In its 34th year, Tónlistarskólinn í Grafarvogi has received a new name and logo. The school, which is among the largest music schools in Reykjavík, has grown significantly in recent years and has expanded beyond Grafarvogur. The school now also has locations in Grafarholt, Úlfarsárdalur and Háaleiti-Bústaðir. The new name, Tónskólinn í Reykjavík, better reflects all the students who attend the school and the neighborhoods in which it operates.
The school’s student count is now approaching 300, with about one-fifth attending the pre-studies program. The pre-studies program is a comprehensive music program for children in the early years of grade school who are taking their first steps in music. In the pre-studies program, children participate in instrument workshops with a strong emphasis on singing. Together, the pre-studies students and voice students form the Children’s and Youth Choirs of Grafarvogur and Fossvogur. The pre-studies students receive priority for continuing music education. Many students choose to continue voice lessons alongside their instrumental studies. The school offers instruction in violin, viola, cello, flute, guitar, piano, accordion, and voice. The teachers are all highly educated in their field and tailor the students’ learning to meet each individual’s needs. Students are introduced to various music styles and can choose music that resonates with them, while a solid foundation in good technique is always emphasized. Joy in playing and creativity are encouraged, and success follows naturally. Collaboration and participation are close to the hearts of the school’s teachers and administrators. The school actively collaborates with other music schools in the capital area to promote singing in kindergartens and bring hrundreds of preschool children to the stage at the Children’s Culture Festival. The school also works closely with grade schools and churced in the neighborhoods it operates. The students regularly perform at various concerts both inside and outside the school, including in cultural centers and libraries in Reykjavík.
Edda Austmann is the new principal of the school, having taken over in the fall of 2023. She began working at the school in the fall of 2019 and taught in the pre-studies program and voice. She later became a department head and vice principal. Alongside her teaching, Edda completed a diploma in Arts Education from the Iceland University of the Arts in 2022. Prior to this, Edda worked as the marketing manager for Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Center, where she had been employed since its opening in 2011. Edda has completed a master’s degree in Marketing from the University of Iceland and a music degree from abroad. She was 19 years old when she moved to London to begin her studied at the Royal Academy of Music and lived there for a total of six years. During her studies in London, she worked in front of house at the Royal Albert Hall and the English National Opera, which allowed her to attend countless concerts and opera performances. One of her side jobs in London included welcoming the first guests aboard the London Eye. Edda received a full-ride scholarship to study opera at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow, where she lived for two years. In Glasgow, Edda had countless opportunities to sing with orchestras and at events for high-ranking officials. Following her studies, she performed with the Zurich Opera House, the Icelandic Opera, and various venues across Europe. Edda published a children’s book and a CD about Mozart’s The Magic Flute and staged it at Harpa in collaboration with Töfrahurð and the Icelandic Opera.Edda is married to Gunnar Ingi Jóhannsson, a lawyer who is one of the owners of MAGNA Law at Höfðabakki. They have four children together, all of whom are studying at the music school. They have been living in Grafarvogur since 2008. Although the school has a new name, its operations are built on the same strong foundations and honor the school’s history that so many current and former teachers and students connect with. The school’s main location remains at Hverafold 5.