SKÓLAKÓR KÁRSNESS Kópavogur, Iceland

Skólakór Kársness (The Karsness School Choir) was founded in 1976 by Thorunn Björnsdottir, music teacher, who has been it's conductor since. The choir has grown and developed steadily over the years and has become such an integral part of the school life, that virtually every child in the Kársness School has sung in it at one time or another. The choir is open to all pupils of the school and there are no auditions yet the choir is renounced for its clear tone and joyful singing.
 
The choir sings in three levels: the Preparatory Choir, (8-9 years old), the Elementary Choir (10-12 years old), and the Concert Choir for the oldest and the most talented children (12-16 years old). All together around 250 pupils take part in the choir's activities, which range from school occasions to radio and television programmes and concerts with the National Symphony Orchestra. The choir has a very varied repertoire from simple children's songs to classical choir music, church music, jazz and contemporary music.  It has always been the choirs pride to introduce Icelandic music to the world both the old folksongs and contemporary music and many compositions have been written for the choir. 
 
Skolakor Karsness has travelled extensively in Europe, Canada and Scandinavia over the past twenty years, giving concerts, taking part in many festivals such as Europa Cantat and appearing on behalf of Iceland at Cultural Festivals such as "Tender in the North" in London 1992, "Northern Encounters" in Canada 1997, “Nordic Church music festival" in Sweden 1996, "Tolerance" in Prague 1999 and "Viking 2000" in New Foundland 2000, “Festival Présences 2004” and  at the Icelandic National day held at “The World Expo 2005” in Japan.  In 2008 we went to Russia with 50 singers aged 14 – 17 and participated in Festa Musicale in Petersburg.