years since his first solo album, “Svif', was released.
„Spring and art have much in common; among other things, optimism, growth and vitality. Björn Thoroddsen is our spring, that of us Hafnarfjörður residents, this time; full of optimism, growth and vitality, and has been so for many decades. Björn has returned home to his childhood haunts in the heart of Hafnarfjörður and will continue to enliven the cultural spirit here in Hafnarfjörður with life, music and magic. Björn is a shot in the arm and a great role model for our young people, both in word and in song.“ says Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir, Mayor of Hafnarfjörður, on the selection of Hafnarfjörður's 2022 Artist in Residence. Björn was brought up in Hafnarfjörður and has settled well in the south town, where he invited residents to a concert in his garden during Bjartir dagar in the summer of 2021, and will be repeating the event this summer.
The festival has come home to Hafnarfjörður – where Björn's heart beats
The people of Hafnarfjörður have been able to enjoy Björn's music on home turf, but the Guitarama music festival, which Björn has organised for around 15 years, has been held in Hafnarfjörður in recent years. Guitarama is an international music festival where the guitar is the star of the show. Björn is the festival's host and brings a diverse range of musicians onto the stage. The festival is educational, uplifting and for all ages, with a strong connection to the Hafnarfjörður Music School and the youth centre, Hamarinn. Guitarama has travelled far and wide, bearing the names of cities where the festival has been held, including Winnipeg, Bergen, Reykjavik, Chicago, Denver and Edmonton, but now the festival has returned home to Hafnarfjörður, where Björn's heart lies.
Those who have received the title of Artist of the Year in Hafnarfjörður over the years are:
- 2021 – Friðrik Dór Jónsson, musician
- 2020 – Bergrún Íris Sævarsdóttir, children's author and illustrator
- 2019 – Björk Jakobsdóttir, actress and director
- 2018 – Björgvin Halldórsson, musician
- 2017 – Steingrímur Eyfjörð, visual artist
- No town artists were appointed in 2015 and 2016.
- 2014 – Andrés Þór Gunnlaugsson, musician
- No town artists were appointed between 2010 and 2013.
- 2009 – Jóhanna Guðrún Jónsdóttir, singer
- 2008 – Sigurður Sigurjónsson, actor
- 2007 – Jónína Guðnadóttir, visual artist
- 2006 – Elín Ósk Óskarsdóttir, singer
- 2005 – Sigrún Guðjónsdóttir (Rúna), visual artist
When selecting the City Artist of Hafnarfjörður, the culturaland Tourism Committee, following nominations from residents, receives a large number of nominations each year, as Hafnarfjörður has established itself as a cradle of culture and the arts and is known for its bustling cultural life driven by dynamic artists, where the individual themself, his contribution, creativity and participation plays the biggest role. The City Artist receives 1.5 million in recognition to continue working on their art.
We wholeheartedly congratulate Bjössi Thor on the title, with heartfelt thanks for his sincere and beautiful contribution to the cultural life of Hafnarfjörður and the entire world!