Harpa Square

To mark the opening of the 2026 Reykjavík Arts Festival, we present composer Samúel Jón Samúelsson’s new work, Loftvægi, for Reykjavík’s four school wind bands. Loftvægi is an old word for air pressure, which here refers to the equal value of all the wind instrumentalists.

The piece will be premiered by almost 600 young members of the bands, playing brass, wind and percussion. The bands will converge on Hörpu torg from different directions, ultimately coming together in a unique musical experience as the festival begins.

The Reykjavík school bands have enriched the city for decades and helped increase children’s access to musical education. The Vesturbær and Miðbær and Austurbær School Bands have operated since 1954, the Árbær and Breiðholt School Band since 1968 and the Grafarvogur School Band was formed in 1992. Samúel is a trombonist and composer who has performed with innumerable bands and musicians. He has composed and arranged a wide array of music. In 2023, he graduated with an MA in Music Composition from the Iceland University of the Arts. Samúel’s experience teaching music and conducting Reykjavík school bands has granted him good insight into the work of the bands.

The project is led by Samúel, Reykjavík Arts Festival’s artistic director, Lára Sóley Jóhannsdóttir and choreographer Valgerður Rúnarsdóttir.