Kolbeinn Bjarnason was born in Reykjavík, Iceland, in 1958. He began composing in his fifties after a long career as a performing flautist.
He studied philosophy and literature at the University of Iceland and flute at the Reykjavík College of Music, graduating in 1979. He continued his musical studies with, among others, Manuela Wiesler in Reykjavík, Kiyoshi Kasai in Basel, Robert Aitken in Toronto and Robert Dick, Harvey Sollberger, and Julius Baker in New York. During his time in New York, he also studied shakuhachi, the Japanese bamboo flute, with Ralph Samuelson. Later, he pursued further shakuhachi studies with Teruhisa Fukuda in Tokyo.
As a flautist, Bjarnason performed throughout Europe, the United States, and Japan, premiering numerous works and collaborating with composers including Toshio Hosokawa, Brian Ferneyhough, Doina Rotaru, Simon Mawhinney, Hans-Henrik Nordström, and Hiroyuki Itoh.
His recordings of flute music by Hosokawa (Naxos, 2010) and Ferneyhough (Bridge, 2002) received international acclaim.
After concluding his performing career in 2017, Kolbeinn turned his full attention to composition. He received an M.A. degree in composition from the Iceland University of the Arts in 2013.
Poetry is a central source of inspiration in much of his music, both instrumental and vocal. His works have been performed by a variety of ensembles and soloists, including the Hamrahlíð Choir, CAPUT Ensemble, and the New Juilliard Ensemble.
Alongside his work as a composer, Kolbeinn teaches at the Iceland University of the Arts and is an avid trail runner.
He studied philosophy and literature at the University of Iceland and flute at the Reykjavík College of Music, graduating in 1979. He continued his musical studies with, among others, Manuela Wiesler in Reykjavík, Kiyoshi Kasai in Basel, Robert Aitken in Toronto and Robert Dick, Harvey Sollberger, and Julius Baker in New York. During his time in New York, he also studied shakuhachi, the Japanese bamboo flute, with Ralph Samuelson. Later, he pursued further shakuhachi studies with Teruhisa Fukuda in Tokyo.
As a flautist, Bjarnason performed throughout Europe, the United States, and Japan, premiering numerous works and collaborating with composers including Toshio Hosokawa, Brian Ferneyhough, Doina Rotaru, Simon Mawhinney, Hans-Henrik Nordström, and Hiroyuki Itoh.
His recordings of flute music by Hosokawa (Naxos, 2010) and Ferneyhough (Bridge, 2002) received international acclaim.
After concluding his performing career in 2017, Kolbeinn turned his full attention to composition. He received an M.A. degree in composition from the Iceland University of the Arts in 2013.
Poetry is a central source of inspiration in much of his music, both instrumental and vocal. His works have been performed by a variety of ensembles and soloists, including the Hamrahlíð Choir, CAPUT Ensemble, and the New Juilliard Ensemble.
Alongside his work as a composer, Kolbeinn teaches at the Iceland University of the Arts and is an avid trail runner.