The annual Við Djúpið Music Festival is a unique convergence of artistry and landscape in the Westfjords of Iceland. Rooted in Ísafjörður, the festival’s identity is closely linked to its dramatic setting beside the fjord, Ísafjarðardjúp. Since 2003, musicians from around the world and across Iceland have gathered here, using the region’s remote beauty as both stage and inspiration.
A festival shaped by collaboration and learning
From its earliest days, Við Djúpið has stood out not only for its performances but for its devotion to musical education and partnership. The festival was founded by two musicians, Guðrún Birgisdóttir (flutist) and Pétur Jónasson (guitarist), with a vision of bringing together local and international talent. The event quickly established ties with regional music schools in Ísafjörður and Bolungarvík, as well as the Rögnvaldur Ólafsson Art School. Master classes and workshops have long been a central part of the programme, drawing students from across Iceland and beyond.
The educational aspect of the festival is further cemented through official accreditation by the Iceland Academy of the Arts. Sessions happen in venues like the Ísafjörður Music School and Edinborg House, where seasoned performers instruct younger artists, and where new ideas circulate. Instructors have included figures such as the cellist Erling Blöndal Bengtsson, pianist Vovka Ashkenazy, and ensembles like the Pacifica Quartet.
From gamelan to jazz improvisation
In recent years, Við Djúpið has widened its scope, presenting not only classical and contemporary works but also introducing styles less often heard in Iceland. Gamelan music from Indonesia was explored in workshops led by Evan Ziporyn and Christine Southworth in 2007, blending traditions seldom encountered so far north. Icelandic jazz pianist Davíð Þór Jónsson has run piano improvisation classes, while late-night songwriter sessions and chamber ensembles have diversified the festival’s soundscape.
Performers have ranged from the Finnish violinist Pekka Kuusisto and Germany’s Orchester im Treppenhaus to the Antigone Piano Trio from the United States. Iceland’s own musicians remain central: Sæunn Þorsteinsdóttir, whose cello playing has become a familiar feature, and local ensembles like the Ísafold Chamber Orchestra and experimental groups such as Aton have all graced the festival’s stages.
Radio broadcasts by RÚV (the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service) have brought concerts from Við Djúpið to listeners across the country on several occasions, extending the festival’s reach beyond the fjord.
Roots in place and people
Management and artistic direction at Við Djúpið has evolved, with Greipur Gíslason and Tinna Þorsteinsdóttir shaping its later direction, and Bjarney Ingibjörg Gunnlaugsdóttir joining in recent years. The creative energy comes from a blend of local participation and international connection, a trait which has helped the festival persevere for more than two decades.
Always scheduled near the summer solstice, Við Djúpið occupies some of Iceland’s brightest nights, when the long daylight adds its own intensity to music echoing off the surrounding mountains.
Sources
- Wikipedia
- Wikipedia (Icelandic) in Icelandic
