Academic supervisors Prof Winfried Lüdemann and Dr Martin Berger
Music Education
Work experience - Music teaching
Deputy Headmaster at Grafarvogur School Band, Reykjavik, Iceland | 2024- |
Music teaching and band directing at Grafarvogur School Band, Reykjavik, Iceland | 2023- |
Teaching the classes "Singing and Conducting" and "Singing and Conducting II" at the University of Iceland |
2023- |
Department Head at Hólmavík Music School, Iceland. Teaching Voice, Saxophone, Flute, Drums, Ukulele, Guitar, Piano, Pop Piano, Bass Guitar, Band, Music Theory, Aural Training, Elementary Music Class (ages 5-8), and Children's Choir. |
2020-2023 |
Music Teacher at Hólmavík Music School, Iceland. |
2019 |
Title: Head of Choirs and Music Teacher. Responsibilities: coordinating choral activities, teaching Voice, Clarinet, Saxophone, Flute, Piano, Band, Music Theory and Class Music gr. 7‐12 at Lebone II College of the Royal Bafokeng, Phokeng, South Africa. |
2012-2019 |
Teaching Voice, Aural Training, Music Appreciation and Music Tech at St. Alban’s College in Pretoria, South Africa. |
2012 |
Teaching Aural Training, Music Theory and private Voice lessons at Drakensberg Boys’ Choir School in South Africa. |
2011 |
Teaching Conducting at Iceland Teacher College (now part of University of Iceland). |
2005-2006 |
Development and teaching of the course “Learn to read music – for adults”. |
2005-2006 |
Teaching music to mentally disabled teenagers – Borgarholtsskóli in Reykjavík, Iceland. |
2007-2009 |
Clarinet teaching – Reykjavík Music School, Iceland. |
2006-2007 |
Teaching Recorder to 2nd graders at Lindaskóli elementary school in Kópavogur, Iceland. |
2007-2008 |
Clarinet teaching – Kópavogur Music School, Iceland. |
2005-2006 |
Clarinet teaching – Kópavogur School Band, Iceland |
2005-2006 |
Work experience - Non-music teaching
Lebone II - College of the Royal Bafokeng - Gr 7 and Gr 9 IT classes. |
2014-2018 |
Hraðbraut High School (16‐25 year olds) – Computer Science and Programming. |
2007-2010 |
Borgarholtsskóli High School (16‐20 year olds) – Computer Science. |
2007-2008 |
Reykjavik University – Guest teacher for two Computer Science groups |
2003 |
Work experience - Choirs
Non-music higher education
B.Sc. degree in Computer Science from Reykjavik University. |
2002 |
Diploma in Applied Computing from Reykjavik University. |
1999 |
Choral Competitions
Rustenburg Eisteddfod, Lebone II Glee Club - awarded Gold. | 2017 |
ATKV Applous choir competition, Lebone II Chamber Choir - Selected for national finals in Port Elizabeth and then earned highest mark of all the choirs in the group "Non-Afrikaans speaking mixed-voice high school choirs". |
2015 |
Klerksdorp Eisteddfod, Lebone II Chamber Choir - 90% mark (Platinum) |
2015 |
ATKV Applous choir competition, Lebone II Chamber Choir - Selected for national finals in Pretoria and then earned highest mark of all the choirs in the group "Non-Afrikaans speaking mixed-voice high school choirs". Also received the prize for “Best performance of a traditional African song”. |
2014 |
Rustenburg Eisteddfod, Lebone II Chamber Choir - 94% mark (Platinum) |
2013 |
Adjudication
ATKV Applous Choir Competition, national finals in Cape Town, South Africa | July 2024 |
ATKV Applous Choir Competition, national finals in Bloemfontein, South Africa | July 2019 |
ATKV Applous Choir Competition, Western Cape (Cape Town) pre-lims (South Africa) | 24-25 May 2018 |
Pretoria Choral Eisteddfod, Pretoria, South Africa | 21-23 May 2018 |
ATKV Applous Choir Competition, Randburg pre-lims (South Africa) |
18 May 2018 |
ATKV Applous Choir Competition, Port Elizabeth / Uitenhage pre-lims (South Africa) |
16 May 2018 |
ATKV Applous Choir Competition, Newcastle pre-lims (South Africa) |
14 May 2018 |
ATKV Applous Choir Competition, Pretoria pre-lims (South Africa) |
10-12 May 2018 |
ATKV Applous Choir Competition, Rustenburg pre-lims (South Africa) |
9 May 2018 |
Vocal Eisteddfod, Newcastle, South Africa |
28-30 August 2017 |
ATKV Applous Choir Competition, Springbok pre-lims (South Africa) |
29 May 2017 |
ATKV Applous Choir Competition, Upington pre-lims (South Africa) |
28 May 2017 |
ATKV Applous Choir Competition, Kimberley pre-lims (South Africa) |
27 May 2017 |
Pretoria Choral Eisteddfod, Pretoria, South Africa |
9-11May 2017 |
ATKV Cantando Choir Competition, Klerksdorp, South Africa | 12 August 2016 |
ATKV Applous Choir Competition, Newcastle pre-lims (South Africa) | 13 May 2016 |
ATKV Applous Choir Competition, Rustenburg pre-lims (South Africa) | 11 May 2016 |
ATKV Applous Choir Competition, Potchefstroom pre-lims (South Africa) | 10 May 2016 |
ATKV Applous Choir Competition, Polokwane pre-lims (South Africa) | 9 May 2016 |
Talent competition to choose an item as main entertainment for the opening of SA Special Olympics, Phokeng | 2013 |
Anglo-Platinum Choral Competition, Rustenburg, South Africa | 2011 |
Newcastle music Eisteddfod (instrumental), South Africa | 2011 |
Choral Workshops
Workshop for the Australian Southland Choir in Reykjavik, Iceland | 21 Sept 2023 |
ATKV Applous choral workshop, Port Elizabeth, South Africa |
17 May 2018 |
ATKV Applous choral workshop, Newcastle, South Africa | 15 May 2018 |
ATKV Applous choral workshop, Rustenburg, South Africa | 9 May 2018 |
Drakensberg Boys’ Choir, South Africa |
2006 |
St. Conrad’s College choir, Klerksdorp, South Africa | 2006 |
EKKO‐korinn (Choir of Retired Teachers), Iceland | 2007, 2008, 2009 |
Húnakórinn, Iceland | 2007, 2008, 2009 |
Works and musicals performed (as conductor)
Tosca by G. Puccini – conducting of the back-stage choir – Iceland National Opera |
2006 |
The Snow Queen at Quincy Music Theatre, FL, USA (Music Director) |
2003 |
Misa Criolla by Ariel Ramírez – Tallahassee, USA |
2004 |
Petite Messe Solenelle by G. Rossini ‐ Seltjarnarnes, Iceland |
2003 |
Arrangements
Several dozen choral arrangements, many of which were commissioned by various choirs in several countries. Also quite a few arrangements especially arranged for the Drakensberg Boys‘ Choir and for the Lebone II Chamber Choir.
See examples here: http://www.bragi.co.za/arranger.html
Instrumental arrangements for various instruments, all for sale on SheetMusicPlus and SheetMusic Direct. See the full selection here: https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/search?Ntt=bragi+thor+valsson
compositions
Missa Capella, a full latin mass for mixed (SATB) choir a cappella. Available here: https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/missa-capella-an-a-capella-mass-for-satb-choir-and-two-soloists-digital-sheet-music/20803716
Faðir vor, a composition to the Icelandic Lord's Prayer for mixed (SATB) choir a cappella. Available here: https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/fair-vor-original-composition-for-satb-choir-in-icelandic-digital-sheet-music/21394372
Several award-winning choral compositions set to Afrikaans text. Contact me for details.
Several short choral pieces set to Icelandic text. Contact me for details.
Published material
PhD Thesis, titled "Heyr, himna smiður: The sacred a cappella SATB works of Þorkell Sigurbjörnsson (1938-2013)". Available here: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/126074
Various music books, available on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=bragi+thor+valsson
Podcast hosted by me, discussing my doctoral project (the episode is in Icelandic): https://open.spotify.com/episode/4kN3sbZMepc7FtIuVxomMI?si=BeeNeft6Q6edSd1znEFUPQ
Recordings
32 Sacred Choral Compositions (live recordings from my doctoral concerts in May 2022) Available on Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/album/5aM23YTWkRn9OgtRn9XNgO?si=JtXmmkGPTHen5tLok21YzA Available on Apple Music here: https://music.apple.com/za/album/32-sacred-choral-compositions-feat-bragi-thor-valsson/1685218915 |
2023 |
"Gleðileg jól, allir saman", music video with Barnakór Strandabyggðar & Eyfi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrdCsSTrHPs | 2022 |
"Mig langar til að hætta", music video with Barnakór Strandabyggðar, Þorgeir Ástvaldsson & Ásgeir Páll Ágústsson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6DND5J92s4 | 2021 |
"Jólin eru að koma", recording with Barnakór Strandabyggðar. Music and lyrics by Bragi Þór Valsson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKLsiFKLYOA&list=OLAK5uy_ln9indjGmN9N-jAkhskAPu63w4UMQkptw | 2020 |
Lebone II Chamber Choir – “Bad Day” CD – conducting, arranging, recording. |
2015 |
Lebone II Chamber Choir – “Africa” CD – conducting, arranging, recording. |
2014 |
Various choral recordings for radio, television and publishing, most notably with the World Youth Choir. |
1999-2010 |
Semele by John Eccles (http://www.amazon.com/Eccles-Semele-John/dp/B0001W3068/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1439228270&sr=8-2) | 2003 |
Smaladrengirnir vocal group – “Strákapör” CD. Arrangements, singing, clarinet playing, producing. Available on Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/album/07GF6aXLMSBpep1kEwBUl2?si=nvZSWLHmRjibYESDJnJxLg Available on Apple Music here: https://music.apple.com/za/album/str%C3%A1kap%C3%B6r/1521383755 |
2001 |
Rokklingarnir albums. 8 different albums/cassettes, 4 of which fetched Gold or Platinum sales levels. Singing solos on all albums and performing in various music videos. |
1989-1993 |
Singing - Chamber groups
Black Velvet Quartet (SATB) in South Africa | 2012 - 2013 |
Smaladrengirnir male quartet in Iceland | 1997‐2007 |
Krummi kvartett mixed quarted in Iceland | 2007-2008 |
Choral Singing
World Youth Choir. 7 consecutive sessions, as choral singer and soloist. Toured in around 25 countries in Europe, Africa, South‐ and North‐America. Conductors Frieder Bernius, Gary Graden, Nobuaki Tanaka, André Thomas, Paul Smith, Peter Erdei, Steve Zegree, Anton Armstrong, Felipe Izcaray, Denis Menier, Jonathan Velasco, and Tonu Kaljuste. |
1999-2002 |
World Voices, an international choir assembled to partake in the choral competition in Tolosa, Spain (the group took 2nd place in both categories). Conductor Michael Zaugg. |
2001 |
Florida State University Cantores Musique Antique “Early Music” group. Various performances of early music around the state of Florida. Various solo work. |
2002-2004 |
Tallahassee Community Choir, hired singer for their Carnegie Hall performance in New York City. |
2003 |
Florida State University Chamber Choir. Various solos. |
2002-2004 |
Grove Park Music Festival Chorus in London, UK. Hired singer. |
2000 |
Solo and ensemble singer – well over 100 funerals |
1999-2010 |
Hamrahlid Choir in Iceland. Conductor Thorgerdur Ingolfsdottir |
1994-1998 |
Singing - Shows, major choral works and operas
Mozart Requiem – bass solos. Drakensberg Boys’ Choir “Music in the Mountains” music festival. | 2011 |
Singing/Acting – Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” animated movie – Role of Gaston in the Icelandic dubbing. Clips available on my website. | 2002 |
St. Matthew Passion by J.S. Bach – Seljakirkja Chamber Choir. Role of Jesus | 2009 |
Tosca by G. Puccini. Iceland National Opera. Chorus singing and “back-stage chorus” conducting. | 2006 |
Sweeney Todd by Stephen Sondheim. Iceland National Opera. Role of “First Storyteller” and chorus singing. | 2005 |
Magnificat by J.S. Bach – baritone solos. Florida State Chamber Choir in Tallahassee, USA (2003) and Seltjarnarnes Church Choir, Iceland (2004) | 2003, 2004 |
Semele by John Eccles. Florida State Opera. Role of Somnus. | 2003 |
Iceland Symphony Orchestra "Another Kind of Magic" concert. One of 3 hired singers for this "Music of Queen" concert. | 2002 |
Alexander's Feast by G.F. Händel. Grove Park Music Festival Chorus in London, England. | 2000 |
Organising
Lebone II Festival of Voices Choir Festival, with around 800 participants, organiser. |
2017 |
Professional visits by Dr. Kevin Fenton from the USA to South Africa, organiser. |
2016 |
Choral workshops by Dr. Alan Zabriskie from the USA, in Gauteng and NW provinces in South Africa, organiser. |
2014 |
Assisting The Real Group from Sweden in organising their concert tours to South Africa |
2012, 2013 |
Non-music work
Various software companies, including Þróun, Audioworks and Degasoft. |
1998-2002 |
Freelance programming and website building, including Tónfræði.is (www.tonfraedi.is) Námskeiðaskólinn (www.namskeidaskolinn.is) |
Since 1998. |